[Trends 2015] Business and consumer trends for 2015

[Dion Chang] Social activism and the underpinning of digital solutions to major market innovation will characterise this year, according to renowned South African trend analyst, Dion Chang...

Masterful Birdman soars triumphantly

[Daniel Dercksen] Take an extreme journey into the crazy mindscape of an actor in the masterful Birdman, an exceptional film by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro G Iñárritu, which showcases the craft of storytelling and the art of filmmaking.

Flume funnels digital down to make it matter

[Leigh Andrews] If an agency that's focused on fixing its clients' business problems above winning awards sounds too good to be true, you haven't encountered Flume...

[Trends 2015] Power to the have-nots

[Wayne Naidoo] As conventional models of reaching consumers become radically undermined, initially by mobile, the very notion of what a consumer is will change...

[Trends 2015] It's integrated communications or bust

[Cécile Missildine] South African communications agencies need to evolve and adapt their skill set to match global expectations and the global industry transition across the media and marketing communications...

Give your brand a marketing boost with A-Listers

[Leigh Andrews] Looking to break into the lucrative African market? The key may lie in a new online directory with the power of social network functionality that links your brand to African celebrities...

[Trends 2015] Brands need a higher purpose

[Ann Nurock] Everyone is looking for meaning and fulfilment. Today, consumers want meaning and value that go beyond products and services...

[Trends 2015] Empathic work that solves problems is critical

[Alayne Reesberg] The future relies on the youth of today, creative people who can 'make', crafts from the past and a commitment to get involved and solve problems from the ground-up...

First Electric Vines is a hit

[Jordan Scott] With tickets in hand, bags packed, car filled and drinks chilling we set off to Arabella for the very first Electric Vines music festival.

Confronting racism on the internet: A response to Nzimande

[Anton Harber] Minister of Higher Education and Communist Party chief Blade Nzimande is right to be concerned about hate speech and racism on the internet - but what is to be done about it?

Wagner's six-hour epic comic opera live on the big screen

[Daniel Dercksen] South Africa-born tenor Johan Botha stars in the Met Opera Live in HD screening of Wagner's grand comedy Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at Cinema Nouveau and selected Ster-Kinekor Cinemas from 10 January.

Communication gets collaborative with SACOMM

[Leigh Andrews] Ever get the feeling that the South African communication industry is just too disjointed and there's no common ground? Not so, explains Dr Julie Reid of SACOMM...

Unlocking value from customer relationships in 2015

[Joseph Neusu] I recently presented a paper titled "Thriving in the Digital Age: Elevated Experiences, Interactions and Analytics" at a conference that focused on how businesses can manage relationships with their customers in the digital era...

[Trends 2015] The acquisition spree

[Adrian Hewlett] Mergers and acquisitions of agencies across the digital, media and FMCG industry in South Africa continued unabated in 2014 and has revealed a much changed industry landscape for 2015...

What is the real measure of social media success?

[Walter Pike] In the early evangelist days of social media, we spoke a lot about 'joining the conversation'. The idea was that social media is word of mouth on steroids...

Brand loyalty - a thing of the past for technology brands?

[Sid Peimer] This year's Consumer Electronics Show will feature everything from biometric socks and other 'wearables' to 3D printers, drones, robotics, virtual reality and TVs where the clarity is best described as 'breath-taking'. However...

[Trends 2015] Programmatic media-buying surge

[John Bowles] John Bowles, joint-MD, of the Newspaper Advertising Bureau (NAB), predicts more private ad exchanges playing a role in the market.

Take a magical musical journey Into The Woods

[Daniel Dercksen] Into the Woods is an enchanting musical that will cast its magical spell on you.

Getting to know the ABCs of the ABC

[Leigh Andrews] You've encountered the phrase 'ABC' if you work in this industry, but what actually goes into getting that Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) certification? General manager Charles Beiles clarifies...

Allegations of racism against Azure colour social media blue

[Leigh Andrews] Nothing gets social media users more hackled than allegations of racism - especially when it's a top-class restaurant allegedly dishing it out...