I am a journalist, writer and researcher, with many years of experience in the Print media, and some experience of broadcasting; most of my experience is of business reporting. At present I am the director of the Centre for Economics Journalism in Africa, based at Rhodes University.

I grew up in the centre of Johannesburg, in the then-poor white suburbs of Braamfontein and Doornfontein. I graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand, now better known as Wits University, and got a job on a small business weekly newspaper.

Though I went on to work for several newspapers and business magazines, I felt most at home working for the Rand Daily Mail and its spiritual successor, the Mail & Guardian.

I was Economics Editor for five years at the South African Broadcasting Corporation, where I came to appreciate the particular skills needed for the broadcast media, and to become (almost) used to appearing on live television.

The main lesson I have learnt over the years is that scepticism should be a journalist's watchword, that the strenuous search for the truth should be the guiding principle of the news media, and that journalistic ethics is not an oxymoron.

Over the years, I have published, and still write, verse; I am an enthusiastic photographer; and I have a keen appreciation of almost every type of music, from Bruckner's symphonies to Jim Neversink's modern loserbilly sound. Indeed, that both of my two sons are successfully involved in producing music is a source of satisfaction.

One of my regrets is not persisting in learning to play the guitar those years ago when I was so impressed with the Animal's hit, The House of the Rising Sun.

On the geek side of things I am agnostic: I use Linux, Windows, and Apple operating systems, though I really appreciate the adaptability, stability and virus-free health of Linux.