Who are the 100 most influential media people in SA?

And in advertising, does the ‘Reg and John show' get trumped by other famous pairings such as ‘Keith and Mike' and ‘James and Alistair'?

For the very first time, Future Publishing's The Annual - Advertising, Media & Marketing 2008, publishes a list of the 100 most influential people in South African media across a variety of categories, including television, radio, design, academia and magazines.

Says editor Jeremy Maggs, “We have a firm objective and that's to get the media industry talking and arguing about the list, which will in time become an annual event. People who crack it will love us and those who don't will sulk. Not for too long we hope. That's the purpose of surveys like this - a debate fire starter!”

Maggs says the list was sourced and compiled by two non-media journalists who approached the project with un-blinkered objectivity. Around 500 contenders were then presented to a panel of independent judges who argued with each other for a morning. The list will be presented per category and in alphabetical order.

Best ads DVD

Aside from the list and the country's first ever public perception survey on advertising, by TNS Research Surveys, the hardcover publication also contains 40 hard-hitting opinion pieces by industry leaders, as well a comprehensive wrap up of the advertising, media and marketing year in SA. As another first, there's a complimentary DVD on the country's best television advertising as the medium celebrates 30 years.

Editorial participation in this year's publication has exceeded expectation, says Maggs, with most of the country's agencies being featured in one-, two- or four-page profiles. The book also features several in-depth case studies on advertising successes in 2008.

The book will be launched at two special morning seminars in Johannesburg and Cape Town. These will feature, among other speakers, leading London-based advertising researcher Emma Willkie, who manages the respected Gunn Report, which analyses the best ad agencies and commercials from all the world's top ad shows.

Global best practice

Willkie will be giving a 60-minute talk which is a must for anyone working in the industry and who is interested in global best practice. Seats to both events are limited.

As with the debut 2007 edition, a percentage of participation fees are given through a special trust fund to a communications institution for assistance in education. Earlier this year, Future Publishing committed R80 000 to the Vega School from proceeds from the first book.

Inquiries about the seminars can be addressed to project co-ordinator Marcia Minnaar at .