178: The Process of Investigative Reporting, With Jason Schreier

Jason Schreier, lead video game reporter at Bloomberg, details the intersection of daily news reporting and long-form book authorship. His methodology centers on high-trust, phone-based investigative work, prioritizing direct conversations over email to maintain source security and accuracy. He emphasizes that his role involves uncovering industry realities—such as crunch culture and studio volatility—rather than acting as an activist for change, though his work often drives public discourse. His writing process for books like *Play Nice* relies on extensive, firsthand interviews and meticulous corroboration, often requiring years of research to piece together complex corporate histories. While he maintains professional boundaries with PR teams to ensure journalistic integrity, he acknowledges the inherent tension in reporting on negative industry trends, such as mass layoffs, while balancing the need for objective, fact-based storytelling in an increasingly volatile gaming landscape.