August is all about ABCs, #WomensMonth and the Loeries! - 7 Aug 2017

Louise Marsland kicks things off this week by sharing the top outcomes of the Daily Maverick's The Gathering 2017 media edition, which took place at the CTICC last week. Click through to her coverage on how to save SA from state capture and media elitism, why fake news is ‘weaponised social media', and why media freedom remains a cornerstone of democracy.

With Women's Day taking place this Wednesday, our #WomensMonth coverage is well under way on Biz. Visit our special section for dedicated coverage throughout the month, but I urge you to keep in mind the words of Keith Cartwright, this year's Loeries' ‘print, outdoor and OOH' jury president, on why it's important to ‘break stereotypes' beyond a dedicated timeframe. His response - “when we celebrate any segment in our society, it's a constant reminder that those segments are generally forgotten.” This really resonates with me.

Still on the topic of the Loeries, CEO Andrew Human let us in on the Loeries' big picture at Cannes Lions earlier this year, where they had fun with the way they showcased the creative people in our industry. Keep an eye on our Loeries special section for all the latest updates! Loeries Creative Week Durban takes place from 14 to 21 August 2017 with the Open Chair mentorship event, aimed at young women coming up in advertising, already kicking off tomorrow evening.

This week will also see the release of the ABC's Q2 report, with a webinar taking place at 8:30am on Thursday morning. We'll present the information as well as insights on what it all means as soon as the embargo lifts.

Lots to catch up on and look forward to. Have a productive week!