So does wikipedia, apparently, as well as my J-school profs. (Gaming)

by narcogen , Andover, Massachusetts, Friday, June 03, 2016, 03:17 (3096 days ago) @ Vortech

Investigative reporting?

Come on.

I'll call it that the first time a game reviewer files a FOIA request.

So, only governmental reporting qualifies as investigative journalism? Why?
Also, why is limiting the scope of your investigation to only entities who are most easily compelled to cooperate with your investigation above the qualifying bar?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigative_journalism

"Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, such as serious crimes, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing."

I'd probably be willing to expand a definition a bit beyond that, but not much beyond.

At the very least, I'd consider public interest to be a prerequisite-- not the broad definition meaning "things the public express interest in" but the narrow definition, in terms of "things the public has a right to know" because it affects them.

Consumer fraud, labor disputes, debates about violence and sexism, these things might potentially apply.

Whether or not a game deserved a 7/10 doesn't.

Rushing to get the "scoop" on a 7 week delay for a game that's been in development for years so that you get the clicks instead of somebody else... that's not investigative journalism even if you use the procedures of that form to get your information.