Robin Raskin

Raskin began writing about technology in the 1980s. Her first technology piece appeared in a 1984 issue of InfoWorld. The article, True Confessions,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DS8EAAAAMBAJ&q=raskin+how+i+learned+about+computers+infoworld&pg=PA7 |title=True Confessions |publisher=InfoWorld |date=October 15, 1984 |access-date=2012-07-22 |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514093918/https://books.google.com/books?id=DS8EAAAAMBAJ&q=raskin+how+i+learned+about+computers+infoworld&pg=PA7 |url-status=live }} documented her attraction to technology as an equalizer for women because ultimately it would provide them freedom without shackling them to an office.

Raskin became a frequent contributor to Family Computing, a Scholastic publication popular throughout the ‘80s. She frequently tested products, writing stories about raising kids in a digital world, including attempts to empower the younger generation with technology.{{cite web |url=ftp://whtech.com/magazines/Family%20Computing/Family%20Computing%201084.pdf |title=Organizing Your Home, Data-base Style |publisher=Family Computing |date=October 1984 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514093914/ftp://whtech.com/magazines/Family%20Computing/Family%20Computing%201084.pdf |archive-date=2022-05-14 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-07-22 }}

In 1986, Raskin began contributing to PC Magazine, then a bi-monthly magazine that had been recently purchased by Bill Ziff. Under the tutelage of Editor in Chief Bill Machrone, Raskin began creating feature stories, including a major comparison of statistical software packages.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6TfdBoFkkwYC&q=raskin+pc+magazine&pg=PA4|title=Statistical Software for the PC: Testing for Significance|publisher=PC Magazine|date=March 14, 1989|access-date=2012-07-22|archive-date=May 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514093916/https://books.google.com/books?id=6TfdBoFkkwYC&q=raskin+pc+magazine&pg=PA4|url-status=live}}

In 1990, after her three children reached school age, Raskin accepted the job of Senior Editor at PC Magazine and ran the First Looks section of the magazine. From there, she became Executive Editor and finally Editor, serving under Michael Miller, Editor in Chief.

In 1995, Raskin became the Editor in Chief of FamilyPC Magazine,{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/ROBIN+RASKIN+NAMED+EDITOR-IN-CHIEF+OF+FAMILYPC-a016931435 |title=Robin Raskin Named Editor-in-Chief of FamilyPC |publisher=The Free Library |date=May 30, 1995 |access-date=2012-07-22 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714141055/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/ROBIN+RASKIN+NAMED+EDITOR-IN-CHIEF+OF+FAMILYPC-a016931435 |url-status=live }} a joint venture between the Disney Publishing Company and Ziff Davis Corporation. Along with the founder of Family Fun Magazine, Jake Winebaum, Raskin developed the concept of family-tested products, where real families would live with, review technology, and earn the product a family-tested seal of approval. FamilyPC went on to become the premier publication for the technology-savvy family. At its height, the magazine grew to a circulation of more than 700,000 readers and was supplemented with exhibits at Disney World’s Innovations.{{cite web |url=http://www.missingremote.com/blog/tour-disneys-innovations-home-future |title=Tour: Disney's Innovations Home of the Future |publisher=missingremote |date=August 13, 2008 |access-date=2012-07-22 |archive-date=September 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906022819/http://www.missingremote.com/blog/tour-disneys-innovations-home-future |url-status=live }}

In 1999, Raskin was named Best Columnist by the Computer Press Association, and also that year, she was recognized as one of the top ten tech journalists by MC (Marketing Computers) Magazine.{{cite web|title=FamilyPC's Robin Raskin Awarded Dual Honors: Top Prize at Computer Press Awards; Named in MC Magazine's Top Ten List|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FamilyPC's+Robin+Raskin+Awarded+Dual+Honors%3a+Top+Prize+at+Computer...-a054985338|work=PR Newswire|publisher=The Free Library|access-date=20 August 2013|archive-date=February 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212105630/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/FamilyPC%27s+Robin+Raskin+Awarded+Dual+Honors%3a+Top+Prize+at+Computer...-a054985338|url-status=live}}

Over the years, Raskin has appeared regularly on CBS Up to the Minute, CBS This Morning, MSNBC, Fox TV, and others as a technology spokesperson, often featured as an expert on kids and technology.{{cite web

|url=http://www.witi.com/conferences/speaker_pop_up.php?id=131

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|archive-date=November 10, 2006

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110124905/http://www.witi.com/conferences/speaker_pop_up.php?id=131

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}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/10/08/earlyshow/saturday/main65674.shtml |title=Violent Video Games |publisher=CBS News |date=February 11, 2009 |access-date=2012-07-22 |archive-date=February 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201222820/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/10/08/earlyshow/saturday/main65674.shtml |url-status=dead }}

Raskin has also authored several books on raising digital kids, including Parents, Kids, and Computers (Random House, 1992) with co-author Carol Ellison, Your Child’s Education (Ziff Davis PR, May 1995) with co-author Kaare Christian, and a series of books based on the FamilyPC family-tested reviews, including the FamilyPC Guide to Cool Projects (Hyperion, September 1996) with co-authors Samuel Mead and Richard Kot, and the Family PC Guide to Homework (Hyperion, September 1996) with co-authors Greg Keizer and Richard Kot.

Raskin has testified at the COPPA Commission hearings{{cite web |author=Oscar S. Cisneros |date=3 August 2000 |title=Anti-Porn Law Worth Another Look |url=https://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2000/08/37996 |access-date=2012-07-22 |publisher=Wired |archive-date=January 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110165115/http://www.wired.com/politics/law/news/2000/08/37996 |url-status=live }} and has served on the National Academy of Sciences committee{{cite web |url=http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=10261 |title=No Single Solution for Protecting Kids From Internet Pornography |format=Press Release |publisher=National Academy of Sciences |date=May 2, 2002 |access-date=2012-07-22 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019200759/http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=10261 |url-status=live }}

investigating kid’s online safety. The panel was chaired by former Attorney General, Dick Thornburgh. Raskin represented the findings in a syndicated media tour for the Academy.

Raskin has made numerous speaking appearances, including at the 2011 SXSW Interactive{{cite web |url=http://austin2011.sched.org/speaker/robinraskin/list/descriptions/ |title=Speaking Schedule |date=March 14, 2011 |access-date=2012-07-22 |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415232209/http://austin2011.sched.org/speaker/robinraskin/list/descriptions/ |url-status=live }} and InPlay.{{cite web |date=May 15, 2012 |title=INplay |website=Facebook |url=http://www.facebook.com/INplayConference?sk=wall&filter=1 |access-date=2012-07-22 |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514094022/https://www.facebook.com/INplayConference?sk=wall&filter=1 |url-status=live }} She also acts as the emcee for her events: Last Gadget Standing{{cite web |url=http://lastgadgetstanding.com |title=Last Gadget Standing Show at International CES |access-date=2012-07-22 |archive-date=August 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816080455/https://lastgadgetstanding.com/ |url-status=live }} and Mobile Apps Showdown.{{cite web |url=http://mobileappsshowdown.com |title=Mobile Apps Showdown at International CES |access-date=2012-07-22 |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121051532/https://mobileappsshowdown.com/ |url-status=live }}

Since early 2011, Raskin has been one of the featured "CoolHotNot Tech Xperts," along with John C. Dvorak, Chris Pirillo, Jim Louderback, Dave Graveline, Dave Whittle, Steve Bass, and Cheryl Currid. On [https://web.archive.org/web/20160210152157/https://coolhotnot.com/ CoolHotNot's website], Raskin shares her "Loved List" of favorite consumer electronics, her "Wanted List" of tech products she'd like to try, and her "Letdown List" of tech products she found disappointing.{{cite web|url=http://www.coolhotnot.com/techxperts/|title=CoolHotNot Tech Xperts Team|access-date=2012-07-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902024737/http://www.coolhotnot.com/TechXperts|archive-date=September 2, 2011|df=mdy-all}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Official website| http://livingindigitaltimes.com/}}
• [http://lastgadgetstanding.com Last Gadget Standing Show at International CES]
• [http://mobileappsshowdown.com Mobile Apps Showdown at International CES]
• [http://www.coolhotnot.com/techxperts/robin_raskin/ Raskin's current list of best, most wanted, and worst tech products]

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Category:1954 births

Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers

Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers

Category:American technology journalists

Category:American women journalists

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American women writers

Category:20th-century American women writers