[Gill Moodie: @grubstreetSA] The hugely ambitious plans for the launch next month of the government-friendly newspaper, The New Age, has got media circles buzzing. Personally, I'm with Prof Anton Harber on this one, who wrote when rumours of an ANC-aligned newspaper first started surfacing that it would be a good thing for the party to have an outlet to explain itself and its policies.

[Angelo Coppola] I'm tired. Tired of explaining to clients that when doing research on perceptions of a brand or a company, either within target markets or among media, that it's essential that we don't take the view or opinion of one person as the "be-all and end all". I'm also tired of trying to explain the dangers of basing an entire PR or crisis communications campaign on that opinion.

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Direct marketing is a multichannel process that consists of talking to someone whose profile you know, including what the person does and the colour of his or her underpants, Direct Marketing Association (DMA) CEO Brian Mdluli told the audience this morning, Thursday, 29 July 2010, at the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg. The debate was hosted by the Journal of Marketing in association with Absa and Sappi.

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] British Petroleum (BP)'s 'celebratory' ads scooped seven accolades at the 2010 Khuza Awards held yesterday Wednesday, 28 July 2010, in the TV and radio categories - a rare silver lining for the embattled brand whose US oil spill has terribly messed up the environment and ruined livelihoods. The event took place at the University of Johannesburg. [video]

Taking up the position of deputy editor of The New Age newpaper on 2 August 2010 will be Karima Brown, currently the political editor of Business Day, TNA Media announced late Wednesday afternoon, 28 July.