Our Recognition Is Your Recognition, Too

In our usual rush to write about everything channel, the editorial team here sometimes forgets to stop and reflect on our own role in that. But I would be remiss if I didn't spend some ink, both physical and cyber, mentioning two great recognitions this month for CRN's 25 years of influence in covering news relevant to VARs, systems integrators, resellers and other business technology solution providers.

HEATHER CLANCY Can be reached via e-mail at hclancy@cmp.com.

The first is the mysterious award you see touted on the cover. In short, CRN has been named to the 2007 Media Power 50, a list assembled annually by B2B Magazine that recognizes the most influential magazines and newspapers across business and trade publishing. We're proud to be listed alongside some of the most respected names in journalism, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. We're also thrilled to say that two of our sister publications, EETimes and InformationWeek, made this year's ranking as well.

I'll be the first to say that the CRN editorial team's singular focus on exposing and analyzing all of the news and channel developments that solution providers need to know is a big part of the reason we're being recognized. Solution providers read us, in short, because we dare to tell them the truth about what's going on in the channel.

Which brings me to my second subject: this week's cover story about Dell. The very existence of this story is palpable recognition of the power of CRN's audience and of the editorial staff's dedication to telling it like it is.

Over the years, this magazine has featured controversial industry executive Michael Dell on its cover many times as we've chronicled his company's evolving relationship with solution providers. We've stated for some time in various stories and editorial columns the view that Dell is part of the channel, working closely with many solution providers and the distribution companies behind the scenes, even if executives wouldn't trumpet the fact publicly. Over the past six months, however, we've heard from solution providers about signs of change from within, and CRN Senior Editor Edward F. Moltzen has reached out—often—to encourage the Dell team to talk about it. Let's just say that we haven't always been all that successful getting access to the people we'd love to interview.

When Dell decided to go public with its new channel strategy, it knew exactly where to turn to make the most impact. This, in itself, is an incredible validation of the power of CRN's audience. And although the editorial team can be tough critics and advocates of the solution provider's point of view, I am passionate about providing journalistic balance. You'll find that in this week's cover story and in our extensive—and ongoing—coverage of Dell in the ChannelWeb site's Dell news center.

What new stories would you like us to tell? CRN Editor Heather Clancy welcomes letters at hclancy@cmp.com.