NEPAD on the ground

Over the past ten years, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) has launched a number of bold and innovative programmes. In some instances the plan is already scoring notable yet under-reported gains. Africa Renewal highlights NEPAD's impact in five key areas. 12 Jan 2012 13:42

Wunderman/Y&R launches young marketers school

The Dubai International Advertising Festival, the awards for creative excellence in advertising and communications in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced the launch of the Wunderman/Y&R Young Marketers School at Lynx, a learning programme targeted at marketers and brand managers working within a client organisation. 12 Jan 2012 12:03

[2012 trends] 12 words we'll see more in 2012

[Tiffany Markman] Wait. That's a bit of a fib. Sorry. Every year, my Biz Trends contribution is a wish list of stuff I'd like to see happen in marketing, communication or writing. I'm often right. But this year I want to be right. 11 Jan 2012 12:09

Uganda's oldest university uses Xerox X700 to secure certificates

Uganda's oldest and largest institution of higher learning, Makerere University, has acquired a Xerox X700 Digital Color Press together with Xerox's advanced security software, FreeFlow Specialty Imaging Suite. 5 Jan 2012 12:01

UK firm to boost climate change coverage in EA

[Walter Wafula] WRENmedia, a United Kingdom-based a specialist communications company is set to sharpen reporting skills of journalists covering climate change issues in Eastern Africa, according to Susanna Thorp, director of the firm. 3 Jan 2012 09:07

Amy Stokes honoured at 2011 CNN Hero of the Year Awards

At an All-Star Tribute held yesterday 11 December 2011, in Los Angeles in the US, Infinite Family founder, Amy Stokes was honored for her work in sub-Saharan Africa where nearly 500 teens impacted by HIV/AIDS and poverty are mentored and guided by volunteers over international video and internet links. 12 Dec 2011 11:32

Don't stop chasing your dream!

[John Boe] In the mid 1970s, a man named Sylvester had a dream of one day becoming a movie actor, but couldn't find a talent agency in New York City willing to take a chance on him. After being turned down by hundreds of agencies, he was so broke that he couldn't afford to pay the heating bill in his apartment. It got to the point where he couldn't even buy food for his dog and was forced to sell him to a stranger for $25. 12 Dec 2011 10:36

[Stakeholder engagement II] Reputation gains far outweigh effort

[Reana Rossouw] In the first part of this series, I highlighted the identification of material issues and meaningful stakeholder engagement as two cornerstones for good sustainability reporting. In this second and final part, I look at stakeholder engagement as a critical component of King III and conclude with an excellent case study on clothing retailer Gap. 9 Dec 2011 10:40

[Stakeholder engagement I] Determine material issues, listen to right people

[Reana Rossouw] In the first of a two-part series, I take a look at the essential need for meaningful stakeholder engagement and materiality identification as the cornerstone for a good sustainability or integrated report. 8 Dec 2011 13:36

Mother City retains Loeries, Creative Week to expand

In a four-way pitch against Ballito in KwaZulu-Natal, Johannesburg and Sun City, Cape Town has emerged triumphant to retain The Loerie Awards in the Mother City. The Loeries Judging Week and Seminars will also move from Johannesburg to Cape Town, so that judging will take place during Creative Week in the days leading up to the awards ceremonies. 8 Dec 2011 11:24

YoungAfricaLive launches in Tanzania

YoungAfricaLive, a mobile community that entertains and educates young people on topics of love, sexual health, gender and relationships affecting the youth, launched yesterday, 1 December 2011 in Tanzania. 2 Dec 2011 14:01

Internships: making the right choice

[Charl Thom] It's that time of the year when the inboxes of HR departments and agency execs start overflowing with internship applications. Beginning your career with the right agency is arguably one of the most important decisions you'll make. As a starting point, consider culture, courage, vision and brand as a non-negotiable. 30 Nov 2011 12:42

How challenger-brand thinking can be used for entrepreneurship

[Abey Mokgwatsane] Recently I had the honour of speaking at Cape Town Entrepreneurship Week on how challenger-brand thinking can be used as a framework for entrepreneurship and some other thoughts. As per my usual style of presentation, it was made up of images that I spoke to, rather than words on slides. So since distributing my presentation won't help, I wrote this summary to share what I spoke about. 28 Nov 2011 14:22

Four ways to use specificity in your communication

[Tiffany Markman] My grandmother was a remarkable woman. Outspoken. Opinionated. She had a tracksuit. (And she wasn't a tracksuit person. She was a dress-with-matching-belt person. She wore anoraks. And sensible shoes.) The tracksuit was blue. But every time you suggested that she wear her blue tracksuit, she'd snap, "It's not blue. It's turquoise, dammit!" She was right. Here are four quick and easy ways to write and speak specifically... 25 Nov 2011 12:49