I’m Harry McCracken, founder and editor of Technologizer. The site may be new, but I’ve covered the technology beat for an absurdly long time. At this point, it looks like my life’s work–and I couldn’t have a happier, more fulfilling calling.
I first used a PC–my dad’s TRS-80 Model I–almost exactly thirty years ago; I first went online, via 300-bps modem, in 1979. I think the first words about computers I wrote for publication were for my TRS-80 users’ group’s newsletter circa 1980; the first ones I got paid for were in the wonderful magazine Creative Computing in 1982.
In 1991, I started writing about technology full-time. For almost fourteen happy years prior to embarking on the Technologizer adventure, I worked at PC World, where I wound up as editor in chief of both the magazine and the Web site. While there, I was humbled to receive some recognition for the work I did. Such as the following…
2008: I was named to the Folio: 40 list of media industry movers and shakers
2008: I received ABM’s Timothy White award for editorial integrity
2008: My Techlog columns received ABM’s Jesse H. Neal award for best editorial or signed column
2007: I was startled to find myself one of MIN’s 21 Most Intriguing People
2006: My blog on PCWorld.com received MIN’s Best of the Web award for best blog
So far, I’m delighted with the response to Technologizer, which in August, 2009 got 1.9 million page views from about 400,000 unique visitors. Here’s an article from MIN Online that I really like (I can say that about an article that says nice things about me, right?). The site was also named one of PCMag.com’s favorite blogs, and TechRepublic’s Jason Hiner recently named me the #1 techie to follow on Twitter. And here’s a story about Technologizer’s success from Folio.
I also continue to have fun talking about tech in venues other than my own site: Since launching Technologizer, I’ve done spots for CBS News and ABC World News Tonight, and Europe’s 3Sat followed me around CES for a profile of a day in the life of a busy blogger. At PCW, I appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and the BBC, and collaborated with Dateline NBC on an investigation into PC repair (an experience I’ll never forget).
Besides Technologizer and PC World, I’ve written for Slate, Family Circle, Popular Science, USA Today, InfoWorld, a sadly defunct movie magazine called Cinefantastique, and other publications. Many years ago, I edited a magazine about cartoons called Animato that a lot of people still remember.
One of the things that made PC World so glorious was that it was very much a collaborative effort–and nearly everything was based on research, reporting, and writing done by folks other than me. At Technologizer, I get to spend most of my time doing the stuff that made me want to get into this business: playing with toys, talking to interesting people about interesting products and services, writing, and chatting with the people who read my stuff. (But I’m happy to report that the site now benefits from the contributions of several contributors besides myself.)
Without a good reputation, a journalist doesn’t have much of anything. And I’ve always tried to bend over backwards to behave exactly as my readers would want me to. And yes, in one case I did it so stubbornly that I found myself the subject of media attention myself–including this New York Times story–much to my surprise.
So here are a few disclosures about how Technologizer does business:
* In some cases, I borrow evaluation products from companies in order to review it for Technologizer. I’ll return it all–or destroy it or donate it to charity if requested by the manufacturer–when I’m done. (Exceptions: software and very inexpensive items that manufacturers don’t want back.)
* Technologizer, Inc. pays full price for the products and services used to operate the site.
* When I travel to any events hosted or sponsored by companies I cover, I pay my own airfare and lodging. I don’t accept speaker fees from any company I might cover here.
* In some cases I am briefed about upcoming news under a non-disclosure agreement that states I won’t cover the news until a specific day and time–the launch of a new product, for instance. But these NDA agreements, which were rife in the days of print technology journalism, are of diminishing importance, and I don’t expect to sign many of them.
* I don’t invest in the stock of any company I might cover.
* I wish it went without saying, but companies who advertise on Technologizer receive no special treatment in editorial coverage; those who don’t advertise aren’t penalized in any way. In my seventeen years in this business, I’ve never changed so much as a syllable to curry favor with an advertiser or potential advertiser–and I never will.
(Photo credit: Marie Domingo)
