Play the News
Fun and Games in Digital Journalism
Maxwell Foxman
@MaxwellFoxman
mhf2012@columbia.edu
![](http://www.richardsilverstein.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/IDF-Ranks-Join-the-Game-2012-07-04-01-04-20.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070269/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_2.07.49_PM.png)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070277/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_2.05.04_PM.png)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070281/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_2.01.35_PM.png)
Central Questions
- How are games being used by digital journalists?
- Do games and play affect journalistic practices?
- When should games and play not be used?
- What qualifies as games and play to journalists?
What Qualifies as Games?
![](https://usachristian.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/budget_hero_610x481.png)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070322/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_2.20.24_PM.png)
Methods
- 40 interviews with practicing journalists, serious game designers, game journalists and educators in Game Labs and Journalism Schools.
- Within the journalistic field: graphic design, development, editorial, business and strategic managers.
- Historical research on games and play.
![](http://www.metrotimes.com/imager/the-new-york-times-wants-your-detroit-stor/b/original/2250143/1a6f/New-York-Times-Logo.jpg)
![](http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130202163730/logopedia/images/1/1c/Miami_herald_logo.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.propublica.net/deploy/images/common/logo-print.jpg)
![](http://corporate.univision.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/buzzfeed-logo.jpg)
![](http://paynearme.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/washington-post-logo.jpg)
![](https://unsilentgeneration.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/mother-jones-logo_red-copy-42.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/MTV-Logo.svg/2000px-MTV-Logo.svg.png)
![](http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130216221357/logopedia/images/3/32/WNYC-Logo.png)
Findings
Concerns of Crosswords
- Technology
- User Feedback and Iterability
- Incentivization
- Limitations
- The News Bundle
![](http://www.mediastorehouse.com/p/164/the-crossword-craze-1920-612302.jpg)
Features vs.
Stock Formats
Features vs. Stock Formats
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070622/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_4.01.23_PM.png)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070624/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_4.00.18_PM.png)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070626/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_3.58.48_PM.png)
Playful Products
Points, Badges, Prizes
Quizzes & Questions
![](http://i.huffpost.com/gen/202530/BADGES.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070648/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_4.16.27_PM.png)
Playful Products
Situation-Specific Designs
Newsgames & Gameworlds
![](http://www.adverblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/guardianmedalist01.jpg)
![](http://fritzu.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/sweatshop3.jpg)
Playful Practices
“There’s a relationship that we have with our audience that frankly is different than a lot of other news organizations. I mean, nobody puts a Chicago Tribune bumper sticker on the back of their car, but everyone’s got NPR stickers.”
Brian Boyer on "Harnessing the Love" of the NPR Audience
BuzzFeed
![](https://nyupubposts.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/dsc_5899.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070693/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_4.42.02_PM.png)
Game Team Products
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070697/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_4.38.07_PM.png)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070706/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_4.50.58_PM.png)
![](http://cloudrock.asia/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/buzzfeed-quiz.png)
Playtesting the Public
![](http://blog.topohq.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/buzzfeed-content-machine.jpg)
Games & Business
![](http://www.lightninggamingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Destiny-Gameplay-Experience-Gameplay-trailer-details-everything-you-need-to-know-about-upcoming-MMOFPS-3-1024x576.jpg)
![](http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/139e41305afcb54d58562c02eb3e56af/200188788/two-dots-main.jpg)
![](http://graphics8.nytimes.com/subscriptions/Multiproduct/nytnowassets/img/NYTNOW_FBSHARE.jpg)
Playful Challenges
- Culture
- Brand
- Cost (Time, Effort, Skills)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/maxwellfoxman/images/1070780/Screenshot_2015-02-12_at_5.24.15_PM.png)
Practical Suggestions
- Think like a Game Designer
- Flexibility
- Formatting
- Iteration
- Playtesting
- Rethinking relationships to stories and audience
Technical Suggestions
- Use skills, staff and talent already existing within the newsroom
- Play with Open Source and Free Software
![](http://animalnewyork.com/wp-content/uploads/ny-times-haikus.jpg)
Conclusions
Questions?
@MaxwellFoxman
mhf2012@columbia.edu
Play the News
By Maxwell Foxman
Play the News
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