Player Ready: How To Break Into Games Journalism

NOTE: This event has now happened so is now only offered as a watch back.

Do you consider yourself an avid gamer? Do you know your Dark Souls from your Final Fantasy? If you find yourself with passionate opinions on the next big RPG, or have found yourself recently hit by the recent redundancies in games publishing, our new event is a whistle-stop tour on how to break into games journalism!

In this new workshop, TheGamer's features editor and critic Ben Sledge will take us through everything beginners need to know about how to start writing about gaming. We'll cover:

• The four types of games journalism: news; features; guides; and reviews. We'll break down the skills and approaches you'll need for each, how they pay, and which is best for your goals; 
• The art of making connections is a vital skill for writers and staffers alike – be it virtually or in person. We'll cover how to build relationships with editors and PRs to establish yourself as a name in gaming;
• The process of reviewing games: from tight turnarounds on a 100-hour RPG to how best to take notes and gather your opinions;
• How best to get your foot in the door – and secure those vital first clips!

As always, there will also be the chance to ask your own questions. Free tickets are available for games writers who have recently been made redundant.

** PLEASE ADD TICKETTAILOR TO YOUR SAFE LIST — OTHERWISE, YOUR LINK TO JOIN AND WATCH BACK LINK MIGHT GO INTO YOUR SPAM FOLDER OR NOT BE DELIVERED**

SPONSORED/FREE PLACES: As ever, we reserve free spaces for people for whom cost is a barrier. No questions asked. Please message hello@journoresources.org.uk as soon as possible if this applies to you and you would like to attend this event.

Meet The Speaker

Ben Sledge is a games reviewer, critic, and all-round good fella from Liverpool. As features editor at the very aptly named website TheGamer, he writes and edits op-eds, guides, reviews, previews, interviews, and more. 

He has worked in this role for three years and has another three years of experience in the industry in various freelance and staff capacities. He particularly enjoys using his platform to shine a spotlight on weird indie games, interviewing the people who make and play games for a living, and finding weird ways to roleplay in fantasy RPGs.

Types Of Ticket

Live Ticket: Select a live ticket if you'd like to watch the session live. You'll receive a Zoom link to join when you order. Don't worry if your plans change though – we will also send you a copy of the recording and session notes via email. This is normally 24-48 hours after the session to allow time for us to edit the recording.

Watch Back / Recorded: If you just want to watch back, please select a recorded ticket. This allows us to keep a handle on numbers and make sure we have enough seats around our virtual table. Again, no worries if you change your mind, you will still be sent the Zoom link, so no need to let us know if your plans change. You will typically be sent the recording 24-48 hours after the live session, to give our team time to edit.