Cecilia D'Anastasio
{{short description|American video game journalist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Cecilia D'Anastasio March 2025.png
| alt =
| caption = Cecilia D'Anastasio in March 2025.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|07|22}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality =
| alma_mater = Reed College
| occupation = Journalist
| years_active = 2014–present
| known_for = Video game journalism
| website = {{URL|cecianasta.com}}
}}
Cecilia D'Anastasio (born July 22, 1991) is an American journalist who primarily covers the video game industry. From 2016 to 2020, D'Anastasio wrote for Kotaku, and she was recognized for a 2018 article reporting allegations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination at Riot Games. Subsequently, she wrote for Wired magazine and joined Bloomberg News in 2022 to cover the video game industry. While at Bloomberg, D'Anastasio won a 2024 George Polk Award for her reporting on child exploitation in Roblox.
Education and early career
Cecilia D'Anastasio was born on July 22, 1991.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2021/media/ |title=Forbes 30 Under 30 |website=Forbes |date=2020 |accessdate=September 6, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201131606/https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2021/media/ |archivedate=December 1, 2020 |url-status=live }}{{cite tweet |number=623907991914463232 |user=cecianasta |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Today is my birthday, and as a gift, I'd be so appreciative if everyone could take a moment to think about the freelance economy. |date=July 22, 2015 |accessdate=September 6, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603185841/https://twitter.com/cecianasta/status/623907991914463232 |archivedate=June 3, 2020 |url-status=live }}{{cite tweet |number=1048629462957527041 |user=cecianasta |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=my first M:TG release event! at 27! wish me luck! |date=October 6, 2018 |accessdate=September 6, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603182744/https://twitter.com/cecianasta/status/1048629462957527041 |archivedate=June 3, 2020 |url-status=live }} She studied at Reed College, where she received a degree in classics.{{cite magazine |title=Meet Our Team |url=https://www.wired.com/wired-staff/ |magazine=Wired |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107222358/https://www.wired.com/wired-staff/ |archivedate=November 7, 2020 |quote=Cecilia graduated from Reed College with a degree in Classics...}} D'Anastasio did freelance work for several publications, including The Nation.{{cite web |title=Careers in Esports: Cecilia D'Anastasio, Staff Writer for Wired |url=https://www.nasef.org/news/blog/cecilia-d-anastasio-journalist/ |access-date=September 13, 2021 |publisher=North America Scholastic Esports Federation |date=October 29, 2020 |archive-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614211120/https://www.nasef.org/news/blog/cecilia-d-anastasio-journalist/ |url-status=dead }}
Career
= At ''Kotaku'' =
D'Anastasio joined Kotaku as a staff writer in June 2016,{{cite news |last1=Alexandra |first1=Heather |title=An Interview With Staff Writer Cecilia D'Anastasio |url=https://kotaku.com/an-interview-with-staff-writer-cecilia-danastasio-1786530376 |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=Kotaku |date=September 12, 2016}} focusing on investigative stories.{{cite news |last1=Park |first1=Gene |title=Jason Schreier is leaving Kotaku, citing G/O Media as reason |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2020/04/16/jason-schreier-is-leaving-kotaku-citing-go-media-reason/ |accessdate=November 10, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417111920/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2020/04/16/jason-schreier-is-leaving-kotaku-citing-go-media-reason/ |url-status=live }}
Her article "Inside The Culture Of Sexism At Riot Games", published in August 2018, details allegations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination at Riot Games according to the accounts of twenty-eight current and former employees.{{cite news |last1=Fogel |first1=Stefanie |title=History of Sexism at Riot Games, Kotaku Reports |url=https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/kotaku-riot-games-sexism-1202898427/ |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=Variety |date=August 7, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109022741/https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/kotaku-riot-games-sexism-1202898427/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Valens |first1=Ana |title=New report explores allegations of sexism at Riot Games |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/riot-games-lol-sexual-harassment-misogyny-31915 |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=Dot Esports |date=August 7, 2018}} Following its publication, current and former employees also shared their own experiences regarding workplace harassment on social media.{{cite news |last1=Asarch |first1=Steven |title=Riot Games employees have been vocal about their experiences regarding harassment on the job |url=https://www.newsweek.com/riot-games-kotaku-meagen-marie-twitter-1066841 |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=Newsweek |date=August 9, 2018 |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027115058/https://www.newsweek.com/riot-games-kotaku-meagen-marie-twitter-1066841 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Cass |title=Riot Games responds to toxic workplace allegations and reports |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/29/17792680/riot-games-response-toxic-workplace |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=Polygon |date=August 29, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109023954/https://www.polygon.com/2018/8/29/17792680/riot-games-response-toxic-workplace |url-status=live }} On the day of the publication, Riot Games released a statement generally addressing its workplace culture, hiring practices, and diversity and inclusion program in response to the allegations detailed in the article.{{cite news |last1=Stevens |first1=Colin |title=Riot Games Comments on Accusations of Sexist Culture at League of Legends Studio |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/08/08/riot-games-comments-on-accusations-of-sexist-culture-at-league-of-legends-studio |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=IGN |date=August 8, 2018}} Later that month, the company released a statement outlining its "first steps" towards addressing the allegations.{{cite news |last1=Grubb |first1=Jeff |title=League of Legends studio Riot promises to take steps to address sexism |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/08/29/league-of-legends-studio-riot-promises-to-take-steps-to-address-sexism/ |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=VentureBeat |date=August 29, 2018}}
At the 71st Writers Guild of America Awards, D'Anastasio was presented with the Digital News award for the article.{{cite news |last1=Valentine |first1=Rebekah |title=Cecilia D'Anastasio wins Writers Guild of America Award |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-02-18-cecilia-danastasio-wins-writers-guild-of-america-award |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=GamesIndustry.biz |date=February 18, 2019}} Variety described the article as "the most important piece of games reporting of the year, and maybe even years", naming D'Anastasio as one of the "Most Influential in Video Games" for the year of 2018.{{cite news |last1=Winkie |first1=Luke |title=Most Influential in Video Games 2018: Esports Stars, Union Leaders, Iconic Indies |url=https://variety.com/2018/gaming/features/video-game-influencers-2018-1203094002/ |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=Variety |date=December 31, 2018 |archive-date=September 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928185430/https://variety.com/2018/gaming/features/video-game-influencers-2018-1203094002/ |url-status=live }} In the following year, the New York Videogame Critics Circle presented her with their "Knickerbocker Award for Best Games Journalism".{{cite news |url=https://www.dualshockers.com/the-new-york-game-awards-2019-winners/ |title=The New York Game Awards Reveals 2019 Winners; God of War Earns the Top Prize |last=Meitzler |first=Ryan |work=DualShockers |date=January 23, 2019 |accessdate=May 23, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123223437/https://www.dualshockers.com/the-new-york-game-awards-2019-winners/ |archivedate=January 23, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/new-york-game-awards-journalism-1203107009/ |title=New York Game Awards Journalism Noms Include Riot Games, Telltale Games Exposes |last=Crecente |first=Brian |work=Variety |date=January 14, 2019 |accessdate=May 23, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114220851/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/new-york-game-awards-journalism-1203107009/ |archivedate=January 14, 2019}} D'Anastasio also made an appearance on Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, where she spoke about labor issues in the video game industry and her investigative work on Riot Games.{{cite news |last1=Knoop |first1=Joseph |title=Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj Season Premiere Tackles Games Industry Labor Issues |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/08/04/patriot-act-with-hasan-minhaj-season-premiere-tackles-games-industry-labor-issues |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=IGN |date=August 4, 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001740/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/08/04/patriot-act-with-hasan-minhaj-season-premiere-tackles-games-industry-labor-issues |url-status=live }}
= At ''Wired'' =
D'Anastasio was hired as a staff writer for Wired magazine in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Flynn |first1=Kerry |title=Bloomberg and The Washington Post are betting big on gaming. Here's why |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/08/media/gaming-media-bloomberg-washington-post/index.html |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |publisher=CNN Business |date=September 8, 2020}} In March, she received SXSW's inaugural Journalist of the Year award at the 2020 Gaming Awards for her "groundbreaking and influential" coverage of the video game industry.{{cite news |last1=McAloon |first1=Alissa |title=Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice named game of the year in 2020 SXSW Gaming Awards |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/360092/Sekiro_Shadows_Die_Twice_named_game_of_the_year_in_2020_SXSW_Gaming_Awards.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20201117050134/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/360092/Sekiro_Shadows_Die_Twice_named_game_of_the_year_in_2020_SXSW_Gaming_Awards.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=Gamasutra |date=March 25, 2020}} In October, the magazine launched its Wired Games section, which covers the video game industry. The section features work written by various staff writers including D'Anastasio.{{cite news |last1=Sinclair |first1=Brendan |title=Wired launching new gaming sub-vertical |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-08-27-wired-launching-new-gaming-sub-vertical |accessdate=November 9, 2020 |work=GamesIndustry.biz |date=August 27, 2020 |archive-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121143937/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-08-27-wired-launching-new-gaming-sub-vertical |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last1=Henry |first1=Alan |title=Welcome to WIRED Games |url=https://www.wired.com/story/welcome-to-wired-games/ |access-date=January 29, 2021 |magazine=Wired |date=October 5, 2020 |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125100830/https://www.wired.com/story/welcome-to-wired-games/ |url-status=live }} Later that year, Forbes named her to its 30 Under 30 list in the media category.{{cite web |title=Cecilia D'Anastasio |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/cecilia-danastasio/?list=30under30-media |website=Forbes 30 Under 30 |access-date=25 April 2021}}
= At Bloomberg News =
After two years writing for Wired magazine, at the beginning of 2022 D'Anastasio joined Bloomberg News to cover the video game industry.{{cite news |last1=Roush |first1=Chris |title=Bloomberg hires D'Anastasio to cover gaming industry |url=https://talkingbiznews.com/they-talk-biz-news/bloomberg-hires-danastasio-to-cover-gaming-industry/ |access-date=4 February 2022 |work=Talking Biz News |date=6 January 2022 |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204183322/https://talkingbiznews.com/they-talk-biz-news/bloomberg-hires-danastasio-to-cover-gaming-industry/ |url-status=live }} D'Anastasio won the 2024 George Polk Award for Technology Reporting for her reporting on child exploitation in Roblox.{{Cite web |title=Bloomberg Wins George Polk Award for Technology Reporting |url=https://www.bloombergmedia.com/press/bloomberg-wins-george-polk-award-for-technology-reporting/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Bloomberg Media |language=en-US}} For the same piece, she was a finalist for the 2025 ASME Awards.{{Cite web |title=ASME ANNOUNCES NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDS 2025 FINALISTS |url=https://www.asme.media/asme-announces-national-magazine-awards-2025-finalists |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=www.asme.media}}
Selected publications
= Bloomberg =
- {{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Roblox Is Fighting to Keep Pedophiles Away and Not Always Winning |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-roblox-pedophile-problem |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250205062442/https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-roblox-pedophile-problem/ |archive-date=2025-02-05 |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |ref=none}}
- {{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Roblox Lures Pro Game Developers Who Compete With Coding Kids |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-21/roblox-attracts-pro-video-game-developers-who-compete-with-kids-for-hits/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230320201429/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-21/roblox-attracts-pro-video-game-developers-who-compete-with-kids-for-hits |archive-date=2023-03-20 |access-date=2025-02-27 |work=Bloomberg News|ref=none}}
- {{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Twitch's New Star of Streaming Charts Is Anime Avatar Ironmouse |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-06/twitch-s-new-star-of-streaming-charts-is-anime-avatar-ironmouse/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230109092121/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-06/twitch-s-new-star-of-streaming-charts-is-anime-avatar-ironmouse |archive-date=2023-01-09 |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=Bloomberg News |ref=none}}
- {{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Can EA's FIFA-free soccer game win fans? |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2023-fc24-ea-sports-fifa |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240312151436/https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2023-fc24-ea-sports-fifa/ |archive-date=2024-03-12 |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |ref=none}}
- {{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=September 20, 2024 |title=Xbox's President on Handheld Devices and Subscription Gaming |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-09-20/xbox-president-sarah-bond-predicts-the-future-of-microsoft-s-next-game-console?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTcyNjgzOTQ3MCwiZXhwIjoxNzI3NDQ0MjcwLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTSzNUMFVEV1JHRzAwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJGRUIzODlCNUI2ODI0RTY0QjY5MENEODE1RTBDREZGRCJ9.dH5qgLYB_dl-Nkps4EwnYSAkFlr9-8SGPTjUxSr74VQ |work=Bloomberg Businessweek}}
- {{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Google and Microsoft Are Supercharging AI Deepfake Porn |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-24/google-microsoft-tools-behind-surge-in-deepfake-ai-porn/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240218202041/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-24/google-microsoft-tools-behind-surge-in-deepfake-ai-porn |archive-date=2024-02-18 |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=Bloomberg News |ref=none }}
- {{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=US Malls Avoid Death Spiral With Help of Japanese Video Arcades |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-05-30/us-malls-avoid-death-spiral-with-help-of-japanese-video-arcades/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240618045824/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-05-30/us-malls-avoid-death-spiral-with-help-of-japanese-video-arcades |archive-date=2024-06-18 |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=Bloomberg Businessweek }}
- {{Cite news |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Xsolla's CEO Spends Like a Billionaire on Back of Company Cash |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-xsolla-ceo-spending/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240828160409/https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2024-xsolla-ceo-spending/ |archive-date=2024-08-28 |access-date=2025-02-27 |work=Bloomberg News |ref=none}}
= ''Kotaku'' =
- {{Cite web |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=2018-08-07 |title=Inside The Culture Of Sexism At Riot Games |url=https://kotaku.com/inside-the-culture-of-sexism-at-riot-games-1828165483 |website=Kotaku |ref=none}}
- {{Cite web |first=Cecilia |last=D'Anastasio |date=2019-03-07 |title=Fantasy's Widow: The Fight Over The Legacy Of Dungeons & Dragons |url=https://kotaku.com/fantasys-widow-the-fight-over-the-legacy-of-dungeons-1833127876 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Kotaku |ref=none}}
- {{Cite web |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=2019-08-26 |title=Dungeons & Deceptions: The First D&D Players Push Back On The Legend Of Gary Gygax |url=https://kotaku.com/dungeons-deceptions-the-first-d-d-players-push-back-1837516834 |website=Kotaku |ref=none}}
- {{Cite web |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=2018-02-12 |title=Sex, Pong, And Pioneers: What Atari Was Really Like, According To Women Who Were There |url=https://kotaku.com/sex-pong-and-pioneers-what-atari-was-really-like-ac-1822930057 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Kotaku |ref=none}}
- {{Cite web |date=2019-05-23 |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Shady Numbers And Bad Business: Inside The Esports Bubble |url=https://kotaku.com/as-esports-grows-experts-fear-its-a-bubble-ready-to-po-1834982843 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Kotaku |ref=none}}
= ''Wired'' =
- {{Cite magazine |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Amazon Wants to 'Win at Games.' So Why Hasn't It? |url=https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-wants-to-win-at-games-so-why-hasnt-it/ |magazine=Wired |date=October 7, 2020 |ref=none}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=How 'Roblox' Became a Playground for Virtual Fascists |url=https://www.wired.com/story/roblox-online-games-irl-fascism-roman-empire/ |magazine=Wired |ref=none}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Xbox Has Always Chased Power. That's Not Enough Anymore |url=https://www.wired.com/story/future-of-xbox-game-pass-xcloud-strategy/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |magazine=Wired |ref=none }}
- {{Cite magazine |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=The Gritty, Underground Network Bringing Japan's Arcades to the US |url=https://www.wired.com/story/gritty-underground-network-bringing-japan-arcades-to-us/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |magazine=Wired |ref=none}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Pokimane Has Done Enough—and Has So Much Left to Do |url=https://www.wired.com/story/pokimane-has-done-enough-and-has-so-much-left-to-do/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |magazine=Wired |issn=1059-1028}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=In Minecraft's Dream SMP, All the Server's a Stage |url=https://www.wired.com/story/minecraft-dream-smp-political-drama/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |magazine=Wired |issn=1059-1028 |ref=none}}
- {{Cite magazine |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |title=Welcome to Planet Egirl |url=https://www.wired.com/story/welcome-to-planet-egirl/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |magazine=Wired |issn=1059-1028 |ref=none}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://cecianasta.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:D'Anastasio, Cecilia}}
Category:American investigative journalists
Category:American magazine staff writers
Category:American online journalists
Category:Bloomberg L.P. people
Category:Women in the video game industry