Karaoke Revolution and the news-itorial

Gamespot has a story about the recently announced U.S. song list for Konami's pending Karaoke Revolution. The story mentions some of the notable artists on the list, gives a little background about the game, and then copies the list verbatim. This is known in the industry as an objective news story.



Gamers.com also has a story about the song list. But the Gamers article has transcended the limitations of objective reporting to become something much more. Rather than let the facts dully speak for themselves, D.F. Smith has infused the story with exciting opinions about the list. By fusing editorial and news elements into a story the site labels as "news," he has created what will henceforth be known as the news-itorial.



A news-itorial is any article that a web site or magazine labels as "news" that includes at least as much of the author's subjective opinion as it does objective facts and reporting. Not all news articles that contain opinions are news-itorials; they have to have enough subjective opinion to overpower the facts. Thoughtful industry analysis is not considered opinion, even though it is somewhat subjective. To be a news-itorial, the opinions must be clearly biased and not based in factual analysis at all.



Let's take a line-by-line look at the make up of an average news-itorial. (article in italics, my comments in regular print. Watch for heavy sarcasm)



The official song list to Konami's Karaoke Revolution has been released, and we must say that we are not pleased.



One sentence in, and already the subjective opinions are apparent. Not only did this author express his disapproval with the list, but he implied that the entire staff of Gamers.com wasn't happy with it by using the royal "we." This may be the case, but it's more suited to a preview than a news story, don'tcha think?



On the one hand, Konami has included Bette Midler and Michael Bolton, among other utterly unsuitable artists.



"Utterly unsuitable" being an objective fact about the artists, of course.



This may, perhaps, be forgivable, considering that the decision was likely made as a misguided attempt to reach a broader audiece.



Yeah, you're right. Why should game companies try to appeal to a broader audience. They should actively try to sell as few copies as possible just so you're happy. Anything else would be "misguided." (Also, doesn't "on the one hand" usually imply "on the other hand" instead of "may, perhaps, be forgivable"?)



However, we challenge Konami to come up with any rational explanation for the omission of Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back."



This is quite the passive-aggressive challenge. Just to play devil's advocate, there are any number of reasons why Konami didn't include the song. Maybe it was too expensive for them to license. Maybe Sir Mix-a-lot didn't want his song alongside Bette Midler's. Maybe Konami thought their target audience wouldn't like to rap along with a decade-old rap (To the author: Just because you obviously want to do something doesn't mean everyone else does)



This would have been the perfect opportunity to actually call up Konami and ask someone there why "Baby Got Back" is not included in the songlist. There's a good chance they would give a blanket "no comment," but the author would be no worse off for trying.



If you'd like to develop your own issues with the selection, please peruse the following list, which comprises the entire inventory of licensed music that will appear in the game when it's released for PlayStation 2 this November.



Thanks a lot for the invitation to "develop my own issues" with the list. Don't you dare let me develop my own untainted opinion. Please suggest what I should think before I start reading.



It should also be noted that this section has the first bit of news not tainted by subjectivity in the article: the Novemebr release date.



*The song list (cut here for spaces reasons. See the article for the full list)



For our part, we will be picking up the Japanese version of the game, replete as it is with the sounds of Ayumi Hamasaki and Rip Slyme.



We're very happy for you. Really we are. You go import your version "replete" with artists that most of your readers have never heard of. You are obviously so amazingly hardcore that we are lucky to even be allowed to read what you write. Please teach me how to be as hardcore as you, Mr. Smith.



Your mileage, of course, may vary, so examine the song lists available and choose accordingly when the game is released later in the fall.



You mean my opinion might differ from yours? I have permission to think differently from you on this highly subjective matter? Thank you, Sir Smith, for your indulgences.



Journalists be warned: This blog is on the lookout for news-itorials from this day forward. Those who post them will not be treated kindly. Readers: If you find an article that you think is a news-itorial, please tell me about it.