Results of the 5th annual PAMRO conference and board meeting

Secondly, the largest ever contingent of delegates from outside of Africa attended these events. Six in total, double our previous record. Three were from the United States of America, two from the United Kingdom and one from France. This was the first time that we had American delegates. All three indicated that they were interested to participate in future PAMRO activities.

Another first was to have an American as a session chair.

The new format of the events that was agreed on last year at Victoria Falls, with country activity reports as the main item on the agenda of the meeting, worked well. Given the importance of these reports, it was decided to provide more information than only the status of the media audience and marketing research scene in each country. Additional information such as major economic activities, size of the Gross National Product, per capita income and others will be added. The report presented by Mauritius at the conference was regarded as a good example.

Resulting from the first workshop (on population statistics, sampling methods and grossing up of the results to total population), it was decided that these details would in future also be provided on the PAMRO Website. A decision was taken that the Website will in future be used continuously, not only as a tool to provide information, but also to poll members' views on aspects such as what they think of the meeting and conference in Mauritius, suggestions how to improve and expand PAMRO's activities, etc. Advertising on and links to the PAMRO Website will soon be marketed.

The feedback received from delegates was mainly positive, and constructive suggestions were made on how to improve the programme for future conferences.

One very practical result of the event demonstrates that PAMRO works as a networking tool. One of the representatives was searching for research partners in a number of African countries. Just two days after briefing other members present, she found partners in all the required countries.

Finally, we want to thank everybody who contributed to the success of our 5th meeting:

SPONSORS:
Analysis Research, Mauritius - Delegate nametags
Nielsen Media Research, South Africa - Folders, pens and pads
South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF) - Secretariat
Steadman Group, Kenya - Programme
TVAfrica, South Africa - Conference bags

HOSTS:
Alchemy Ltd, Mauritius
Analysis Research, Mauritius