News Reporters Wanted

[Psykoboy2]

Interested in being a reporter for the Colony? We're currently looking for news reporters who'll continually update the front page with news posts. This doesn't mean we're no longer accepting user submitted news, but you'll be able to post directly to the front page without approval from the mods.

We're also currently looking for 2 people to handle the news and features of the weekend. You'll have control over the Trailer Park and Saturday Screenshots, along with any other features of the weekend as well as news stories that crop up.

All reporters will need to be able to adhere to the news posting guidelines found here (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=14). Follow them very closely.

If you'd like to give this a shot, then show us. Just submit 3 news posts (don't forget the guidelines) within a week's time and that will let us know you're interested in taking on the task. If you happen to submit a news article that makes the front page before you submit it, don't worry. Submit it anyway and it'll still count. We're mainly doing this to make sure you have a good understanding of the posting format we're looking for and the determination to continue to post news.

As you can guess, this pays nothing. Occasionally you might get a game out of it to write a review on. But those are few and far between and come with a whole new set of rules and guidelines.

If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this thread or send any of the founders/staff a PM about your concern.

[Krispy]

I can do reporting in the LA area when Supes is unable/and/or needs a friend. I still have a pretty good rapport with Capcom, but my contacts are way back in SF so I don't know how much good that can do us. I doubt I can do daily news crunching mostly because I honestly don't care for it.

I'm pretty good at networking. If I get to talking to some developers I can probably grab some more interesting coverage down the line.

[Psykoboy2]

I can do reporting in the LA area when Supes is unable/and/or needs a friend. I still have a pretty good rapport with Capcom, but my contacts are way back in SF so I don't know how much good that can do us. I doubt I can do daily news crunching mostly because I honestly don't care for it.

I'm pretty good at networking. If I get to talking to some developers I can probably grab some more interesting coverage down the line.

Things like that are always welcome, so just hit us up and let us know. This post, specifically, was about daily news updates more so than field reporting at events and such. But, as I said, those kinds of things are always welcome. Supes is covering one for us now, if I've been following twitter correctly.

[Purple Santa]

I suggest this thread be moved to the News forum. It might be a bit self serving (for a good cause) but it would be seen by more people.

[DoctorFinger]

I suggest this thread be moved to the News forum. It might be a bit self serving (for a good cause) but it would be seen by more people.We'll link to this in the In Other News posts, but we put it here specifically so that only the more dedicated members of the community will see it.

[Spigot]

I'm gearing up to write more Turning The Spigot articles in the near future (the plan is to have several in the hopper and get them out regularly starting first thing in the new year) so hopefully that will help.

Speaking of which, I need to get that new logo commissioned so that things look shiny upon the return...

[Banacek]

Honestly, I come here for the community, and I go to Joystiq for gaming news. There is a business model in there somewhere. Maybe more community-driven articles like JPublic's and Spigot's would be the way to go?

Please don't take this the wrong way. I just want to see this place succeed.

[Ghostbear]

Honestly, I come here for the community, and I go to Joystiq for gaming news. There is a business model in there somewhere. Maybe more community-driven articles like JPublic's and Spigot's would be the way to go?

Please don't take this the wrong way. I just want to see this place succeed.

I'm confused, are we failing? Just because you don't care about the effort that I and others have put in, doesn't mean others don't.

[Banacek]

I'm confused, are we failing? Just because you don't care about the effort that I and others have put in, doesn't mean others don't.

Way to take that the wrong way. Nevermind, forget I said anything.

[Joshkdmw]

Hey, we most of us care, no worries. I'm SHIT at news reporting, but should you ever have need of a freelancer, let me know.

[Ghostbear]

Way to take that the wrong way. Nevermind, forget I said anything.

Telling someone to "not take something the wrong way" is code for "I'm going to say something unpleasant and possibly offensive, but I want to cushion the blow." You could have just suggested having more original content instead of taking a shot at the rest of us. Thank you for your input Banacek, it has been illuminating.

[Banacek]

Telling someone to "not take something the wrong way" is code for "I'm going to say something unpleasant and possibly offensive, but I want to cushion the blow." You could have just suggested having more original content instead of taking a shot at the rest of us. Thank you for your input Banacek, it has been illuminating.

Since you guys post news from Joystiq, that means you guys read it for your news too. If you're going to take constructive criticism so negatively you shouldn't be involved in working on a website.

[Krispy]

I like the news articles that are quick to the point and foster discussion. I think you guys do that really well.

[Squidbot]

Guess I better start actually paying attention to how I submit my news ;)

[fitbabits]

Honestly, I come here for the community, and I go to Joystiq for gaming news. There is a business model in there somewhere. Maybe more community-driven articles like JPublic's and Spigot's would be the way to go?

Please don't take this the wrong way. I just want to see this place succeed.
I see your point, and it's a valid one. As it stands right now, we don't have the resources or financial backing a site like Joystiq has. In time, though...

[Spigot]

I see your point, and it's a valid one. As it stands right now, we don't have the resources or financial backing a site like Joystiq has. In time, though...We need more boob jokes to get page views and then we sit back to watch the money pour in. Science says that is the key!

[fitbabits]

We need more boob jokes to get page views and then we sit back to watch the money pour in. Science says that is the key!
Q. What do model train sets and women’s breasts have in common?
A. Both are intended for children, but it’s the fathers that always end up playing with them.

[Spigot]

Q. What do model train sets and women’s breasts have in common?
A. Both are intended for children, but it’s the fathers that always end up playing with them.
Now THAT should have been the headline for the Mass Effect 3 MP story! :)

[Psykoboy2]

Honestly, I come here for the community, and I go to Joystiq for gaming news. There is a business model in there somewhere. Maybe more community-driven articles like JPublic's and Spigot's would be the way to go?

Please don't take this the wrong way. I just want to see this place succeed.

Community driven articles are driven, of course, by the community. They are welcome, but we'd appreciate some consistency of their appearance. That can, at times, be difficult to do, and again, no one's getting paid for this. If people want to submit regular features, we're fine with that, they just need to ask us about them first to make sure they fit a format and aren't overlapping with something that may already be in planning.

When you mentioned a business model, what were you talking about?

Also, your last line confuses me and I'd like to understand better what you meant so please feel free to explain or hit me up in a PM if you like.

[Mr. Murphy]

I've been thinking for a few months now that I really should contribute to the front page. I'd like to see CoG have more content to attract new viewers, and poor Dr. Finger seems to do an awful lot of the news posts. I would like to take part on a scheduled basis, whether that be by writing one community piece a week or by posting smaller news items every morning/day.

CoG is my gaming news site, I much prefer it over Joystiq or anywhere else, because I get balanced opinions and polite comraderie . I think it would be a great move for CoG to try and report more gaming news that other sites report - there's nothing wrong with overlapping information, because there are plenty of people (like me) who would prefer to get that information right here.

I also have considered doing a weekly music article where I would discuss new music, with a specific mention of new video game music and soundtracks. I can think of one or two other CoGers who might even be willing to help with a music article once a week, if that seems interesting to anyone else.

Edit: Honestly, I feel like CoG could focus on aggregating news articles from every other news site and it would do nothing but help increase the popularity and usefulness of the site. CoG's community is and will remain the unique aspect - if we provide the same info as other sites, but with our own brand of atmosphere and community, people will be attracted to it. I'm not saying I think we HAVE to, but I do think it wouldn't hurt in any way.

[Ghostbear]

Since you guys post news from Joystiq, that means you guys read it for your news too. If you're going to take constructive criticism so negatively you shouldn't be involved in working on a website.

I feel that you thought I was more upset than I was. Hard to communicate tone over text. My point was that some people work pretty hard around here, I know I spend my personal time going to shows like E3 where I bust my ass, or spending time where I could just be playing games tossing up reviews etc. So to have someone say in a roundabout way "screw the news stuff" is frankly a bit insulting. I do read many game news sites, we post the stories here that we think our community will enjoy talking about, and in general we try to find the original source for the news and not just repost a story from another site. It doesn't really help us to just be a mirror for Joystiq or Rock, Paper, Shotgun. The reality of the situation is, we're not gonna find "exclusives" like we're a 1940s newspaper, most of the news you find on any gaming site is likely repeated elsewhere. I hardly think we're wasting our time though, being able to talk on our site about the current happenings is a large part of what makes this site great. To just dismiss it is, I think, a mistake.

[Mr. Murphy]

It doesn't really help us to just be a mirror for Joystiq or Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

I think it would help us, because we'd never JUST be a mirror. We'd be a mirror, plus a great community to talk with about what's going on in that mirror.

I would never in a million years go to R,P,S or Joystiq to hang out on the forums, but if I'm on the forums here talking about news that was posted over there, I don't see how it would be a bad thing to have had that same news posted right here where the forums are.

Every CoG member does not read the same websites as every other CoG member - except this website. So if you want the community to have a shared experience, it has to be based on what is posted right here. Therefor any and all valid and interesting gaming news or info should be posted here, in my opinion, regardless of where the poster read about it first.

[Psykoboy2]

I also have considered doing a weekly music article where I would discuss new music, with a specific mention of new video game music and soundtracks. I can think of one or two other CoGers who might even be willing to help with a music article once a week, if that seems interesting to anyone else.

I like this idea. Again, if it was totally based on video game music and soundtracks - been listening to a lot of Jesper Kyd lately, myself. Not sure you'd have enough content for a weekly thing though, but still...something to discuss.

[Ghostbear]

Even once a month or every few weeks, more content is good!

[Mr. Murphy]

I like this idea. Again, if it was totally based on video game music and soundtracks - been listening to a lot of Jesper Kyd lately, myself. Not sure you'd have enough content for a weekly thing though, but still...something to discuss.

I'm sure I could pull it off. Even if it was just a line or two about the music in each game released that week, it would be enough for an article. I'll write up a sample and submit it sometime in the next few days.

[Mr. Murphy]

How about the first half discusses any relevant new video game music that week, where to get the soundtrack, who wrote it, et cetera, and then the second half is about some classic game score that maybe people forgot about or missed the first time. Would that make it a more interesting feature, or do we want to focus on the new and now?

[Ghostbear]

Personally, I like the mixture of new and old.

[Krispy]

I personally think that the only way to let this site grow is to make a novel website that emphasizes the community. You can't out compete the big guys for news. Everyone agrees on that. So I think the best idea is to make the social aspect a more prominent feature. Web 3.0!

I know. I'm a broken record.

But when I suggest to my friends that they contribute to this site it's not because I think the news is special, but the conversations. It's the one stop shop for my critical movie, game, and politics discussions with a range of user competency that is pretty phenomenal.

[Ghostbear]

But when I suggest to my friends that they contribute to this site it's not because I think the news is special, but the conversations. It's the one stop shop for my critical movie, game, and politics discussions with a range of user competency that is pretty phenomenal.

Agreed, which I why I don't think we should just post everything Kotaku style. (we don't) I think we have a pretty cool perspective to share which is why I love this place. Scott's original post wasn't a call to just get a billion stories up, but just a way to distribute our efforts across a few more people.

[Krispy]

(Non sequitor to news posting ahead.) I guess my point was that we should start developing a novel site by contribution from our ample web developers. I'd be willing to wireframe some UXs and start preliminary coding. Hell, maybe I can ask my company to do some SEO work for me for free.

[Psykoboy2]

We might be getting a bit off topic here, myself guilty a bit for going on with the music idea (which I still like). I really just wanted this to be a post for people who might be interested in helping post to the front page rather than a "here's what I think CoG should do" thread. And don't get me wrong, I'm all for that. If you have feature ideas or suggestions for the site, make a thread for it so we can discuss it further and in more detail.

Seriously, not trying to rain on a parade here, just trying to make things more efficient.

[Mr. Murphy]

(Non sequitor to news posting ahead.) I guess my point was that we should start developing a novel site by contribution from our ample web developers. I'd be willing to wireframe some UXs and start preliminary coding. Hell, maybe I can ask my company to do some SEO work for me for free.

This is an interesting idea - some of the comments in the beginning of this thread about the style and functionality of the site look a little less snide when they still apply three years later.

The community of CoG is definitely it's defining feature, so I hope it doesn't sound like I'm suggesting that we compete with other news sites. More what I'm pointing out is that if it's worth discussing on the site, it's worth having a news post to go with it. Occasionally we have a booming discussion thread on some current game or news topic and there's no frontpage news post to drive traffic to it, and I think it's because people assume everybody read about it someplace else.

Edit: Makes sense, Psyko. :)

[Spigot]

Mr. Murphy, I love the idea of a music column. Talk to that Rainwave chap while you're at it. He knows a thing or two about game music :)

[Dirtbag]

You could just have people contribute a sample article, feature, or whatever they want to do, and pick the ones you think have potential to be regular contributors.

Part of the problem is that we're hobbyists, so we don't all have as much time to contribute regularly, despite our best intentions.

[evilgoodwin]

I sometimes submit news if I come across something relevant to the interests of my fellow CoG's and there's no topic about it already. Though I do read joystiq and kotaku when things are dead around here, this site is my preferred news site because the writers here almost always post something actually newsworthy instead of pages of drek populated by commenters who are the equivalent to youtube and gamefaqs commenters. For example, kotaku's webcomic wrapup always has this one commenter who trashes every comic explaining his expert opinion on why they aren't funny at all. Every week, he does this, and the rest of the comments are people yelling at him.

If he tried that here, he would be reported and banned within a month for only contributing trollish postings to a contributor.

Plus, I can't stand the layouts of most other sites.

Here, people I've associated with comment on the content of the post and link to other posts and sources throughout the thread giving us more info. In the Skyrim thread, Karak listed some info from the (supposed) skyrim manual and it has me salivating if it's true.

I feel like I'm rambling. What I'm trying to say is that the preferred method for my news is full, self-contained threads of glory of relevant info to my interests.

And the NSFW thread.

[fitbabits]

I sometimes submit news if I come across something relevant to the interests of my fellow CoG's and there's no topic about it already. Though I do read joystiq and kotaku...

Sorry, I stopped reading right there.

[Libuke]

Jesper Kyd

More off topic stuff. I really like his Hitman music.

That is all.

[Mr. Murphy]

Mr. Murphy, I love the idea of a music column. Talk to that Rainwave chap while you're at it. He knows a thing or two about game music :)

Ohyes, I fully intend on discussing a "Sponsored by rainwave" link with him.

evilgoodwin, I've always felt you were a positive contributor to the site, even with your horrifying avatar.

[evilgoodwin]

Ohyes, I fully intend on discussing a "Sponsored by rainwave" link with him.

evilgoodwin, I've always felt you were a positive contributor to the site, even with your horrifying avatar.

If only I could make it larger. . . :D

And I also support a music feature. I always get giddy when another "remember this video game music" thread pops up.

[MalReynolds]

id try. Not that i can say im perfect and i would hope it would still go to be edited as i suck at it

[Darkmatter]

I totally agree that the community is #1 highlight of CoG but the new is also very good. A lot of us have been around for a long time and we've really become comfortable with the writing style here. Every site has its own special "feel" to it and I think this site excels in that area.

I would have submitted things long ago but I'm not quite comfortable reporting here on something that I only learnt about from reading some other site. I know this site can't really "go out into the field" all that often except for special things like E3 but its still something that I'm personally unsure of. I know most site have to work this way since you can't just walk into a developers office and tell them to show you their shit but unless its basically a press release (which it often is) I can't say for certain how the writer on another website got their info. Maybe they worked very hard and "investigated" it and slaved over the story. Probably not, but you never know.

Ok I'm rambling. Gold star if you can actually make sense of out that mess. I usually edit my posts but I'm not touching that. lol

[fitbabits]

Anyone thinking about this should check out this thread (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=24692). :)

[Psykoboy2]

Also, this guy (http://www.gamejournos.com). You bullshit your gaming news, you'll get called out on it.

[Darkmatter]

Also, this guy (http://www.gamejournos.com). You bullshit your gaming news, you'll get called out on it.

Isn't that true for any news? :)

[Lance Uppercut]

What would we have to do to try out? Submit a sample article or something?

[fitbabits]

What would we have to do to try out? Submit a sample article or something?
RTFA! :)

If you'd like to give this a shot, then show us. Just submit 3 news posts (don't forget the guidelines) within a week's time and that will let us know you're interested in taking on the task. If you happen to submit a news article that makes the front page before you submit it, don't worry. Submit it anyway and it'll still count. We're mainly doing this to make sure you have a good understanding of the posting format we're looking for and the determination to continue to post news.

Clear?

[Lance Uppercut]

:o

Well I'll certainly give this a shot. I also got some considerable hands-on time with UFC Undisputed 3 at the UFC Fan Expo. Maybe I could do a preview article or something? What about screenshots, could I just use what I find online provided I credit the source?

[Krispy]

You guys wouldn't be interested in movie, science, or philosophy news, would you? :)

[Blue]

You guys wouldn't be interested in movie, science, or philosophy news, would you? :)

I'd be down for movie news as long as you used an Explosion Rating Scale. I give this idea 4 out of 5 Explosions.

[Ghostbear]

You guys wouldn't be interested in movie, science, or philosophy news, would you? :)

Unlikely, but one of our network sites has a lot of movie stuff. Pop Culture Zoo. (http://popculturezoo.com/)

[Dirtbag]

You guys wouldn't be interested in movie, science, or philosophy news, would you? :)
I was thinking of more of a '4 out of 5 hipsters scale'

By the way, I don't care what Olaf says - not all elves Drink stout!

[Mr. Murphy]

I did one. (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/blog.php?b=1289)

I'll have another each Monday. I'm waiting for one of the Staff members to get back to me on whether or not they'd like it posted to the frontpage each week, and how I should go about it, but I figured I'd link to it here just to get it out there.

[Spigot]

Me likey, Mr. Murphy! Great picks on the music front there.

[Mr. Murphy]

Am I the only one who thinks Evil Avnovice would make an excellent news contributor with his constant stream of Nintendo news? I know I always appreciate his updates and posts.

[Joshkdmw]

EvilAvnovice is of a caliber that he deserves to get paid. There are many major does that don't put up the amount of nintendo news that one man does.

[DoctorFinger]

I believe we've asked him to come aboard multiple times and he's declined every time.

[MagGnome]

It seems like the pace of news being posted on the front page has increased. Kudos to the hardworking staff here at the site!

[Evil Avnovice]

I believe we've asked him to come aboard multiple times and he's declined every time.

Correct me if I'm wrong, Doctor Finger; ever since I got here, no one's asked me yet to join the staff.

Unless someone shot me a PM that I've yet to receive, I haven't turned down anything. :confused:

[MagGnome]

Evil Avnovice for Emperor!


Something like that anyway.

[Joshkdmw]

Correct me if I'm wrong, Doctor Finger; ever since I got here, no one's asked me yet to join the staff.

Unless someone shot me a PM that I've yet to receive, I haven't turned down anything. :confused:

Plots within plots, eh? Looks like someone's trying to keep EvilAvnovice off the staff... By deceiving the rest of them.

This calls for a full investigation. Mags! Fowler! Ox! We're on the case. Pull the van around.

[MagGnome]

Just call me MagGnome, P.I.

[Mr. Murphy]

Correct me if I'm wrong, Doctor Finger; ever since I got here, no one's asked me yet to join the staff.

Unless someone shot me a PM that I've yet to receive, I haven't turned down anything. :confused:

Well we're asking already.

EvilAvnovice is of a caliber that he deserves to get paid. There are many major does that don't put up the amount of nintendo news that one man does.

[Cactaur]

Just call me MagGnome, P.I.

Bet you can't wait to rock the Selleck 'stache.

[MagGnome]

Bet you can't wait to rock the Selleck 'stache.

If only I could! I would be a god.

[Evil Avnovice]

Well, a few of you are determined to bring it up, so I guess I'll take the plunge and ask there's a position available.

And thanks for the encouragement, guys. :)

[Purple Santa]

Well, a few of you are determined to bring it up, so I guess I'll take the plunge and ask there's a position available.

And thanks for the encouragement, guys. :)

I'll pile on the EA should be on the news staff. Yes, you are awesome :D

[Joshkdmw]

Hey, you're good at what you do. And your princess peach avatar makes me feel funny in my front-butt.

[Evil Avnovice]

This is your fault, Mr. Murphy. I hope you and everyone else came prepared. :p