Although he was born in Tanzania, his parents lives in Argyll
(Scotland, UK) and he went to school at Dollar Academy and Dundee
University, both of which are located in Scotland.
He joined the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in 1991 as an
assistant editor in the BBC World Service Newsroom. Later on, he became
a correspondent which still is his occupation as of 2007.
Family: Margaret and Graham (parents) and Katriona (sister) Johnston.
After being kidnapped by a group of Palastinian militants on 12 March
2007, he was released nearly four months later (4 July 2007).
Graduated from Dundee University with a MA in English and politics; he
also has a diploma in Journalism Studies from the University of Wales.