The Struggle with Student Journalism: Where Is The Voice?

Allow me to stray off topic for a moment. Usually, we post articles based on the recent developments in and around Scotland, or write reports on events that we attend to aid in some exposure for developers and their software. However, I want to take the opportunity to highlight the struggles that we at Amber Glass have faced over the past few months as a student journalism team, and how students should be speaking from beyond the boundaries of the lecture hall.

Amber Glass has been very kind to the (in total) 13 people who have been involved since its inception in November 2012. We have opened ourselves up to a multitude of events that have happened across Scotland that we probably would never have attended previously. Events such as the Indie Game: The Movie launch night and Drop-In and Play, Game In Scotland, One Day Digital, BAFTA Play, National Theatre of Scotland's Other Showcase and the Abertay Digital Graduate Show, to name but a few. We have had the privilege to talk to a range of developers, including Quartic Llama, Crash Course Studios and Table 32 Studios, as well as many more from attending previously-mentioned events.

I feel very fortuitous to have a sense of sincerity amongst my peers and colleagues within the games industry. It's a dangerous thought to have when you feel like the articles you are publishing are falling on deaf ears, and tests the management of your perception with your perseverance.Whether we cause conversation or controversy, discussion or debate, opinions or outlooks, we have got people talking, and that's what I believe we need to continue the growth and sustainability of our industry.

It's not always been easy. As students, we have a self-established "code of conduct" (if you will) about what we should and shouldn't be talking about. Student journalism is a tough task to take on, knowing that your potential reputation amongst your prospective employers and colleagues rests on every word you publish. But students are encouraged to voice their opinions and be heard amongst their class and lecturers, so why does it feel so different towards prospective employers? Are students intimidated into retaining their thoughts outside the lecture hall in fear of speaking out of turn?

I don't think this should be the case if it is. Voicing your opinions amongst those who have the knowledge and experience of your industry is a tall order, but it's one you should be tackling head-on. If you want to get into your chosen field of work, you should be involved in the discussions and development of that area from the very beginning and help to mould the environment that you want to work in. I'm not suggesting some form of "student revolution", but I do think there's a lack of students willing to get their voices out there, be it from a lack of attending events or writing responses to discussions. We were never necessarily "encouraged" to write about our opinions (I personally feel encouragement can be counter-productive in some cases), but it's definitely something you grow in to if you're exposed to discussions and opinions for long enough.

I'm not for one second suggesting "look at us and our success story", as we are still very much in an infancy with Amber Glass. We may not be currently having a direct "influence" on our apparent industry either, but I refer back to the point I made about managing perception with perseverance: it's not an overnight process. Your voice is only going to go as far as you will it to, and affect the industry as much as you want it to. Voices were made to be heard.

Andrew Reid

Managing Director