Veteran IT reporter Randal Jackson dies
Ex-colleagues remember a charming hell-raiser.
Sad news arrived this morning that veteran technology journalist Randal Jackson had died.
The photo at right says a lot about Randal.
Firstly, it took me ages to find any image of him online. He was old-school in the best sense of the word. He was not technically-minded. I dare say he didn't know a hyperlink from his elbow. But he broke more stories about deals and scandals and stuff-ups than anyone else on the IT beat — including his scoop on the $110 million debacle as IBM botched the Police's INCIS upgrade.
Second, the cigarette. Randal was not one to be politically correct when it came to tobacco, or having a drink at any hour. He was a fan of the long lunch, or at times disappearing for a stretch, but he would almost invariably return with a killer scoop. Nobody networked like the big fella.
He was larger than life, generous, charming and a (sometimes badly-behaved) gentleman.
Funeral arrangements will be posted shortly, Computerworld says.
The industry will be having a drink to honour Randal on Wednesday June 24, from 5:30pm at the Wine Loft Bar in Shortland Street.
Photo courtesy of Linda Fung on Facebook, who writes: "Sorry to hear. Fond 70s memories of drinks at the old Britannia Hotel, watching him on the footy field and stage, Trentham races, among others."
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Veteran IT reporter Randal Jackson dies
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