Joseph Bradford
Verified
As seen in:
MMORPG.com,
Medium,
IGN,
GamesRadar+,
Inquisitr,
Kansas City Star,
Playboy,
Wichita Eagle,
GameWatcher,
GameSpace
Covers:
Gaming, PC tech, the nature of the gaming industry
The Noldorin Herald | #Tolkienist | Lore Hound | Managing Editor @MMORPGcom | Seen on @IGN, @Playboy, @GamesRadar, and more | Email editor@mmorpg.com | He/Him
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first job was news editor/director for a podcast network. First paid gig was a feature for PixelKin.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yup!
How is social media changing news?
It's making it easier to get news to people - but that also comes with inherent risks with fake news and satire often being reported as real.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Danny Concannon
What does it mean to be a journalist?
It means to have influence, but that influence brings a responsibility to protect and serve readers.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
Can't remember, but I don't really peruse or use hashtags unless related to the gaming beat.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email. LotrLore@gmail.com
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
Word, Google Drive, Excel, Pinnacle 20 video software. For gaming I use all the latest consoles and an AMD or Nvidia powered PC.
What's your favorite social network?
Twitter
Who do you wish followed you?
Kirk Hamilton, Erik Kain, The Pope.
Why did you become a journalist?
The gaming industry doesn't treat its consumers correctly, and I wanted to expose shady practices and advocate for consumers.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Nope.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
I wrote a piece on Heroes of the Storm for Playboy and the interview itself I thought would be a trainwreck. Turned out to be the best.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Be yourself. Find a niche and hammer it home. Remember to serve your readers, not the corporations you write about.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Anytime.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
There was one with a hilarious GIF of three game characters dancing awkwardly. The GIF fit the overall tone of the email perfectly.
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
Honestly cannot remember. Which likely means it wasn't all that bad, just forgettable.
What's your favorite drink?
Coffee....though Water is good too.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
With family or listening to some great music
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Kotaku. They do some of the best investigative games journalism in the business.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That games are for little kids and cannot tell stories or evoke feelings like other artforms.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.