Above-the-fold news: I've launched my own editorial consulting business, Chelsea Stark Advisory, bringing my skills to focused, resourceful teams looking to build smarter with what they have. chelseastark.com

broad of war was right there

so nice of @zoehhannah.com and @midimyers.com to have me by Mothership this week. I help readers decide which Persona to start with, and yes, it might might be Metaphor.

Mothership@mothership.blog · 2mo ago

Persona expert Chelsea Stark knows exactly where to start with the series: www.mothership.blog/which-person...

Over 200 active video game publications. Text. Audio. Video. Reporting. Criticism. Analysis. Blogs. Sites. Networks and wikis. Even in its incomplete form, the document is a treasure trove! I hope it helps you find your next favorite blogger, essayist, reporter, video maker, podcaster, and more!

An Incomplete Catalogue of Games Media in 2026

Find your new favorite video game publications

postgame.substack.com

Vox Media excelled thanks to its people, on all levels and teams. There are so many thoughtful, kind, generous souls still there — or already pushed out. Really hoping as many people as possible are retained in whatever the future brings.

Chris Plante@plante.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Sending all of my love to the Vox Media folks. I hope whatever deals are made in the coming weeks, they benefit the writers, editors, artists, designers, video makers, coders, project managers, salespeople, P&C folks, and everybody else. They deserve to land at homes that respect their talents.

my partner is playing this, and I enjoy asking ridiculous questions like, "are you still enemy to all crabs?" and "how is turning your body into a battery going?" Pretty sure he's been murdered by his evil twin at least twice. seems good?

jason grinblat@jfg.land · 6mo ago

Heartwarmed and flattered by a new crop of folks getting into Caves of Qud on Switch. If you're having trouble with how deranged it is at the start, please stick with it: it gets much worse

WAKE UP, IT'S MOTHERSHIP MONDAY

Mothership@mothership.blog · 7mo ago

Welcome to Mothership. ✨ mothership.blog

if you want MORE details about @zoehhannah.com's & my vision for @mothership.blog, listen to our guest appearance on our former boss (former polygon EIC) @plante.bsky.social's podcast Post Games. we talk about our history in the space & our dreams for its future postgame.substack.com/p/mothership...

Mothership and a History of Women in Games Media

A new gaming website?! In this economy?!

postgame.substack.com

omg so excited to be beamed aboard the Mothership. Very proud of @midimyers.com and @zoehhannah.com for making something ambitious and smart. Too long this is an audience underserved by gaming spaces, and I can't wait for full launch.

Mothership@mothership.blog · 7mo ago

It's time to board the Mothership. www.youtube.com/shorts/iEw90...

Alright Dave Portnoy and Bill Ackman time to leave New York City and never return like you promised

For some additional vibes on Nexstar's local TV station network, I worked for a local TV station Nexstar took over managing in 2009. When they did, their health plans no longer covered birth control pills.

This story is a year old and very important. As someone who knows jack shit about right wing references and ideology but knows plenty about gaming culture, Helldivers was specifically attracting fascist freaks even though the devs went to great lengths to explain the concept of satire.

For some Helldivers 2 players, the fascist role-play has gone too far

‘They talk like we’re actually soldiers’

polygon.com

the shooter was an online gamer. it's important for newsrooms to understand video games more than ever. that's where i step in. so umamusume: pretty derby (ウマ娘 プリティーダービー) is a gacha horse racing simulator based on real life japanese race horses. in the world of umamusume, anime girls replace horses,

I think people need to mention this part, when talking about how culture desk work is dangerous. Rarely do news organizations understand when threats are real and how to respond.

Ben Collins@bencollins.bsky.social · 11mo ago

They do, and they need to stand up for them when the bad faith shit hits. To be real, I got pushed out in a true targeted avalanche from the richest guy in the world and hoards of his minions, so management didn't know how to respond. But Round 2 can and should be different. But I ain't going back.

As reporters wrestle how to cover another deeply online shooting suspect, I'm trying to imagine a scenario 30 years ago where shell casings had sports or music references instead of gaming ones. We continue to shout that gaming IS youth culture, but newsrooms can't speak about (or to) youth culture.

it’s been two months since i got laid off. In case you were wondering how it’s going, i’ve reached the “making pickles” stage of my unemployment journey, Send me your homemade pickle advice!

for anyone in NYC looking: I was able to buy a Switch 2 at the best buy in atlantic terminal about 45 minutes ago. They said they had “plenty”.

14 years ago I pitched what would become Polygon to a startup called Sports Blogs Inc on the unfurnished third floor of a DC townhome. I held a laptop on my knees and went through a deck. Today that same company -- now called Vox Media -- sold Polygon to Valnet.

here's that Starter Pack of Polygon people you were looking for bsky.app/starter-pack...

I'm still in shock and so so deeply angry about Vox Media's decision to sell Polygon. I am one of the over 20 people laid off today from the best damn website out there. I'm so proud of the place we built, and the workplace I helped shape. I'm sure I'll have more to say soon, but processing it now

Snoop and Tom Brady: say no to hate Kendrick: actually

"[Brendan] Carr, who was appointed by President Trump, said the investigation would focus on the stations’ practice of airing sponsorships." 🤔

F.C.C. Chair Orders Investigation Into NPR and PBS Stations

Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, recently expressed concern about NPR and PBS’s sponsorships.

nytimes.com

My last story for @polygon.com I'm so grateful to @charliehall.bsky.social for giving me the space to write about indie TTRPGs, about things that matter, about tariffs and censorship and platform migration. And with my final act, I used that platform to do some good.

Polygon@polygon.com · 2y ago

This $10 game bundle is a great deal to support the trans community

My latest project is live: Culture Shock. 14-ish stories running this week about localization and cultural differences in media. Articles today by @duncanfyfe.net, Gab Hernandez, @plante.bsky.social, and I. Art by @davidhellman.bsky.social. www.polygon.com/special-issu...

Culture Shock

We explore some of the many ways media changes when released in different territories

polygon.com

How long until gaming companies start rolling back these sorts of important programs? Maybe it’s already happening? If you know something or have thoughts, let’s talk for a potential story. I’m on Signal at nicolecarpenter.87 and email at nicole@polygon.com.

Axios@axios.com · 2y ago

EXCLUSIVE: Meta is cutting major DEI programs, effective immediately — including for hiring, training and picking suppliers.

You will see many important ways to help and donate to the people of Los Angeles. Here's one I don't want overlooked. LA's Fire Department I'm the child of a firefighter and I've seen the immediate danger and long-term trauma of tragic events. Consider giving to LAFD Foundation supportlafd.org

Does anyone know NBC's updates policy? because the Among Us piece got a significant correction and context boost without any kind of Update/Correction note to the reader.

These hobbies are as common as they come these days, especially for a 26-year-old. Good stuff on Polygon today. 👀 www.polygon.com/analysis/493...

We found everything we could about Luigi Mangione’s gaming history — and it doesn’t say much about him

A look into the suspect’s gaming history

polygon.com

I get a lot of emails from people asking if they can pay us to get rid of the chumboxes and bad ads on the site. It took some doing…. but now you can! And if you sign up for a yearly subscription to The Verge, we’ll send you our latest print magazine: CONTENT GOBLINS www.theverge.com/2024/12/3/24...