About

With more than 20 years experience in consulting, technology, computers and media, Jim Louderback has pioneered many significant new innovations.

Photo by Thomas Hawk

While building computer systems for Fortune 100 companies in the ’80s, Jim developed innovative client-server computing models, implementing some of the first successful LAN-based client-server systems. He also created a highly successful iterative development methodology uniquely suited to this new systems architecture.

As Lab Director at PC Week, Jim developed and refined the product review as an essential news story. He expanded the lab to California, and created significant competitive advantage for the leading IT weekly.

When he became editor-in-chief of Windows Sources in 1995, he turned the publication around, and refocused it entirely on the new Windows 95. Newsstand sales tripled, and his magazine won industry awards for excellence of design and content.

In 1997, Jim launched TechTV’s content, creating and nurturing a highly successful mix of help, product information, news and entertainment. He appeared in numerous segments on the network, and hosted the enormously popular Fresh Gear show for three years.

In 1999, he developed the “Best of CES” awards program in partnership with CEA, the parent company of the CES trade show. This innovative program, where new products were judged directly on the trade show floor, was a resounding success, and continues today.

In 2000, Jim developed a daily, live, 8 hour TechTV news program called TechLive. Called “the CNBC of Technology,” TechLive delivered a daily day-long dose of market news, product information, technology reporting and CEO interviews. After its highly successful launch in April of 2001, Jim managed the entire organization, along with setting editorial direction for the balance of TechTV.

Jim on-set, demonstrating a product for TechTV

Two creative fans even thought Jim should fill in as President during the hanging-chad debacle

In 2002 Jim became Editor-In-Chief for Ziff Davis Media’s internet properties, where he managed sites including ExtremeTech, PCMag.com, eWeek and Microsoft Watch.

After launching a wide range of sites, including podcasts and the innovative DL.TV internet TV show, and more than doubling traffic and unique visitors, he was promoted to Senior Vice President and Editor in Chief of PC Magazine in the fall of 2005. He still manages Ziff Davis Media’s IPTV shows, including DL.TV, and Cranky Geeks, and the consumer and small business websites ExtremeTech, TechnoRide, GearLog and AppScout.

Jim is a regular speaker at industry conferences and events. He’s particularly skilled at moderating panels of CEOs and other luminaries — and moderates a number of high-profile panels each year.

Jim is regularly voted into the top 20 of Technology Marketing’s annual list of most influential technology journalists.

Jim graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BS degree in Mathematics from the University of Vermont, and Beta Gamma Sigma with an MBA from the Stern School at New York University.

Want to know more about Jim’s experience? Take a look at his resume!

Selected Articles, Books and Segments

Jim has written hundreds of opinion pieces and reviews for many, many magazines and websites. He currently writes a monthly technology essay for USA Weekend magazine, with a circulation of 22 million readers, as well as on TechTV’s website. He also writes computer help books for Que.