Welcoming Scott Hayden as Highway to VR’s New Govt Editor

I’m happy to introduced that longtime Editor Scott Hayden is stepping as much as grow to be Highway to VR’s new Govt Editor.

After beginning with Highway to VR as a freelancer in 2014, turning into a contributor in 2016, after which Editor in 2019, Scott Hayden is now the publication’s new Govt Editor. As such, Scott is accountable for all editorial choices and technique, and for upholding the requirements of reporting that Highway to VR has been devoted to during the last 15 years.

Wanting again at Scott’s first-ever printed work on Highway to VR in November 2014 jogs my memory simply how sturdy of a author he was from the very starting. Even then, his articles have been nicely written, knowledgeable, and considerate.

And within the 12 years since, he’s gone from a powerful author to a terrific reporter with unbelievable versatility; Scott has dealt with all of it: each day information, opinions, interviews, worldwide conferences, editorial insights, and, rather more. And, importantly, he is aware of easy methods to make the powerful editorial calls that guarantee Highway to VR’s protection stays journalism fairly than advertising.

Past his dedication to the Highway to VR mission, Scott can be a really clever, very curious, and really sort particular person whom I’m lucky to have as a colleague. I can consider actually nobody higher to take care of this publication’s values because it continues to evolve with the world of XR over the approaching years.

A Welcome Letter From Scott

In early 2014, I purchased a used Oculus Rift DK1 off eBay. On the time, I felt like I used to be late to the sport. I wasn’t an authentic backer of the 2013 Kickstarter. I wasn’t a developer, and I had no actual intentions of turning into one. However I may personal one thing that I knew was a chunk of the long run. One thing I may strap to my head to expertise a mess of worlds outdoors my tiny Italian condominium.

I began a VR-focused weblog, which is now defunct (and cringey to look again on), but it surely was a spot the place I may train my ideas and find out how I do greatest: by writing. Quickly after, I began working as a freelancer for Highway to VR beneath Ben Lang and Paul James, who took me, as a latest historical past undergrad already very snug with analysis and writing, and gave me the mentorship and public discussion board to cowl historical past because it occurred.

Through the years, that sporadic experiment in writing changed into a profession I by no means actually deliberate on having. I watched the trade mature, realized easy methods to report on it, and finally discovered myself doing as a lot enhancing and shaping of the publication as I did writing for it.

Now, after 12 years, just a few job titles, uncountable press room coffees, and lots of late nights, that zeal has solely grown.

I’m excited and deeply honored to steer Highway to VR as government editor. I feel I’ve interacted with Ben for therefore lengthy now that I nearly have a miniature model of him inside my head. As you’ll learn from Ben additional beneath, he’ll nonetheless be right here to assist, however his focus is shifting towards enhancing the reader expertise with fixes and new options. The place he does nonetheless contribute occasional writing, he not solely agreed—however really insisted—that he gained’t cowl something that will contain a battle of curiosity along with his new position.

As I’d hope our long-time readers can attest, Highway to VR’s values are clear: we apply journalism, and we don’t do cheerleading. A few of that comes from the information that the XR trade doesn’t want us and can thrive by itself deserves. That’s the lens I’ve used when protecting VR video games, {hardware}, and the businesses who make all of it, which generally would fairly we signal-boost a press launch than ask why.

Generally you have to go in opposition to your greatest pursuits to cowl a narrative independently. I’ve executed that for the final decade and anticipate anybody who commits their identify to a Highway to VR byline to do the identical.

As VR adjustments and grows, we’ll proceed following the highway towards completely indistinguishable digital actuality—that’s the precise highway we’re on, by the best way. There will probably be loads of crossroads alongside the best way, and I’m excited to assist navigate them.

At the very least on the instant horizon, AI is disrupting each conventional journalism and the methods we devour information, whereas XR is turning into more and more intertwined with the identical AI-powered applied sciences.

As we thread these challenges, Highway to VR will proceed because it all the time has: by being intensely human, not solely within the tales we write, however within the curiosity and skepticism our readership expects from us.

Ben Lang Turns into Highway to VR Enterprise Director Alongside XR Trade Position

With Scott taking my place as Govt Editor, I’m shifting to the brand new position of Enterprise Director. After 15 years of being accountable for editorial technique, alongside everything of Highway to VR as a enterprise, this new position offers me the chance to rebalance my time and give attention to some underserved areas of Highway to VR, particularly: the reader expertise and media platform aspect.

Highway to VR is a very totally different beast in comparison with after I began it as just a little passion weblog again in 2011. The world of on-line media has modified significantly, and so have the expectation of readers. With this new focus, my aim is to carry Highway to VR—as a platform—into the trendy period.

The work is already nicely underway.

Earlier this yr we launched Highway to VR 5.0 which introduced a large enchancment in velocity, a vastly improved responsive and cell expertise, and clearer group of content material to assist readers transcend simply the entrance web page. Behind the scenes it additionally streamlined the writing course of, improved our means to serve inline video content material, and many extra.

Since then we’ve additionally rolled out a ‘darkish mode’ (which you’ll be able to toggle within the high proper of the menu bar), and piloted interactive content material in our articles (just like the timeline right here). And there’s extra within the works that you just’ll see over the months to come back.

Whereas I’m enthusiastic about what’s within the works for Highway to VR, my complete time as Enterprise Director will probably be stored to part-time standing, making method for my new full-time focus because the Head of Strategic Partnerships at VITURE.

I’m excited to take the leap from reporting on the trade to being a part of the trade correct, and what we’re constructing at Viture. I’ll be comfortable to speak extra about that over on my private Twitter or LinkedIn, however Highway to VR’s editorial surfaces have by no means been a spot for advertising, and that isn’t going to start out now.

Fairly the other, really. Conditional on my acceptance of VITURE’s provide, the corporate signed an settlement that fully insulates it from any efforts to make use of my place as leverage to affect choices made at Highway to VR.

I anticipate I’ll nonetheless contribute some writing to Highway to VR right here and there—in spite of everything, you don’t go from 15 years learning this area intently to instantly having zero opinions about it—however my writings won’t ever be about Viture or issues through which my place with the corporate would create a battle of curiosity.

And with the Govt Editorship in Scott’s palms, I really feel assured that Highway to VR will retain the editorial independence that we’ve labored to take care of over all these years.

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