I know Steve Jones isn't one for self-promotion but since I'm writing the guest editorial, I can do it for him. After a long wait, Steve has finally been awarded MVP status for 2008!

Let me follow Andy Warren in offering Steve my congratulations. I've been working with Steve more closely over the last few months, and have come to understand just how much work is involved in keeping a community site like SQL Server Central up and running. Over at Simple-Talk, I feel like I can afford to let things go a little quiet over the Christmas period while I take a well-earned rest. This is not possible with a site like SSC. Editorials must be written every day. The site, webmaster email, forums and so on have to be monitored every day. The machine is, as they say, always hungry and Steve does an amazing job helping to provide thousands of people with the information they need to do their jobs, every single day. On top of that he even finds time to do his increasingly popular pod- and video-casts. (If you haven't checked out the Christmas Day one yet, I urge you to do so. It's not often you'll hear Steve singing – well, sort of singing – and it will bring a smile to your face).

The MVP award is slightly odd in some respects. As Steve himself notes in his blog, the criteria for selection could be made clearer. Many people, including Andy Warren, have been surprised that Steve hasn't been nominated before, and have wondered if it's because he doesn't always "toe the party line". Coincidentally, and in his inimitable way, Phil Factor muses on the theme of whether or the championing of products that compete directly with Microsoft's – or providing less-than-glowing reviews of Microsoft's own tools – will affect a person's potential or ongoing MVP status.

But nevertheless, everyone I've ever spoken to has always been very proud to receive the MVP award, so Microsoft must be doing something right, and I think everyone can agree that Steve is a very worthy recipient.

Cheers,

Tony Davis

Guest Editor