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Cecilia D'Anastasio
Video game reporter at Bloomberg
Cecilia D'Anastasio is a prominent video game reporter currently working at Bloomberg News, where she covers various aspects of the gaming industry and digital culture. She has a notable background in investigative journalism, particularly focusing on issues related to streaming platforms and gaming culture.
Early Life and Education
Born on July 22, 1991, D'Anastasio graduated from Reed College with a degree in Classics and Classical Languages, Philosophy, Literatures, and Linguistics in 2013. She began her career in journalism with freelance contributions to several publications, including The Nation.
Career Path
D'Anastasio's professional journey in gaming journalism began at Kotaku, where she worked from 2016 to 2020. During her time there, she gained recognition for her investigative piece titled "Inside The Culture Of Sexism At Riot Games," which detailed allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination within the company. This article was highly influential, earning her the Writers Guild award for digital news writing in 2019 and being recognized by Variety as one of the most significant pieces of games reporting of the year.34
After her tenure at Kotaku, she joined WIRED as a staff writer from January 2020 until January 2022. Her work there included covering the gaming industry and contributing to the magazine's dedicated gaming section. D'Anastasio was awarded SXSW's inaugural Game Industry Journalist of the Year in 2020 and was named to Forbes' "30 Under 30" list in media the following year.234
In January 2022, she transitioned to Bloomberg News, where she continues to report on video games, esports, and digital culture. Her investigative work includes significant stories about Twitch and its impact on young audiences, as well as broader issues within the gaming community.12
Achievements
D'Anastasio has received numerous accolades throughout her career:
- Writers Guild Award for digital news writing (2019)
- International Game Developers Association’s Positive Impact Award (2019)
- Knickerbocker Award for Best Games Journalism from the New York Videogame Critics Circle (2019)
- SXSW Game Industry Journalist of the Year (2020)
- Listed among Variety’s “Most Influential In Video Games” (2018)
Her work has had a significant impact on discussions surrounding ethics in gaming journalism and platform governance.
Current Focus
At Bloomberg News, D'Anastasio continues to explore critical issues in the gaming industry, including investigations into child exploitation on streaming platforms like Twitch and the implications of deepfake technology in gaming.124 Her commitment to uncovering complex narratives within the industry makes her a leading voice in gaming journalism today.
Highlights
New: Blizzard cofounder's Dreamhaven is struggling in today's challenged games market per an internal letter. Its new games sold below goals and it's seeking funding.
It's not alone. Some of the most promising new studios are hitting roadblocks. Story: https://t.co/6hJrpVYTEA
I reached out to 440 moderators for this. It's a uniquely hard demographic to report on - one critical to the infrastructure of culture. Many live in job deserts and are afraid to speak out. Thankfully a lot of them did over concerns the AI they're training will replace them
