The mad world of advertising

[Franklin Ozekhome] Some people say they love advertising because of the ads they see on television, billboards and YouTube videos that generate mad buzz. Others see the glamorous side of the ad world – TV production shoots with models, launch parties with celebrities, Cannes Lions Festival showstoppers, and exclusive dinners at upscale restaurants with clients.

Comments [2] [15 Jul 07:03]

Bottling the gees

[Marion Scher] Who would have believed that the main subject of conversation between middle-class white women over coffee mornings and dinner parties would be soccer? Who would have seen themselves grinning wildly and have an overwhelming urge to embrace total strangers spending their euros and dollars at our shopping malls? For the last month, the new national pastime became ‘go to malls, fan parks and stadiums to watch the tourists’...

[14 Jul 12:38]

The good comes with the bad

[Gill Moodie: @grubstreetSA] Like Paris Hilton, I had occasion to frequent a South African court house this past week. It might have been a simpler affair if I too had been nicked on the wrong side of a dagga cloud but, alas, I was paying a traffic fine for a lapsed car-licence disc.

Comments [1] [07 Jul 13:31]

BlackBerry writing – watch out

[Marion Scher] Ask any language purist and they’ll tell you how technology is affecting the English language – that is, watching it go down the tubes...

Comments [3] [05 Jul 11:57]

More musings on the iPhone 4

[Anice Hassim] What would happen if arm manufacturers really did turn their swords to ploughshares? I think we might get a company like Apple.

Comments [2] [25 Jun 12:54]

[Cannes Lions] What is a Cannes Lion worth?

[Damon Stapleton] CANNES, FRANCE: We are coming to the end of another Cannes. The big parties with small pieces of food. The champagne being consumed by ridiculously good-looking people. The sharks that are smiling at you but looking over your shoulder to see who is more important. And, of course, egos and insecurities that could destroy even the bravest fashion victim. These things are all true; however, there is another side.

[25 Jun 12:12]

[Cannes Lions] Nobody knows what’s going to happen next

[Damon Stapleton] CANNES, FRANCE: It's strange talking to the judges here. There really is a sense that nobody knows what's going to happen next. Advertising has become so all-encompassing, it’s really become hard to define. From a South African perspective, I believe we have about 12 months to take some quantum leaps.

[22 Jun 12:53]

[Cannes Lions] Advertising's at a crossroads

[Damon Stapleton] CANNES, FRANCE: As I finish judging 4000 entries at 2010 Cannes Lions, I really do feel advertising is at a crossroad. I have never seen at awards show where you can definitely see the past, present and future all at the same time.

Comments [1] [21 Jun 18:27]

[WWDC] Day two – a far more serious affair

[Anice Hassim] SAN FRANCISCO: Day two, Tuesday, 8 June 2010, was a far more serious affair at WWDC, with the 5200 developers buckling down to soaking up as much time as they can with the some 1000 Apple engineers on site here at Moscone West.

Comments [1] [09 Jun 10:05]

[WWDC] Keynote thoughts from an African perspective

[Anice Hassim] SAN FRANCISCO: The mythical iPhone killer arrived today, but it was from Apple. A confident, proud and often passionate Steve Jobs strolled about the stage at Moscone West on Monday morning, 7 June 2010, unveiling the new iPhone, iOS 4.0 and ushering in the era of Facetime, person-to-person video calling.

Comments [5] [08 Jun 10:27]