Age has its benefits, not taking technology for granted among them. Having started as a trainee reporter on a typewriter complete with carbon sheets and tippex, it’s hard to believe how far we’ve come in three decades. At the office last night we were talked through our radio studio’s technical problems with the aid of pictures SMSed by cell phone. Yesterday afternoon we held a staff meeting on Google Hangout with colleagues in the US and the UK. And this letter, written from the lounge in front of our fire in icy Johannesburg is distributed in a keystroke to thousands all around the world. Literally.
Last night Jan Smith of Pittsburgh sent an email with thanks for yesterday’s missive about the amazing Rose Blumkin. When he and wife Jeanette lived in Omaha, Jan shared, they knew Mrs B and bought a number of items from her at Nebraska Furniture Mart: “She was quite a lady. We can learn much from her.”
In the 1980s I worked on what was then South Africa’s biggest newspaper. It was very much an exception that readers were sufficiently moved to provide feedback. So we journalists practiced our craft in splendid but often ignorant isolation. Nowadays a day rarely passes without advice, suggestions or comments from readers – or the Biznews Community as we prefer to call you. Few of the mails are quite like Jan’s, but all are warmly welcomed. Because in our business, honest feedback is the best way to improve. And unless we are able to get a little better every day, what would be the point of it?
Yesterday’s top stories:
How a Bishop and a lawyer overcame ANC politicking to end platinum strike
Matthew Lester: Why I love the new RA packages
Escalating annuity income the way to go – Tip 8
Anglo American and the ANC – the reality of mining investments in South Africa
Tax dodging: How global giants, like Google, avoid tax (diagram)
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