TV for dummies - 10 Feb 2014[Rod Baker, Content Director] Despite a recent damning report from PWC in which it was stated that to put it mildly, the skills to successfully run a corporation the size of the SABC are seriously lacking, acting COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng has dismissed the report. Ed Herbst looks at Auckland Park. read more Once upon a time, in a mall... - 3 Feb 2014[Rod Baker, Content Director] It's happened to all of us...we've been in a shopping mall and been stopped or approached by someone trying to sell us the latest this, that or the other. read more Innovating your way into trouble - 27 Jan 2014[Rod Baker, Content Director] Innovation is good, right? Yes, it is, but as Sid Peimer points out, unless it's done properly, it can be dangerous... for instance, innovation, improperly executed, nearly killed LEGO. On our ever-popular Trends front - this time for 2014 - Tarryn Pitchers looks at the shift towards advertising marketing managers within the South African advertising industry, Sue Disler looks at the issue of contradicting addictions and Pete Hutchings forecasts a bumpy 2014 for experiential marketing. On the advertising front, are you one of growing number of TV viewers becoming increasingly irritated with clumsy TV product placements in our soapies. read more Four trends to watch in Africa - 20 Jan 2014[Rod Baker, Content Director] Africa is the watchword, with any number of companies and individuals eying potential opportunities and planning and executing ventures on the continent. Oresti Patricios takes a look at the four biggest trends related to Africa and what is likely to happen in 2014. read more A trendy start to 2014 - 13 Jan 2014[Rod Baker, Content Director] Today sees the start of our Trends 2014 pieces and to begin, Hilton Rose would like you to wake up and smell the networks, while Athar Naser has some ideas on building a better scope of the content marketing space. read more Here’s to a great 2014 - 7 Jan 2014[Rod Baker, Content Director] 2013 ended sadly, with Madiba's passing, but that means that we can now go into 2014 with the hope that this year will be better than the last. We in the media have the Protection of State Information Bill hanging over us; Jacob Zuma has only to sign it into law, but that in itself will, we're sure, provide for some very interesting times this year and possibly into the future, because it is almost certain that the law will be challenged, right up to the Constitutional Court. South Africa is fortunate in having a vibrant and independent media (apart from some notable exceptions) and that should ensure that any government hoping to hide the truth will face a long, hard battle. So let's head into 2014 in a positive frame of mind - even if in years to come, some may look back on them as "the bad old days". Today sees the first of our newsletters for 2014 and we'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all... read more Censored! - 17 Dec 2013[Rod Baker, Content Director] We know it's the time of goodwill to all etc, but it's difficult not feeling somewhat aggrieved at the SABC's antics regarding Jacob Zuma being booed at the Madiba memorial service. Many, if not most, of us agree that the booing was not appropriate on such an occasion, but for the SABC to censor what is a major story of the year doesn't help. As Ed Herbst writes, the national broadcaster has a duty to provide the news - good and bad - since we are all forced to pay it licence fees - whether or not we ever watch it. read more Will POPI become a dirty word for marketers? - 9 Dec 2013[Rod Baker, Content Director] Steve Ferguson says that the Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4 of 2013 (POPI) was signed into law in November. read more Just because you're on holiday doesn't mean your target market is - 2 Dec 2013[Rod Baker, Content Director] OK, so it's the end of the year and you're basking in the sun ... or whatever rocks your boat ... read more SABC: Clouds over Hlaudi - 25 Nov 2013[Rod Baker, Content Director] It was only a matter of time before the SABC was back in the news instead of reporting it... which more than one commentator reckons they do badly. read more Lights… Camera… Action… Biz Takeouts at Bookmarks 2013 - 18 Nov 2013[Rod Baker, Content Director] Warren Harding, of Biz Takeouts fame, was at The Bookmarks 2013, video camera at the ready, to waylay the unwary and get their views on the awards. Watch the video, enjoy the video... read more Now, about those awards for creativity… - 11 Nov 2013[Rod Baker, Content Director] As Mike Silver says, we've all been there... The shortlists are announced, the chatter begins and the creative industry suddenly forgets to eat, sleep or Instagram their latest sunset. read more Second time lucky for TopTV? - 4 Nov 2013[Rod Baker, Content Director] TopTV has struggled to make headway against MultiChoice's DStv service, even looking to porn as a means to gain market share. Now however, the channel is to relaunch as StarSat with what looks like an ambitious target - to grow its existing base of 100,000 homes by 700,000 a year. It's been in existence for a little while now, and has barely penetrated the market... read more Nothing works like saying 'sorry' - 28 Oct 2013[Rod Baker, Content Director] MetropolitanRepublic has apologised to Loeries, and to the SA marketing industry, over their Loeries awards-win debacle, which is good because the value of a genuine "Sorry, we boobed" is often underestimated. On the career front, Juliette Attwell takes a look at job-hopping and a psychometrist's career options. Ok, we all know the festive season is not that far off, so we take a thoroughly turkey leg-in-cheek look at that Harrods hamper and ask: who's the turkey, then? Our ever-popular Biz Takeouts Podcast continues to draw listeners, and this week we look at socially responsible marketing with [dot]Good, as well as the upcoming charity event, Rockin for Room 13 and find out more about the event and the charity Room 13. read more Some inconvenient truths… - 21 Oct 2013[Rod Baker, Content Director] The Big Debate, just canned by our friends at Awkward Park, sounds like just the sort of show that should not be canned - billed as it is/was to give a voice to the voiceless and put the odd minister or two on the spot over service delivery, corruption, wasteful spending and so on. Benedicta Dube takes a look at the Big Debate drama, and says it was not long before the inconvenient truths became too inconvenient to the powers-that-be, and The Big Debate got canned. As so often happens, however, the reason given for the canning are... read more |
