What is quality video game journalism worth to you?

I know every single person reading this is an advocate for proper, top notch journalism. The kind of reporting that scrutinises with intensity and integrity to hold power to account and platform those being silenced. I know because you're here. You're reading one of the very first articles published on Vertical Slice, a brand new trade publication that did not exist a week ago.

That means you understand a free, democratic press is fundamental to any functioning industry—and I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a hunch.

Over the past few years, my work has been read by millions. Some of them were undoubtedly workers determined to stand united against corporate overseers. Others were perhaps external translators tired of being erased by huge monoliths. I'm sure many were indies eager to glean how that one team managed to nab that fabled pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I'd assume a few more were simply curious to learn what the mood is like when a state accused of human rights abuses and the assassination of a journalist acquires one of the biggest publishers in the world. 

The point is, I believe with every fibre of my being that you value the journalism I've been producing for over a decade, and now I want to double down and publish even more of the high-quality, worker-centric reporting you've come to expect from me. 

This time, though, I want you to pay for it. 

In an earlier draft, I instinctively used the phrase "there's a catch" to soften the blow of that last sentence. That was disingenuous. There is nothing wrong about asking people to pay for labour, whatever form that might take. One of the biggest lies of our digital age is that 'content'—a heinous word I pledge to never utter again on this website—is a thoughtless commodity. Something to be churned out with mindless abandon and consumed just as readily. 

It's a corrosive mindset that has resulted in the decimation of video game journalism. I choose that word carefully. I'm not talking about reviews, criticism, or culture writing—although I know my peers working those beats have suffered greatly in recent years, too—but rather capital 'J' journalism. The ability and desire to analyse, verify, and present information that is fundamental to public discourse. Sometimes that might mean publishing stories to create a visible record of fact. On other occasions, it could require a reporter to spend months engaging with sources to expose wrongdoing. 

Journalism demands reporters ask the tough questions and look beyond the PR buzzwords. Even if that means they might be put on the Naughty List by companies that have become far too comfortable with the idea of this profession being an invite-only affair. Remember, 'access journalism' does not exist. That, friends, is marketing—and it is a red flag so gargantuan that Godzilla could wear it as a nightgown.

I care passionately about the future of video game journalism. That's why I've established Vertical Slice to address what I view as a cataclysmic blind spot in the trade media landscape. Going independent means I can fully commit to producing original reporting that serves readers. No corporate owners means no conflicting commercial interests or sales executives hammering on the door claiming I've spooked prospective clients by doing something outrageous like publishing factually accurate information.

A reader-supported model will enable me to deliver vital daily reporting, meticulous investigative work, informative interviews, and regular newsletters without having to rely on paycheques from companies that simply do not accept the need for journalistic freedom and ethics in an industry that is infamously founded on a bedrock of secrecy and cold-blooded management.

It will also require you to hand over a small amount of money each week for my services (or a more robust deposit, if you fancy the annual subscription with a cheeky discount). In doing so, you'll be financing what I view as the future of trade journalism. In the long-term—or perhaps shorter term, if enough people support us—I intend for Vertical Slice to become an anchor for developers and reporters alike.

This isn't wishful thinking. It's a necessity.

Look around at your favourite news outlets beyond the video game industry. I'd wager they have what you might recognise as a functioning newsroom. A cohort of veteran staffers and junior talent working in tandem to produce trailblazing journalism while honing their craft. It's a concept that's downright fanciful in the video game industry, despite the sector being worth an estimated $200 billion and representing arguably the most culturally relevant global export on the planet.

At my previous gig, we had a team of four full-time editors and a small roster of talented freelancers. Before that, I worked for a trade site that boasted two reporters and paid at least one of them (yours truly) well below the UK national minimum wage. The joys of being a contractor.

Meanwhile, many of the experienced heads with the nous and knowledge to lead editorial teams and train new hires have all departed for the land of the independent newsletter, blog, or podcast. Many are still doing incredible work (I should know—I subscribe to a few), but it's a pivot that is rapidly closing the door on aspiring journalists in desperate need of mentorship and guidance.

Initially, at least, I know I appear to be part of that same cohort, but I didn't leave my corporate gig because I'm a sicko who loathes the idea of a plump pension and adores filing tax returns. I stepped down because I firmly believe we must do better.

There's no doubt that–if you're willing to pay for the work you cherish—Vertical Slice can become a thriving publication in no time at all. An outlet capable of attracting the sharpest journalists in the business, creating pathways for new talent, and producing industry-leading reporting—all while paying our employees and contributors a fair wage.

It sounds so simple when I see it in writing. So, I'll ask again. What is quality video game journalism worth to you?