VentureBeat seeks games and gadgets reporter

VentureBeat and GamesBeat is hiring a writer to put a magnifying glass on video games and gadgets — and how technology intersects them.

The games/gadget writer leads the coverage of gadgets for both sides of the site and also is the face for GamesBeat in San Francisco, taking meetings with game developers and publishers to see new games, doing interviews for news and feature coverage, and more for stories on GamesBeat. Gaming hits both the consumer electronics world and the game industry, and this writer will cover how gadgets and games do this — for example, virtual reality is big in games right now, but its use outside gaming will only grow over the next few years.

For GamesBeat

The writer will cover gaming — from small startups to big publishers such as Electronic Arts — for GamesBeat. This will include writing news articles, reviewing games, checking out early code for previews and features, and short and long features. This person will also take meetings with developers and companies in and around San Francisco. They would report to the managing editor for GamesBeat. While we do report on the culture of gaming from time to time, our main focus is on the business and technology of games — don’t expect to be writing solely about console games in this position. We cover console, mobile, and PC gaming.

Goals include:

• 2-4 posts on GamesBeat/per day
• Helping with each month’s reviews
• Taking appointments in San Francisco
• Expanding coverage of VR and other emerging game tech
• Participating in our events, helping to find speakers and panelists, and developing content

For VentureBeat

The writer will also cover gadgets for VentureBeat, reviewing consumer electronics such as mobile phones and tablets, PCs, “smart devices” like connected gadgets (think smartwatches, smart lamps, smart speakers, etc.), and any sort of “gadget” coverage that we think our readers would find interesting. For this, they would take direction from the executive editor for VentureBeat and work closely with our mobile reporter, who will also review gadgets for VentureBeat.

Goals include:

• 1-3 posts on VentureBeat/per day (applicable posts from GamesBeat can count toward this)
• Setting up a review schedule for gadgets
• Delivering regular reviews of gadgets, providing quick turnaround of hands-on experiences and early reviews on the hottest new gadgets (like an iPhone launch).
• Expanding our coverage of VR and AR for non-game uses
• Participating in our events, helping to find speakers and panelists, and developing content

Candidates should have:

• 3-4 years experience as a writer for either a technology- or games-oriented publication
• Excellent communication skills, including writing, editing, excellent interpersonal skills both in person and by phone, with high level of professionalism.
• Experience with WordPress or another electronic CMS
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

If you’re interested, please contact GamesBeat managing editor Jason Wilson at jason.wilson@venturebeat.com with a cover letter, and resume, and five articles that show your coverage of games and gadgets.