Steven Vaughan-Nichols
Contributing Editor at ZDNet
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols (aka sjvn) has been writing about technology and the business of technology since CP/M-80 was the cutting-edge PC operating system, 300-bps was a fast Internet connection, and WordStar was the state-of-the-art word processor. His work has been published in highly technical publications, business publications, popular technology, and the mainstream press.
How did you get to become an expert in your key topics?
My degrees are in English and history. Those taught me how to read critically, write well, and research. Everything else started from that foundation. My first company, Researchers at Large, in the late 70s was devoted to online research and that gave me my start in the early Internet. I followed that with system and network administration and programming work for NASA and the DoD. Then, I took my jack of all trades tech knowledge and skills and became a technology journalist.
What topic areas are you most passionate about?
Linux and open source software and how everything else–the cloud and the Internet–run on top of them.
Which influencers influence you within those key topics?
Top developers such as Linus Torvalds, Greg Kroah-Hartman, and engineers like Robert Metcalfe.
How would you describe your offline influence?
Most of my influence comes from my writing. I also speak at tradeshows and do radio and television interviews.
What’s your best source of information for getting ahead of a story? What resource do you use to stay ahead of the trend?
I know most of the major players in Linux, open-source, and cloud circles. I often hear directly from them or from dedicated mailing lists on those topics.
If a brand wanted to work with you, which activities would you be most interested in collaborating on?
What brands have you worked with?
Publications: IDG, Ziff-Davis, ZDNet and numerous others. Vendors: Apple. Dell, DXC, HPE, IBM, Linode, and many others.
Which non-paid activities would you be keen to take part in if the opportunity raised your profile or delivered value to your audience?
I would be happy to provide quotes for stories and news articles.
What are your passions outside of work?
What would be the best way for a brand to contact you?
E-Mail is the only good way to reach me.