Posted Nov 01, 2006 at 09:28PM by Victor B. Listed in: PlayStation 3 Tags: Sony, Phil Harrison
Ó

Three Speech... hmmmWhy should you care about this thing about a blog called Three Speech and Sony? Well, Sony fans may like the all-Sony content, but Simonc on GameSetWatch has some issues with the blog. Specifically, it has to do with an interview with Sony's Phil Harrison and journalistic ethics.


The problem lies in that it not only chooses sides, but also raises questions about integrity issues. Simonc writes, "Well, GamesIndustry.biz's story on the interview reveals that Harrison was speaking to GamesIndustry.biz' Rob Fahey as part of an interview being serialised on semi-official Sony blog Three Speech.'' This little detail, while seemingly inconsequential, holds a lot of weight when you're looking at news.

There are two basic reasons. First, Simonc found the site to be owned by Ramp Industry, a PR firm that has worked with Sony in the past. When a site claims, " People are free to say what they want here. We won’t censor content so long as this space is used constructively," this becomes a matter of divergent interests. How can it be constructive for Sony if questions that might necessarily show weakness on Sony's part are allowed on the blog and the interview?

Second, the difference in the interests a reporter and a company not only puts the integrity of the site's ability to allow free speech in question, but also interferes with the fair and balanced stance of a news reporter. As Simonc writes, "Why weren't there any difficult comparative questions asked about Xbox Live Arcade in the Harrison interview on E-Distribution?"

In other words, how can a reporter or news blogger be nonpartisan if his actions lie dangerously close to skewing his overall coverage for or against one entity or another? As Simonc writes to Sony and bloggers and journalists everywhere, "You need to state your agenda, or don't come and play at all (see: Fragdolls), and journalists need to be aware of the ethical problems lying there-in, because Sony's profit motive lies above any interest in fairness on their part."


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6 Comments


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   by xplay - 2006-11-01
 » blogger

how can a reporter or news blogger be nonpartisan if his actions lie dangerously close to skewing his overall coverage for or against one entity or another? As Simonc writes to Sony and bloggers and journalists everywhere, "You need to state your agenda, or don't come and play at all (see: Fragdolls), and journalists need to be aware of the ethical problems lying there-in, because Sony's profit motive lies above any interest in fairness on their part."


   Re: Victor B. (QJ. NET Staff) - 2006-11-01
 » ....

Hmm... Guess he worded that last bit wrong. Then again, I was the one who brought up the overall coverage thign so that's more or less my mistake.
   by Advertising -
   by ContrAss - 2006-11-01
 » jeez

I usually stay clear from any posts like this but i mean wow, I could not understand what the point of it really was...can somebody make is clear to me? A game journalist doesn't like a 2nd hand sony blog site because it may be misleading? ummm...have you not *****ing listened to major nelson? Maybe you haven't read from Ozymandias lately?

People actually listen to these f.u.c.knuts and believe some of the dribble coming out of their mouths. Like Ozymandias on 1080p and how it doesn't matter or major nelson enlisting the help of Microsoft software programmers to sell points about blu-ray vs. HDDVD.

Oh the hell with it! Why not let our lead execs express their commitment with a cheaper console to help dissuade any potential competing buyers!

God I hope I’m wrong.


   Re: lawl (Unregistered) - 2006-11-02
 » It's sony

It's the new popular thing to attack sony for even the most trivial matters. Sadly, it looks like even old people are doing it now to stay "hip".

God, I hate internet trends.
   by SteveTao - 2006-11-02
 » Lol

The the ***** is this article talking about? A pro Sony blog is being pro Sony? What's wrong with that? Haven't you ever heard of Major Nelson's Pro Xbox blog?


   Re: Gattack - 2006-11-02
 » um...

But the difference is that major nelson works for Microsoft but the Fahey dude isn't supposed to be working for one company or another. especially cuz he's a reporter.



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