An Australian Zoo Weekly editor claims to have been fired from his position for blowing the whistle on Rockstar's attempts to influence his Red Dead Redemption review:
A magazine editor who claims he was sacked for posting part of an internal email on Facebook says he was blowing the whistle on video game companies pressuring publications for favourable coverage. Former Zoo Weekly deputy entertainment editor Toby McCasker last month posted on Facebook part of an email that seemed to show a game maker demanding a positive spin on its latest title.Ol' Toby appears to have been kicked to the curb for posting the email, rather than refusing to cooperate, though that could indeed by the real reason. In my own experience, you do get the odd bad apple attempting to influence proceedings, but typically I just receive hate mail from infuriated PR people, and the occasional developer.The email was allegedly sent by a publicist for Rockstar Games to staff at the magazine, concerning coverage of the company's new title Red Dead Redemption.
"This is the biggest game we've done since GTA IV, and is already receiving Game of the Year 2010 nominations from specialists all around the world," it read. "Can you please ensure Toby's article reflects this — he needs to respect the huge achievement he's writing about here."
McCasker told news.com.au the email was an example of growing pressure from game companies for favourable media coverage.
"I did not sign up to become a journalist to write advertorials masquerading as editorial," he said. "This 'cash for comment' culture that is fast becoming the status quo within print media bothers me a lot."
http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/54122/Aussie-Editor-Canned-Over-Red-Dead-Redemption-Review
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