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Journalist Writes About #GamerGate Without Making it a Hit Piece

Accepted submission by The Mighty Buzzard mailto:themightybuzzard@soylentnews.org at 2015-08-12 15:57:44
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Brad Glasgow over at GamePolitics.com did something unique [gamepolitics.com] when setting out to cover the gamergate movement, he asked people taking part in it questions rather than only their detractors.

I decided to run an experiment and see first-hand the difficulties one might encounter when covering an online movement. Rather than wait for GamerGate to come to us, I went to them. I joined their very popular Kotaku in Action [reddit.com] (KiA) subreddit and interviewed several hundred GamerGate supporters from Tuesday, July 28 through Tuesday, August 4. It is my hope that what I learned will assist journalists with covering GamerGate and any similar movements in the future.

The Experiment

I asked one question on the KiA subreddit every 12 hours. The question was stickied (placed at the top in the most recognizable area) until I posted a new question. The new question was then stickied and they were given an additional 12 hours to submit replies to the old question and vote on their favorite answer. After I asked 7 questions I then asked 7 follow up questions on the final day.

The article was interesting enough but what I found hilarious was when he then tried to do a similar interview with the anti-gamergate types over at Gamer Ghazi [reddit.com], he was quickly banned.

I did experience some hostility from the anti-GamerGate side for covering GamerGate. While I was treated well by the people of GamerGhazi when I tried to speak with them, I was quickly banned by moderators, who said I have spent too much time posting on the GamerGate subreddit.


Original Submission