The Marketing Association of South Africa [MA(SA)] says it is confident that the process of reaching a resolution on the funding issue for The Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASA) and The South African Audience Research Foundation (SAARF) is well on its way following an inclusive meeting with relevant industry bodies on 14 May 2012.

[Justin McCarthy] There is no doubt that South Africa has an alcohol-abuse problem. Alcohol-related problems such as foetal alcohol syndrome, physical and emotional abuse, drunk driving, severe medical conditions and a raft of social side effects are significant health and social concerns.

Ray Hartley, editor of the Sunday Times has issued a statement following an allegation that some of the newspaper's journalists were paid by SAPS' Crime Intelligence division to write biased articles. The allegation was made in a document submitted as part of the FUL court application to have controversial police official Richard Mdluli removed from office. SANEF, meanwhile, has written to acting National Commissioner of Police, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, requesting further information regarding the allegation.

[Gill Moodie: @grubstreetSA] We're getting used to seeing newspaper circulation figures taking a beating these days but the fact that a few can buck the trend also tells us that all is not lost. Among the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) figures for the first quarter of 2012 that were released on Thursday, 17 May 2012, the isiZulu newspapers are still on their incredible upwards trajectory.