Renowned Journalist to Educate Esports Integrity Class at the University

When Richard Lewis was growing up, he liked athletics, describing himself as a “jock.” Instead of getting to be a star on the industry, he went on to make a productive job as an investigative journalist covering esports and exposing match-fixing scandals and corruption in the business. He will quickly be helping to train the following generation of esports gurus as a lecturer at the University of New Haven.

Lewis began his job as a freelance journalist, producing about the emergence of online gaming communities. His function brought him deep into the gaming environment, enabling him to engage in online games and meet up with a lot of “strange and interesting individuals.” When he entered the world of Counter-Strike, a collection of multiplayer initial-particular person shooter games, he commenced to observe corruption as revenue flowed into esports.

“The demographic was young adults and kids, and persons do nefarious items to exploit the naïve,” he reported. “What astonished me is that exposing the corruption was not often fulfilled with applause. It was often satisfied with derision. Young ones did not want to see persons they looked up to involved in this.”

Lewis is possibly greatest recognized for his critical purpose in exposing match-correcting in a 2014 Counter-Strike: World Offensive (CS:GO) match amongst North American groups iBUYPOWER and NetcodeGuides.com. Although iBUYPOWER was favored to win, the staff was defeated by a extensive margin. Because of the scandal, quite a few gamers were being completely banned from level of competition.

“People were adamant this group would not toss or deal with a match, but it was so clear they experienced,” clarifies Lewis. “When I revealed the evidence, I assumed it would be a slam dunk, but I ended up arguing with the public. I was ideal, and it took me 6 months to confirm it. I felt extra like a detective than a reporter, and I hope this gave everybody a lot more recognition.”

‘I hope students will get some thing they won’t get elsewhere’

Throughout his occupation, Lewis has described on every little thing from unethical practices to sexual abuse in esports, and he has uncovered several scandals. A passionate storyteller, he also is a podcaster and livestream commentator, and he serves as the inaugural editor-at-large for Dexerto, an award-successful internet site that covers esports, gaming, and influencers.

Lewis, who has spoken greatly about his work and the field as a visitor lecturer, has seen firsthand numerous facets of the esports industry. He is excited to share his one of a kind experiences with pupils at the College of New Haven.

“I know how to notify a tale so that it holds people’s attention, and I’m hunting forward to translating that to the classroom,” he reported. “I will leverage my real-lifestyle encounters and share with students my anecdotes and what I have realized. I have 16 years’ working experience in a organization that is only about 20 a long time outdated, and I hope students will get a thing they won’t get somewhere else.”

‘I hope they will make a significant impression on the industry’

Lewis will be teaching an on line master’s stage program in esports integrity with Declan Hill, D.Phil., an investigations professor at the College and a single of the world’s foremost gurus on match-correcting and corruption in worldwide athletics.

“At the College of New Haven, we are setting up the very best sports activities integrity centre in the entire world,” stated Dr. Hill. “As part of that push we have some of the major intercontinental and American authorities in preventing sports activities corruption. Richard Lewis is one of them. His courageous, solitary-handed investigations into match-fixing in esports is the stuff of legends. If you want to have your brain explode then get this man’s program.”

Instructed by academics and large-amount practitioners, the University’s Master’s in Esports Business plan, the 1st these application of its kind, prepares students to navigate the interactions between diverse field stakeholders and thrive as workers and long run leaders in esports and esports-adjacent industries.

“The opportunity to welcome Richard Lewis as a faculty member in our M.S. in Esports Company software is a boon to our college students,” stated Jason Chung, B.C.L., LL.B., government director of esports and an assistant professor of activity administration. “Richard’s qualifications as an investigative journalist uncovering corruption and match-repairing in the CS:GO scene has been vital to marketplace recognition of the relevance of integrity and ethics in esports. We glimpse ahead to integrating Richard into our method and owning him train the upcoming generation of esports leaders on this crucial issue.”

Lewis, who has two times been given the Esports Journalist of the Calendar year award, attained the Esports Life span Achievement Award in 2020. Nonetheless, he admits that he is a little bit “jaded about the foreseeable future of esports” right after what he has observed. He thinks it is crucial to be honest with learners about all facets of esports and to encourage them to foster transform – and integrity – in the market.

“We will need improved folks coming into esports,” he stated. “I’ve been combating that struggle a lengthy time. It’s important for younger folks to condition culture, and that’s accurate for esports, much too. I hope to link with the upcoming era in esports. I hope they can master to discover difficulties early on and that we can resolve them. I hope they will make a meaningful influence on the market, and I hope I can encourage that.”