IGN Partners With The University of Iowa to Kick Off Video Game Journalism Program

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- IGN Entertainment is getting in the education game, partnering with The University of Iowa's prestigious School of Journalism and Mass Communication to lend its expertise to the university's first video game journalism course. The course, "Specialized Reporting & Writing: Video Games & Communication," kicks off today, and will feature input and production assistance from IGN Entertainment to prepare undergraduate journalism students for exciting new career opportunities.

Hosted by The University of Iowa's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the class will explore the interdisciplinary relationship between journalism and the video game industry, with focuses on how digital games serve as a means of transmission of cultural and social norms and ideas, and the development of practical writing, reporting and critical thinking skills to cover the growing video game industry.

As the world's leading video games media company, IGN will draw from its 13 years of experience covering games and lend the expertise of its professional editorial staff to help add a real-world perspective to the course. Providing nuts-and-bolts advice to students and course leaders throughout the curriculum, IGN hopes to use its position in the industry to help further the advancement of up-and-coming writers that have a passion for games. 

"This is about more than just book learning. Breaking into this business isn't easy, and as video games continue to grow as a medium and mainstream form of pop culture, it'll only get harder. We want to share our insights to help give the most driven kids a leg up into this most-awesome career," said Casey Lynch, editor-in-chief of IGN.com.

"Computer gaming is as much a part of our lives as movies or journalism. It deserves the same rigorous standards of reporting and analysis. We are very excited about our students getting a chance to hone their professional writing and critical skills in partnership with IGN. Such collaborations should become the norm for communications schools," said David D. Perlmutter, Director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the University of Iowa.

Course instructor and PhD Candidate & Graduate Assistant Kyle Moody said, "As video games gain greater prominence in society, how we cover them becomes more critical to the strength of the industry and its audience, from giant publishers to independent developers. I believe we offer a unique opportunity to explore ways to report news and create content that is essential to the growing video game industry and the journalism that keeps it going."

This partnership with the University of Iowa is the latest in a series of moves by IGN to support people interested in pursuing careers in video game-related fields. Last year the company launched the Code-Foo Challenge – a six-week, 'no resumes allowed' program aimed at finding extraordinary coding talent regardless of experience or educational background. In 2010, IGN launched Indie Open House, a program aimed at supporting independent game developers by offering professional consultations, technical support, exclusive demo days and a free residency at IGN's San Francisco headquarters.

About IGN Entertainment

IGN Entertainment is the leading Internet media and services provider focused on the video game and entertainment enthusiast markets. Collectively, IGN's properties reach more than 57 million unique users worldwide, according to Internet audience measurement firm comScore. IGN's network of video game-related properties (IGN.com, 1UP.com, GameSpy and others) is the Web's #1 video game information destination. IGN also owns the world's largest men's lifestyle website, AskMen.com, and men's entertainment site UGO.com. IGN is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices across North America, Europe and Australia.

About The University of Iowa

Established in 1924, The University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication has long been recognized as a leader in undergraduate (B.A./B.S.) and graduate (M.A. and Ph.D.) education and research in journalism (print, broadcast and online news and information) and strategic communication (political communication, health communication, advertising, public relations, branding and nonprofit advocacy & fundraising) and media research. The first Ph.D. in Mass Communication was awarded at Iowa in 1948. The School features a state-of-the-art building, technology and facilities, about a dozen staff, twenty full-time faculty, 30 graduate students and 650 undergraduates.

Among Iowa SJMC's latest innovations are a new Fundraising & Philanthropy Communication Certificate program and advanced Media Research Lab to partner with industry to test innovations in media.

SOURCE IGN Entertainment