[2] Until June 2, 2008, McCracken was the editor-in-chief of PC World for four years; he had previously held other editorial positions for ten.

McCracken quit abruptly because the new CEO of PC World, Colin Crawford, tried to stop an unfavorable story about Apple Inc. and Steve Jobs.

"[7] McCracken told colleagues that IDG, PC World's publisher, "was pressuring him to avoid stories that were critical of major advertisers.

[10] In addition to his computer magazine work, McCracken has also been active in animation fandom, as a central mailer for Apatoons, and editor of Animato!

He received the American Business Media (ABM) Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity in 2008, recognizing his resignation on principle in 2007.