Hacking the PSP Blog

Kotaku Posts Rumor, Sony Blackballs Kotaku, Sony and Kotaku Make-Up

Last Thursday Kotaku ran an article about a rumor they received from an anonymous source concerning Sony's plan to launch PlayStation Home. According to recent trademarks by Sony, PlayStation Home appears to be a social networking feature for the PS3. Before running the story, Kotaku attempted to confirm said rumors with Sony. Sony declined to comment on the rumor and asked them not to run the story on their blog adding that doing so could cause harm to their relationship with the company. From the article:

"Specifically, they said we would be asked to return our debug PS3, uninvited from all meetings scheduled with Sony at GDC, including one on blogger relations and a one-on-one with Phil Harrison, and that they would no longer deal with us."

With that, Kotaku decided to run the story anyway, forwarding the article to their contact at SCEA Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Dave Karraker. Here was Karraker's response to Brian Crecente's email:

"Brian, This is an email I was really hoping I would never have to write, but it is what it is. When I came on board here at Sony, I made every effort to be as inclusive as possible to media and the blogging community in an effort to improve previously damaged relationships. This included getting people access to executives, opening our events to more individuals and personally responding as quickly as possible to inquiries. This was done in good faith with the thought that the people I was working with would operate with the same integrity and courtesy I think I demonstrated when I was a reporter. Basically, I went out on a limb for a lot of people -- people SCEA PR and SCEA management had written off. I caught a lot of flack for it from folks, but I felt strongly it was the right thing to do.

I am very disappointed that after trying to work with you as closely as possible and provide you and your team with access and information, you chose to report on this rumor.... I can't defend outlets that can't work cooperatively with us.

So, it is for this reason, that we will be canceling all further interviews for Kotaku staff at GDC and will be dis-inviting you to our media event next Tuesday. Until we can find a way to work better together, information provided to your site will only be that found in the public forum.

Again, I take absolutely no joy in sending you this note, but given the situation you have put me into, I have no choice.

Dave Karraker
Sr. Director, Corporate Communications
Sony Computer Entertainment America"

Crecente replied with:

"Dave, Obviously I disagree with your decision, but it sounds like your mind is made up. I think this only highlights the differences that PR people and journalists have. My interest is not in making sure that Sony has positive news or that the timing of their news is correct, my job only is to inform the readers of news as quickly and accurately as I can. Hopefully, one day this dispute will settle down and you will reopen communication with us. Know this, while I disagree with this decision and think it is a monumental mistake, it will not effect our continuing coverage of Sony and the gaming software and hardware your company makes and supports. Take care, Brian"

That same day, Dave Karraker contacted Brian Crecente at Kotaku to discuss the matter and the two were able to mend relations Sony and Kotaku. Here's what Brian had to say in his post about their discussion:

"First, I have to say thank you to all of the websites, newspapers, magazines, people who were so quick to come to our defense and supported our decision to stand by our story.

Second, I want to thank Dave Karraker, head of SCEA PR, who was big enough to call me and talk the whole thing through after this exploded.

He told me his take on the story and his frustrations and I told him mine, in the end we agreed to disagree on some level, but also decided that our readers and gamers in general would be best served if Sony and Kotaku could still play nicely together.

In a nutshell: The story remains up and Sony has re-invited us to the meetings and interviews initially scheduled for the Game Developers Conference.

It's unfortunate that we, not just Kotaku and Sony, but all of us had to go through this, but it's good to see the outcome: We were doing our job and Sony was doing theirs and now we can both continue to do so."

Original Articles
Rumor: Sony To Unveil PlayStation Home
Sony Blackballs Kotaku
Sony and Kotaku Make-Up
PlayStation Home The Trademark

Source: Kotaku