I newsgame: tra giornalismo e gioco = Newsgames: between journalism and gaming

Abstract

The ubiquity of news, global access to information, instant reporting, interactivity, multimedia content, extreme personalization, and the multiplication of market actors: journalism is experiencing the most fundamental transformation since the advent of the penny press in the 19th century (Pavlik, 2001). This transformation sees, among other changes, the emergence of newsgames, high-budget journalistic formats that combine the power of game mechanics with the narrative and purposes of traditional print (Bogost et al., 2011; Bogost, 2020; Meier, 2018). By leveraging the immersive and interactive nature of games, along with a degree of personalization and action, journalism in newsgames presents a revolution in how we consume, interact with, and perceive information and news. Through newsgames, the audience is no longer a passive consumer of news, a mere spectator, but an active participant in the narrative process, promoting a deeper understanding through experiential learning (Chang et al., 2020). The journalism of newsgames breaks the boundaries of conventional journalistic reporting by offering interactive simulations, data visualizations, and engaging narratives (Gutsche, 2021). By incorporating game elements into news dissemination, the journalism of newsgames offers a unique and powerful way to inform and educate the public. This approach allows readers/players to navigate multiple perspectives, challenging their critical thinking abilities and encouraging empathy and understanding, benefiting from a deeper connection with the information market. Through the study of representative cases in the international landscape related to complex issues such as international conflicts, humanitarian crisis, and economical struggling, the article aims to highlight how newsgames can contribute to a greater awareness and understanding of news by the public while also presenting new challenges.