Hamburg is not only a hotspot for the development of computer games, but also for numerous vocational schools and universities that offer courses specifically for future professionals in the games industry. For students and career starters, the exchange with experts in the games industry is essential in order to know the requirements in the individual disciplines and to prepare for them. The Game Starter is the perfect opportunity for such an exchange.

For the past installment of Game Starter on June 17, we talked about Games Journalism. Games Journalism is an important aspect of the industry: coverage of a game may decide on making or breaking it, by drawing attention and guiding players in finding their next favourite game. At the same time, games journalists might hold the industry accountable, and also inform the devs about developments in the market that shape business decisions. It's a multifaceted job, depending on the outlet, format, audience and much more.

Our guest experts for games journalism were:

• Géraldine Hohmann, Lead Creator GameStar Talk at GameStar
• Leya Jankowski, Editor in Chief at MeinMMO
• Sebastian Tyzak, Deputy Editor in Chief at Game Two

Here's what they shared with us:

1. As with many jobs in the games industry, a formal education in the field is nice to have but not a must

2. Way more important: your portfolio - show that you can work in the form that the outlet requires (column, test, podcast, review, video) and also show who you are and what you love. You're presenting your work in a portfolio, but also yourself.

3. The most important soft skills a games journalist can have are empathy, enthusiasm and stress resistance/endurance. Games journalists need to adapt constantly, pivot often, sometimes write about games that aren't their favourites and also work on tight deadlines, so they need to be able to adapt quickly.

4. While a traineeship is a great way to enter the field, many outlets are also happy to work with freelancers and might hire them long-term into the editor's room. Keep an eye open for submissions or send your portfolio in proactively with a note on what games and stories you can contribute on.

5. Like many professions in the industry, gaming journalism is changing with the latest trends and technology. Video and podcast formats have gained popularity, influencers changed the dynamic and now AI is a big point of discussion. But while some formats of games journalism might be made redundant by it, Leya also offered a positive outlook on this in regards to accessibility and translation support. Their conclusion: Games Journalism is a forever changing field, which is one aspect that motivates them in their jobs.

Want to know even more about this field of the industry? You can watch the entire panel on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/-iZd3BhU6uw

Conclusion

Gaming journalist is a very creative profession in which there are many opportunities to develop. Those who prefer to work analytically can do so, as can copywriters who prefer to write emotionally. It is important to find your own style that you enjoy and that you can master in order to quickly and creatively highlight current events and content in the industry. Although quality and agility in copywriting remain the foundation of gaming journalism, there are many different mediums into which the profession is evolving. Our invited guests Leya, Geraldine and Sebastian have described the many different facets of the profession to us, and hopefully to you, so that viewers looking to enter the field now not only know what to expect, but also where to start.