Recently, Communique PR completed a project with our client, Smartlabs Inc., a tech company specializing in electronic home improvement and automation. Recently acquired by Richmond Capital Partners, Smartlabs is the parent company of both Insteon and Smarthome.

According to CNBC, 80 million smart-home devices were delivered worldwide in 2016, which is a 64 percent increase from the previous year. With smart homes and other smart technology on the rise, we did some research to understand what journalists were saying about the subject.

While there are many talented tech reporters writing about smart-home technology, there are a few that stand out. These journalists have created some of the most engaging and informative content surrounding the tech industry and, in this case, smart tech. So, without further ado, here is our list of the top 10 most influential smart-technology reporters:

1. Brian X. Chen, The New York Times – Chen writes a collection of stories about smart home devices and how to protect them from potential hacking. His article, Here Is How to Fend Off a Hijacking of Home Devices, is an example of this. Before joining The New York Times staff, this consumer technology writer was reporting on Apple and the wireless industry for Wired.
2. Jayson Demers, Forbes – Demers is not only a contributing writer for Forbes, he also is the founder and CEO of AudienceBloom, a Seattle-based content marketing firm. According to his article, 7 Social Media Marketing Trends That Will Dominate 2017, he explains that with large, well-informed tech brands like Apple, Google and Amazon getting involved in the creation process, we should expect to see some major advancements in smart home technology coming within the year.
3. Luke Dormehl, Digital Trends – This UK-based, “Cool Tech” writer has written for publications such as The Guardian, Politico, Wired, and others. His stories include information about new advances in smart-home systems and other new smart technologies that are produced. In Smart Home System Uses Predictive Algorithms to Warn of Impending Disasters, he describes automation systems to be helping our homes “get smarter all the time.”
4. Lisa Eadicicco, Time – Formerly the tech reporter for Business Insider, Eadicicco is now the tech correspondent for Time Her pieces include compelling passages about smart technology, the new tools being used, and the ways that each gadget may be changing the industry. For example, her piece, The Creator of Android Has a Bold Idea To Fix the Smart Home, is interesting, as it explains the ways the smart technology industry is constantly sophisticating with every discovery that is being made.
5. Steve Kovach, Business Insider – Previously the deputy editor at Tech Insider, Kovach is currently the senior correspondent at Business Insider and has made appearances on CNN, CNBC, MSNBC and many other networks. He incorporates the work of tech giants, such as Apple and Samsung, and explains their advances in smart home technology. Apple’s new HomePod sounds way better than the Amazon Echo is a good example of this.
6. Sarah Perez, TechCrunch – Before becoming a professional blogger, Perez worked in IT across a number of industries, including banking, retail and software. Currently working as a writer for TechCrunch, her articles cover funding and other advances being made in smart-home-supported technology, such as her article, ai raises $11 million for a premium home automation system with a smarter AI.
7. David Pierce, Wired – Pierce is a senior staff writer for Wired, covering personal technology. He writes about smart-home technology often and with gusto, like in his article, Forget the Echo. The Dot is the Most Important Alexa Device, where he uses engaging language to compare the two devices and makes an argument as to why buyers should consider the Dot over the Echo smart device.
8. Taylor Soper, GeekWire – Soper typically covers emerging startups in Seattle and Portland, the intersection of technology and sports, and other tech-related news, however, his portfolio for smart-home technology is nothing less than impressive. His stories include information on tech giant, Amazon, and its Alexa device, as well as other smart devices being praised or reviewed in the industry. A perfect example of this is his article, Amazon’s Alexa smart assistant reaches 10,000 skills, up from just 1K in June.
9. Hayley Tsukayama, The Washington Post – As a reporter, Tsukayama’s stories about smart technology are interesting because she ties current events in with the usage of these smart devices. She makes compelling arguments, like in her story, Google’s smart home hub is promising, but still a work in progress, where she argues that the technology, while making strides, has still got a ways to go before it is where consumers want it to be. This kind of perspective makes her content a must-read.
10. Lance Ulanoff, Mashable – Ulanoff is the chief correspondent and editor-at-large of Mashable. Some of his work focuses on smart-home devices and compares them to their competitors. His recent article, Police: Amazon Alexa didn’t call 911, but it did call us about domestic dispute, tells of the revolutionary smart-home technology, Amazon’s Alexa, and the part that it played in a domestic violence case. This article, if anything, shows that smart-home technology can prove to be useful in more ways than one, when it comes to security in our homes.

So, if you’re looking for interesting content that resonates about smart technology, the work of these authors should be at the top of your list. As automation systems and the internet of things continue to grow and prosper, I am sure we will continue to see a progression in articles written by many of these and others who might approach the field with a new perspective.