So last week we experienced the culmination of the Chile mine rescue drama, an incredible feel-good story that surpassed all expectations in the end. That's certainly going to go down as one of the news events of the year, if not recorded history. This week, as part of the Right2Know Week of Action campaign, 19-27 October 2010, we've got National Media Freedom Day tomorrow, Tuesday 19 October, which commemorates Black Wednesday, a day on which three newspapers - The World, Weekend World, and Pro Veritate - were banned alongside 19 black organisations and scores of critics detained by the apartheid regime in 1977. This year, the commemoration is even more poignant, thanks to the current ongoing fight for media freedom. Various activations and seminars have been planned for tomorrow and at least we start off the week with what appears to be some positive news from the SANEF/Government meeting this past weekend in Magaliesburg. Then, there's the annual PRISA national conference taking place 20-21 October at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg. The theme for this year is Africa on Top and the conference will look at how public relations can effect positive change in organisations, the commercial environment and the continent. There's also Tony Koenderman's Brainstorm on Thursday 21 October, which could be a cracker with its exploration of the future of advertising through various speakers and a panel debate. A big announcement today is the restructuring of 24.com (again) with immediate effect to become "a very focused online publishing business that can work more closely with the group's print publishing divisions", falling within Media24 Newspapers (this time). Coincidentally, Bizcommunity.com has been told, towards the end of last week 24.com (which centres on News24.com) began rolling out a new logo set for its properties, which has been met with mixed reactions. And, in case you've missed it, there's a new kid on the cell block, Telkom's 8ta, so adding to all the noise over Cell C's rebranding campaign is the fuss over the new mobile operator's Heita teaser campaign, branding and impact on Internet costs in South Africa... A luta continua! Simone Puterman (@SimoneBiz) Managing editor PS In this week's Ornico Ad Showcase, we feature TV ads for Dentyne White, Vodacom, Wimpy, City Lodge and Nestlé Ice Ceam, and radio ads for BP Express, Cadbury, Subaru, Cell C and Nativa.
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