In what might be the last ever #GameJournoPros email thread, games journalists can be seen mocking readers who considered the list to be an unhealthy component in the video games journalism industry’s echo chamber. These emails have not previously been seen.
The emails, dated 17 September – the day Breitbart London broke the story that games journalists, widely considered to be too close to one another and their subjects, had a private mailing list on which they discussed stories – show an unrepentant games journalism community scoffing at the thought of readers being concerned.
In the thread, journalists complain that they were not contacted for comment, despite the inherent hypocrisy of an industry in the throes of widespread ethical failures bleating about right of reply.
I continue to digest other archives sent to me by previous members of the list; further stories will likely be forthcoming on the basis of that material.
Emails have been edited to remove private data.
THE EMAILS
| Rollin Bishop : Sep 17 04:13PM -0500 If this is what finally, actually kills this list for whatever reason, I have to say it seems like a good hill to die on.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 4:07 PM, Britton Peele …more |
| Devin Connors: Sep 17 05:14PM -0400 Obvious question: is Milo Yiannopoulos in this group? He’s a tech writer, so it wouldn’t be that odd if he was.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 5:07 PM, Britton Peele wrote:…more |
| Julian Murdoch: Sep 17 05:16PM -0400 OK, I admit it, I’m Keyser SozeOn Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 5:14 PM, Devin Connors wrote:…more |
| Jason Venter: Sep 17 02:16PM -0700 Wow. On so many levels… wow.On Wednesday, September 17, 2014 1:54:56 PM UTC-7, Kyle wrote: …more |
| Michael Futter: Sep 17 05:17PM -0400 I just want you to know that I was going to kill you last. All of you.…more |
| Devin Connors : Sep 17 05:18PM -0400 Willing to bet that Milo did not reach out to any of the members of this group that he mentions in his post. Ben? Jason? Kyle? Did he reach out to any of you before publication? …more |
| Jason Schreier: Sep 17 05:22PM -0400 Nope. If he had, I would’ve happily answered any questions or sent him any of the messages I’ve sent here.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 5:18 PM, Devin Connors wrote:…more |
| Andrew Groen: Sep 17 02:22PM -0700 The threads on this list that even passingly mention Zoe Quinn are outnumbered 1:1000000 by those debating the WWE and HipHopGamer.On Wednesday, September 17, 2014 3:54:56 PM UTC-5, Kyle wrote: …more |
| James Fudge: Sep 17 05:25PM -0400 He never contacted me either.– James Fudge Managing Editor, GamePolitics.com …more |
| Jason Venter : Sep 17 02:25PM -0700 If anyone had reached out to any of us for comment on this story, would we have had any reason to deny that such a list exists? I don’t think so. I see no reason to be ashamed of the existence of …more |
| Britton Peele: Sep 17 04:25PM -0500 Not to mention that even *in the thread that Milo screencapped*, there was disagreement among us about certain topics, not the least of which being the idea of sending a public note of support for …more |
| Alex Navarro: Sep 17 05:26PM -0400 Why would he contact any of us? That’s something journalists do.…more |
| Nick Chester: Sep 17 02:27PM -0700 I’m in a meeting right now and I literally can’t hold in my laughter. This is fucking HILARIOUS.On Wednesday, September 17, 2014 5:26:04 PM UTC-4, Alex Navarro wrote: …more |
| James Fudge: Sep 17 05:28PM -0400 Well i’m now in a cabal of elite journalists apparently. Thank a lot Obama!On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 5:26 PM, Alex Navarro wrote:– James Fudge …more |
| Eric Frederiksen: Sep 17 04:28PM -0500 Is it that mind-blowing that a bunch of people in the same industry have a common meeting places to discuss best practices and issues in the industry? Why is this news?Eric Frederiksen …more |
| Jason: Sep 17 05:29PM -0400 Exactly my thought. I’m apparently considered “elite” now and that’s just great!Jason Fanelli Twitter: BigManFanelli Http://jasonfanelli.comSent from my iPhone. …more |
| Yannick LeJacq: Sep 17 05:29PM -0400 I just came here looking for cat gifs, I swear!– Yannick LeJacq …more |
| James Fudge: Sep 17 05:30PM -0400 Yannick you do what we tell you to do. Wait, who’s the head vampire here?– James Fudge Managing Editor, GamePolitics.com …more |
| Sarah LeBoeuf: Sep 17 05:31PM -0400 Trying to explain this to my husband and it just keeps coming out “I don’t even know anymore.”But hey, I’m elite!Sent from my iPad …more |
| Devin Connors: Sep 17 05:32PM -0400 The important question: Is this group as cool as the Springfield Republicans?[image: Inline image 1] …more |
| Jared Newman: Sep 17 02:33PM -0700 *Milo Yiannopoulos* @Nero <https://twitter.com/Nero> · 5s <https://twitter.com/Nero/ |
| Alex Navarro: Sep 17 05:33PM -0400 I call Texas Oil ManOn Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 5:32 PM, Devin Connors wrote:…more |
| Adam Rosenberg: Sep 17 05:35PM -0400 DIBS ON FAT TONY.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 5:33 PM, Alex Navarro wrote:…more |
| Matt Hawkins: Sep 17 05:35PM -0400 Am I the only one who belongs to several other secret watering holes (on my end, I’m also part of groups that are all about indie comics and community management)? Am pretty sure I’m not. …more |
| Sarah LeBoeuf: Sep 17 05:37PM -0400 Oh man, Hip Hop Gamer isn’t going to like this AT ALL.Sent from my iPad…more |
| Ben Gilbert: Sep 17 05:37PM -0400 I don’t know what’s been “exposed” here. I’ve spoken openly about this group in public many a time. Kyle said from the jump that you should never put anything in here you wouldn’t feel comfortable …more |
| Andrew Groen: Sep 17 02:37PM -0700 There’s an email group for science journalists too that I’m a part of. There’s a list like this for literally every profession that uses the internet in any capacity. The only mindblowing …more |
| Daniel Starkey: Sep 17 04:37PM -0500 I came here for the job postings. So… If the list does die, I think it’d be nice to have just a thing for freelance postings/open positions. ?…more |
| Ben Gilbert: Sep 17 05:39PM -0400 Attention Milo! There are — drumroll — listservs of game devs too. Lots of them! ALL TALKING TO EACH OTHER. IMAGINE THAT.– Senior Editor Engadget, Aolm 203.273.2687 …more |
| Adam Rosenberg: Sep 17 05:40PM -0400 PR too.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 5:39 PM, Ben Gilbert wrote:…more |
| Alex Navarro : Sep 17 05:40PM -0400 If anything I feel like this has given the group new life! Let us persevere in the face of this weird idiot who doesn’t understand how anything works!On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 5:39 PM, Ben Gilbert …more |
| Daniel Starkey : Sep 17 04:40PM -0500 There’s a freelancer’s group on facebook… Guess what we talk about? ?On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 4:40 PM, Adam Rosenberg wrote:…more |
| Michael Futter: Sep 17 05:41PM -0400 Do you hear the people scheme, singing the song of neckbearded men…Sent from my iPhone…more |
| Adam Rosenberg : Sep 17 05:41PM -0400 Your shitty editors, I assume. And dogs. Because dogs.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 5:40 PM, Daniel Starkey wrote:…more |
| Matt Hawkins : Sep 17 05:41PM -0400 And pretty much every other single corner of the game business you can think of. This applies to every creative industry as well. In fact, any and every industry out there, period, I’m sure of. …more |
| “Alex Rubens” : Sep 17 02:41PM -0700 Milo Yiannopoulos @Nero [https://twitter.com/Nero] · 8m [https://twitter.com/Nero/ |
| Andrew Groen : Sep 17 02:42PM -0700 IMO invite him to join the group. He’s writing about games/games media he deserves to be here.P.S. I’ve spoken openly about this list on Twitter before. It’s not a secret list. …more |
| Devin Connors : Sep 17 05:42PM -0400 Yeah, I am totally on board with keeping this group up. There’s nothing to hide here.All this group shows is how I tell too many shitty jpkes….which I think I demonstrate quite well on …more |
| Jared Newman : Sep 17 02:44PM -0700 this is brilliantOn Wednesday, September 17, 2014 5:42:48 PM UTC-4, Andrew Groen wrote: …more |
| Daniel Starkey: Sep 17 04:45PM -0500 We should totally invite him to join. Then he’d have no excuse for ignorance. ?…more |
| Sarah LeBoeuf: Sep 17 05:45PM -0400 You guys I just got to the comments. You guys. I CAN’T EVEN.Sent from my iPad…more |
| Michael Rougeau : Sep 17 02:46PM -0700 From another recent article of his:”The video game community is perhaps the most inclusive, gender neutral and colourblind on the internet…So it was a strange choice of target for feminist …more |
| Daniel Starkey : Sep 17 04:48PM -0500 Re: Michael Rogeau: WHAT. WHAT. WHAT. NO. That’s not even a possible statement someone can make without their brain imploding from wrongness. ?On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 4:46 PM, Michael Rougeau …more |
| Matt Hawkins : Sep 17 05:50PM -0400 Sarah speaks the truth: LOL, this is the new “9/11 was an inside job”Matt Hawkins ‘ @fortninety…more |
| Garrett Martin : Sep 17 02:50PM -0700 there really wasn’t anything wrong with JournoList either but the rightwing machine got it shut down. thankfully we write about videogames so nobody anywhere takes us seriously enough to shut this …more |
| Mike Wehner : Sep 17 04:51PM -0500 This is amazing from top to bottom. New favorite GJP thread.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 4:48 PM, Daniel Starkey wrote:…more |
| Jared Newman: Sep 17 02:51PM -0700 Folks in the group saying on Twitter that the group is incredibly boring. Now I think I’m insulted!On Wednesday, September 17, 2014 5:50:10 PM UTC-4, Matthew Hawkins wrote: …more |
| Eric Frederiksen : Sep 17 04:50PM -0500 Daniel, have you been on the internet in the last month or so (or the thirty years before that)? People think some wrong-headed stuff when it helps to strengthen their worldview. …more |
| Daniel Starkey >: Sep 17 04:52PM -0500 Eric, I have, but I’m still a huge optimist and it’s really, really tough for me to think some people are this pigheaded. I have too much faith in people. ?On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 4:50 PM, …more |
| “Jason@JasonFanelli.com” : Sep 17 05:53PM -0400 …are we going to have to worry about abuse coming our way via Twitter or otherwise now? Is that something we’re all going to have to be wary of?Well, aside from some of us who are already …more |
| Ryan Smith: Sep 17 02:58PM -0700 If nothing else, Milo’s got a flair for the theatric: real. #GamerGate”On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 2:53 PM, Jason@JasonFanelli.com …more |
| Michael Rougeau: Sep 17 02:58PM -0700 Here’s another one: “To the feminist campaigners trying to ruin video games for everyone and a press that refuses to reform itself despite clear evidence of professional failure, gamers have responded …more |
| James Fudge : Sep 17 05:59PM -0400 yeah and my underwear is haunted.I’m excited that some of my many one-liners will finally become public! Look out Brody Stevens, i’ll be #crushingit instead of you.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at …more |
| Daniel Starkey: Sep 17 05:00PM -0500 See when I see something like that, I just assume most are fakes. Helps me sleep at night. ?On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 4:58 PM, Michael Rougeau wrote:…more |
| Dennis Scimeca : Sep 17 03:02PM -0700 What sucks is that now none of us can assume anything we say in here will actually stay in here, because someone’s abusing the trust.Just the other day I was using this list to get advice on …more |
| Ben Gilbert: Sep 17 06:04PM -0400 Does this change your position on asking about Destiny in here? The only worry I might have is something under embargo/NDA shared with other folks who are also under that agreement gets published. …more |
| Britton Peele: Sep 17 05:04PM -0500 Oh yeah, losing this group for any reason would be a huge loss. Out here in Dallas I don’t exactly have a huge group of fellow professionals to even talk to on a regular basis, much less schedule …more |
| Mike Wehner: Sep 17 05:04PM -0500 The funny thing is that any time anything has been said with a “this should remain in the group” tag it’s when we’re helping each other out with things like when review copies ship and which PR …more |
| “Cory Banks”: Sep 17 03:12PM -0700 My management is pissed that I’m on this list. Hilarious. — Sent from MailboxOn Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 3:04 PM, Britton Peele wrote:…more |
| Dennis Scimeca : Sep 17 03:16PM -0700 I mean, it doesn’t change that *specifically*, and I mostly lurk, anyway, but knowing that anything I say might be printed for eyes it wasn’t meant to be printed for? Sure, that does make me …more |
| James Fudge : Sep 17 06:18PM -0400 I’ll stand by anything i’ve written here, including bad jokes.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 6:16 PM, Dennis Scimeca wrote:– James Fudge Managing Editor, …more |
| Sarah LeBoeuf : Sep 17 06:18PM -0400 That concerned me too, but people are already calling me a bitch and telling me to kill myself regularly, so… Meh.Sent from my iPad…more |
| Sarah LeBoeuf : Sep 17 06:19PM -0400 I just realized we’re going to get so many new Animal Crossing friend requests guys!Sent from my iPad…more |
| Michael Futter: Sep 17 06:23PM -0400 It’s always a good policy to think that anything you might write will be made public. In the case of this group, it’s unfortunate that a member found more value in contributing to a salacious and …more |
| Mike Wehner : Sep 17 05:30PM -0500 What’s unfortunate is everyone is going to find out about the number of puppy pics we post.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 5:23 PM, Michael Futter wrote:…more |
| Michael Futter : Sep 17 06:31PM -0400 Including our bosses who will wonder how we find the time. XDSent from my iPhone…more |
| James Fudge : Sep 17 06:31PM -0400 but but… my dog’s privacy!!– James Fudge Managing Editor, GamePolitics.com …more |
| Julian Murdoch : Sep 17 06:32PM -0400 I find the idea that this group agrees on pretty much anything enough to rise to the level of collusion hilarious.…more |
| Michael Futter : Sep 17 06:33PM -0400 Agreed!WaitSent from my iPhone …more |
| Alex Navarro : Sep 17 06:35PM -0400 So does anyone want to point out the irony that the dude’s twitter handle is the name of the roman empire who (allegedly) started a giant fire to make room for his own palatial expansion. …more |
| Garrett Martin : Sep 17 06:36PM -0400 and his personal twitter handle is @caligulaOn Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 6:35 PM, Alex Navarro wrote:– Garrett Martin http://www.pastemagazine.com/ |
| Michael Futter Sep 17 06:36PM -0400 I thought he just liked Devil May Cry.Sent from my iPhone…more |
| Jorge : Sep 17 06:37PM -0400 These gaming journalists “truthers” give me a headache.Guys, first rule of secret gaming journalist illuminati is we don’t talk about secret gaming journalist illuminati.Did no one watch the …more |
| Rod Breslau : Sep 17 06:41PM -0400 I’ve got nothing to worry about, already lost my job from causing an internet controversy. WHAT UP NOW GAMERGATE? …more |
| James Fudge : Sep 17 06:43PM -0400 What?– James Fudge Managing Editor, GamePolitics.com …more |
| Conrad Zimmerman : Sep 17 06:43PM -0400 I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that someone in the group (active or inactive) may have had their Google account compromised during this mess and that’s how the e-mails were accessed, if for no …more |
| Michael Futter : Sep 17 06:45PM -0400 Two-Step isn’t just a Dave Matthews Band song.Sent from my iPhone…more |
| James Fudge : Sep 17 06:48PM -0400 “Someone in this room is the real killer.”On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 6:45 PM, Michael Futter wrote:– James Fudge Managing Editor, GamePolitics.com |
| Michael Futter : Sep 17 06:48PM -0400 Mr. BodySent from my iPhone…more |
| Michael Futter : Sep 17 06:49PM -0400 ObligatorySent from my iPhone…more |
| Andrew Groen : Sep 17 03:51PM -0700 Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd…enter Adam Baldwin. https://twitter.com/ …more |
| ryanflemingpdx : Sep 17 03:53PM -0700 The proletariat will have your head for this, Kyle.There’s literally a comment saying “The people over at Ars Technica are communists!”On the bright side, no one in the comments has …more |
| Alex Navarro : Sep 17 07:15PM -0400 #BengamziOn Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 6:53 PM, ryanflemingpdx wrote:…more |
| Samit Sarkar : Sep 17 07:22PM -0400 ? ?*Who decides what to write about* |
| Michael Futter : Sep 17 07:24PM -0400 Well done.Sent from my iPhone…more |
| Adam Rosenberg : Sep 17 07:24PM -0400 Best. Episode.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 7:22 PM, Samit Sarkar wrote:…more |
| “William O’Neal” : Sep 17 04:54PM -0700 We should all reply via Twitter. @Nero, I’m on the “super-secret” gaming journalist list. So what?On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 4:24 PM, Adam Rosenberg wrote:– …more |
| Britton Peele : Sep 17 06:58PM -0500 I already outed myself on Twitter. A grand total of one person acted like he cared.*—* Twitter: @BrittonPeele www.brittonpeele.comOn Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 6:54 PM, …more |
| Sarah LeBoeuf : Sep 17 07:59PM -0400 I’m definitely making it clear that this group is not and was never a secret via endless Twitter snark. ———- Sarah LeBoeuf Freelance Writer/News Reporter Twitter/PSN/Steam: sarahthebeef …more |
| Daniel Starkey: Sep 17 06:58PM -0500 Same here. ?On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 6:58 PM, Britton Peele wrote:…more |
| Devin Connors: Sep 17 08:02PM -0400 I have asked nero about reaching out for comment before publication. Haven’t gotten an answer yet. …more |
| Michael Rougeau : Sep 17 05:03PM -0700 My clicking finger is getting sore from all the RTs but I will never stop/ Mike Rougeau / Freelance Writer…more |
| Annette Cardwell : Sep 17 05:19PM -0700 Hey guys, infrequent poster, but long time lurker.This shit just makes me laugh uncontrollably. He really thinks he’s stumbled onto the Bilderberg Group of games here.With all his threats to …more |
| James Fudge : Sep 17 08:25PM -0400 i’m just saying a bunch of stupid shit, as usual.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 7:59 PM, Sarah LeBoeuf– James Fudge Managing Editor, GamePolitics.com …more |
| Kyle Orland : Sep 17 08:28PM -0400 So everyone knows, I’m formulating a public response and wading through a lot of bullshit, but I’m fine. =)-KO– Senior Gaming Editor, Ars Technica: …more |
| Devin Connors : Sep 17 08:32PM -0400 I was thinking the same, Kyle, but this is your group, so have at it. Also please me know if you need help with anything related. …more |
| Kyle Orland : Sep 17 09:44PM -0400 Just got around to seeing Samit’s song. Omg so good!On Wednesday, September 17, 2014, Samit Sarkar wrote:– Senior Gaming Editor, Ars Technica: …more |
| Devin Connors : Sep 17 09:53PM -0400 Pretty happy with the amount of Simpsons chatter in here.[image: Inline image 1] …more |
| ryanflemingpdx : Sep 17 06:56PM -0700 Can we all just agree that from now on we only refer to Kyle as Hank Scorpio? …more |
| Julian Murdoch : Sep 17 09:58PM -0400 I was thinking Godfather was more appropriate.Man, I actually kind of hope that guy is lurking and reading somehow, and trolling through a years worth of bitching about wordrates and “how come i …more |
| Devin Connors : Sep 17 10:04PM -0400 Friendly reminder: If you don’t have two-step verification set up on your Gmail, Facebook, and Twitter? Now is probably a good time to set security up for those services. PayPal, too. …more |
| Samit Sarkar : Sep 17 10:06PM -0400 Glad you saw it, Kyle. I figured you might need some cheering up. :)And yeah, echoing what Devin said: Check all your accounts against the list here. https://twofactorauth.org/-Samit …more |
| Harold Goldberg : Sep 17 10:22PM -0400 Yep. What Devin and Samit said. Doesn’t hurt. At all. And…Kyle rocks, always has, always will.On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 10:06 PM, Samit Sarkar wrote:– …more |
| Alex Rubens: Sep 17 07:25PM -0700 Good call in general, but I highly doubt someone’s gmail was compromised. If it was, dude wouldn’t be asking for a full list and additional information. His source (or wherever the emails came …more |
| Scott Nichols : Sep 17 09:47PM -0700 I hope no one hates me but I kind of went ahead and fielded a little Q&A about the group. Lots of…questions.http://ask.fm/ScottNicholsAlso, my favorite question is someone who just posted …more |
| “William O’Neal” : Sep 17 09:54PM -0700 That whole QA was amazing. …more |
| Jason Venter : Sep 17 09:55PM -0700 Did you see that someone started a @GameJournoPros account on Twitter?https://twitter.com/ On Wednesday, September 17, 2014 …more |
| “Timothy J. Seppala” : Sep 17 10:06PM -0700 Damnit.On Thursday, September 18, 2014 12:55:53 AM UTC-4, Jason Venter wrote: |
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