D&D General Why are so many D&D articles *garbage*?

[Morrus]

I’d also add that ttrpg journalism isn’t a mature industry yet — when I started, it wasn’t even a thing. These days there’s a million sites doing it, but most have only been doing it for a relative short time. The industry will evolve, as all do.

 

[Dire Bare]

We’ve always resisted that type of article here. We basically have three types — news and previews (where I try to be short and factual, rather than turn a one sentence news piece into a 3000 word essay); more editorial stuff (reviews, interviews, etc); and roundups which are lists of things but aren’t listicles (eg the crowdfunding column or reviews roundups).

I am aware I can make more money and get more clicks with listicles.

You should totally do it! You just need a columnist who loves to write listicles, and a tag "Clickbait" . . . .

 

[CleverNickName]

What do we want?
CLICKBAIT!
When do we want it?
THE ANSWER WILL SHOCK YOU!

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Sturgeon's Law.

90% of everything is crud.

 

[Orius]

I’d also add that ttrpg journalism isn’t a mature industry yet — when I started, it wasn’t even a thing. These days there’s a million sites doing it, but most have only been doing it for a relative short time. The industry will evolve, as all do.

A lot of journalism has gone down the crapper in recent years though, either that or I've gotten old and cynical enough to recognize the garbage. A lot of news feeds I get are empty clickbait nonsense written in a poorly and overly informal manner that lacks anything resembling professionalism. TTRPG journalism is only the tip of the sewage iceberg.

 

[MichaelSomething]

If you want well written stuff, you can always get a subscription to The New Yorker...

 

[Orius]

That's even worse.

 

[Eltab]

A lot of journalism has gone down the crapper in recent years though, either that or I've gotten old and cynical enough to recognize the garbage. A lot of news feeds I get are empty clickbait nonsense written in a poorly and overly informal manner that lacks anything resembling professionalism. TTRPG journalism is only the tip of the sewage iceberg.

Journalism schools tend to promote the 'journal' (old-fashioned equivalent: diary) part, not the idea 'go out and find the facts'.

That can change, but it will take time and steady pressure from the rest of us. If you find a journalist whose work is reliably full of facts and written to transmit that knowledge - be his/her best advertiser !

 

[Smackpixi]

None of these articles were examples of journalism. They are “content“. Problem seems more to do with publishing, the barrier to entry, and the revenue from it both real low. So many solving this by trying to produce more content for less money.

Journalism schools tend to promote the 'journal' (old-fashioned equivalent: diary) part, not the idea 'go out and find the facts'.

I don’t think you have any idea about what is taught in journalism school.

 

[Eltab]

I don’t think you have any idea about what is taught in journalism school.

I see what is praised by journalists as "high-quality work" and draw conclusions from that.