As a special treat for Alec Hogg, Biznews.com’s editor-in-chief and leading South African broadcaster, regular blogger Irvine Green dug around in his archives for mementoes of what business was like 21 years ago. He looked back at the gold price and the business news environment, producing a screenshot of Alec doing some early TV work.
If you’re a regular reader of Irvine’s blogs, you will know that Irvine prefers to have published only pictures of himself when he is very young (scroll down to see his by-line picture). Alec, you may not be surprised to hear, prefers his own photographs to be current.
What’s really interesting about Irvine’s exercise, though, is that it is a reminder of how much things have evolved over two decades. Many businesses have come and gone; we are richer in some areas and poorer in others.
Alec, meanwhile, has worked as a broadcaster and media entrepreneur through all the changes. As an asset management heavyweight remarked to us in an email soon after the launch earlier this year of Biznews.com:”Business history is something that is a rare commodity these days, as many writing today were not around over the years, and it’s the same names that pop up over and over again, especially those who misbehave! Good to see Alec back with such force.”
So, here’s what the world of business television was like 21 years ago. Alec says: “Back then, SABC TV1 was the primary television station with massive viewing (there was no eTV, DSTV, Internet or private radio stations) and carried a Business Briefing at 7pm – the peak of primetime viewing. This would have been one of my first efforts on television, having spent the dozen years until April 1992 as a print journalist and been convinced of the attraction of the “kassie” by good friend and long time SABC Economics Editor Jerry Schuitema.”
Thanks for the interesting walk down memory lane, Irvine. – JC
Business Brief, July 1992 on SABC TV
Exchange rates
Gold price: In Rands now R12 653
JSE: All Gold Index now 1197 – not exactly a great investment.
