Inverse: "Black Myth: Wukong Isn't Even Good, But That Won't Stop Chinese Nationalist and Anti-Woke Sales" : stupidpol

No, its easy enough to understand. Its a blackmail grift.

Think of those influencers who insist on getting free meals and hotel rooms or else they will publish a bad review.

SBI is only more influential because they have a network of journos they pay off to write bad reviews for anyone who doesn't cave to the blackmail, instead of just their own account.

Man, it sounds like a rightwing culture warrior grifter conspiracy. I'm not doubting you, but the whole thing just sounds surreal.

I actually work for marketing in an adjacent industry (telco/internet).

Buying ads from a publication is in fact the fastest way for them to suddenly start writing positive articles about your company, even without any prodding.

Its not a conspiracy. Its how the corrupt system actually works.

Once again reality is shown to have a Rightoid bias.