y0y0y0y0shi0 Wrote:Let's take the sex out of that.
"If I'm friends with someone, and I happen to be a video game reviewer, and I happen to review the game the person I am friends with made and give a positive review, does that discredit my review of the game?"
Obviously the sole reason I gave a positive review of the game was because I was friends with them. But as soon as I have sex with that person, the whole world goes to pomegranate and nothing else matters, right?
Yes, you said it yourself, that this is Game Journalism. With journalism comes some professional and ethical standards, including a disclosure of any information which could possibly sway your opinion on the subject matter. By not disclosing this information, and later finding out that there was a relationship(connection, relation, association, link, correlation, correspondence, parallel, alliance, or bond), it not only discredits you, but your review and the company you write for.