#NerdsUnite: Confessions of a videogame journalist (my new hero)

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy John. We started talking on the twitter not too long ago, and then he reached out and asked if he could write for us regarding his journey through the nerdy realm. I was all DUDDEEE!! That's so raaaddd!! And now, here we are. Like right now, in real time, this is happening. Pretty cool huh? HIT IT JOHN!!! </editorsnote> 

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's John Sollitto

So in one of my classes we’re learning about the history and philosophy of American media. In the book we have to read it covers a lot of crazy historical figures like Philo Farnsworth and Sarnoff (head of NBC) and Paley (head of CBS), and then all of the really important reporters.

For some reason, we kept coming back to the same man, though: Edward R. Murrow. Murrow, for those of you who don’t know, is the god of news. Seriously, this man single-handedly created television news and the standard for which we hold it. Men like Murrow are the people I wish were in the news industry today.

Murrow took on the plight of the migrant workers in the first one-hour TV special Harvest of Shame. Murrow took on Joseph McCarthy. Murrow became a household name for his uncompromising interviews and cool persona. Murrow and his boys were the news.

I wrote an article a couple months back or so on why I hate “hard news” reporting and why I can’t do it. If this was a different time period, I would love it because I could work with Murrow. The kind of people that worked at that time were guys and gals like Walter Cronkite and Barbara Walters. Media giants.

I can’t imagine what it would be like to be reporting on television for the first time and be known as one of the most trusted men in the world because of my reputation and sheer body of work. The amount of respect this man had, and still has, is astounding.

The reason I’m writing about this is because this article is one of those rare confession pieces I do once in a blue moon. Edward R. Murrow is my hero in journalism. He even beat out DC Comics’ The Question as my Number One Favorite Reporter of All Time. That’s something I’d never thought I’d say. But Murrow is real whereas the Question is not, so I guess that helps him slide into the lead just a little.

I’ve had a tough time in my personal life lately and I’ve been thinking back on all the things that I’ve done professionally to kind of kick my ass into a good mood. I’ve become a regular writer for this amazing site. I’ve started my own website that is steadily growing in a grassroots following with loyal fans. My portfolio just keeps growing thanks to social media and my own body of work.

What I found is that at a very early age I decided that I wanted to have an exceptional resume so that when I walk into a place and for a job interview, I can say “This is how much I want to get paid.” And I think in a couple of years, I may not have to do that with the way the Vault is going. I wanted people to respect me for my body of work and my professionalism.

There was never really a goal professionally as to who I wanted to be in the video gaming world. Sure I wanted to write and make games, but I never told myself that I wanted to be the next Shigurui Miyamoto, making Mario games that people remembered for the rest of their lives. I had an inkling that I wanted to be a little like Adam Sessler though, hosting my own review show on a network like G4. A respected member of the gaming community who has the ability to say, for the most part, whatever he wants. Really what it came down to was that I never had a defined role-model.

What’s slightly hilarious is that I’m now choosing Edward R. Murrow. Murrow was not too much a fan of the entertainment industry, hell he didn’t even want to get on TV in the first place when they offered him the position. So the fact that I want to be the Edward R. Murrow of video game journalism is a little bit of a weird paradox.

I’m going to try my hardest to be the most honest and truthful game journalist that I can be. The one who asks the questions everyone wants to hear. The one who says the stuff no one will want or dare to say. Why? Because every industry needs that. Now I’m not going to become some insufferable prick who lauds his position over people and feels that he’s entitled. Hell no. I’m going to work for it so that when people look me up on the internet and ask “Who the hell is this guy,” Google slaps them in the face with my picture and article after article saying “This is who he is and why you should care.”

I want to bridge the gap between player and developer. Sure the devs talk to media outlets. Sure they have forums where they communicate with their fans. But when they come to the Vault and they’re given the hard questions about stuff they’ve said in the past, they know they’re in trouble. But THAT’S why they come to us because no-one else will deliver that kind of news or features.

So, in short, I’ve shared with you a little bit about my passion and my drive. What I want to do in my little corner of the universe and how I’m going to do it. The question is: What about you?

#nerdsunite

Want more from John? Click here to follow him on the twitter!