Aaron Bayne
Verified
(He/Him)
As seen in:
Push Square,
BBC,
TechRadar,
Flipboard,
New Musical Express (NME),
WhatCulture,
Game Pressure,
GameSkinny,
GGRecon,
The Film Magazine,
Thumbsticks
and
Covers:
AAA video games, games as a service, PSVR, narrative games
PlayStation Video Man @PushSquare | The Backlog King | aaronb@pushsquare.com
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
I was brought on to the Jump Cut Play team as a Staff Writer, where I work on news articles, features, reviews as well as video content.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
My Dad owned one as a remnant from a family business. But I type fast, so the anxiety of typing a mistake on ink never sat right with me,
How is social media changing news?
It is a way for users to livewire themselves into any news sphere. I personally get 80% of my news through Twitter, it's just so accessible.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Has to be Mikael Blomkvist from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I loved his unassuming commitment to his cases.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
On a personal level, it is about engaging in a profession that keeps things fresh, with constantly changing and explorable talking points.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
I can't remember the hashtag but a SUPER special edition of the game Dying Light was announced that was $250k & came with an actual house.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Probably through email, but I am no opposed to someone getting in touch with me through Twitter DMs.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
I have been using Premiere Pro for a number of years now, with some experience on After Effects. I also frequently use WordPress.
What's your favorite social network?
Prior to journalism, I was never big on social media, but seeing how communicative Twitter can be, it has to be my favourite.
Who do you wish followed you?
If this is a Twitter follower deal, it has to be Greg Miller or Danny O'Dwyer. Those two are the catalysts of the work I want to produce.
Why did you become a journalist?
It was all about having an outlet to funnel my passion for gaming. I love engaging in ongoing conversations about games in any format.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I didn't. It was a few years after school before I realised I wanted to become a video games journalist.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I'm currently writing a feature where I interviewed David Bateson about his role as Agent 47 & it's a validating piece for me professionally.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
I once read to focus on clips, credits and experience. That simplicity stuck with me and helped me slowly build my portfolio. It is a ladder.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Literally any time for the time being.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
This isn't really something I can answer, or skip apparently. so eh... Hi Mum!
What's your favorite drink?
Being as patriotic as possible I've got to say Irn Bru.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
At my PlayStation 5 which sits next to my computer.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I will always have a soft spot for OPM, but I adore some of the work coming from EDGE and Den of Geek never fails to put a smile on my face.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
I'm early days in this career, so I'm going to hold off on this answer for a while.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.