So last week Thursday, 4 November 2010, I unglued myself from my laptop and the daily newsletter and headed off to Sandton's Theatre on the Square for The Gathering, a first-birthday celebration by The Daily Maverick intended to be an intimate gathering of minds, analysis, and people. And what a day of conversation it turned out to be! It was easily the most meaningful, thought-provoking and emotionally involving conference I've attended this year, with most presenters speaking with deep conviction on matters close to their hearts. With topics ranging from politics, media freedom and the future of online media to the youth of South Africa, marketing wine in China and Africa and the value of science fiction, we heard from Rich Mulholland, Terry Annecke, Zwelinzima Vavi, Yusuf Abramjee, Ray Hartley, Michael Jordaan, Jovan Regasek, Nic Dawes (via proxy, an email that was read out), Khaya Dlanga, Victor Dlamini, Mike Ratcliffe, Yvonne Johnston, Lauren Beukes, Ivo Vegter (assisted by Sipho Hlongwane), Toby Shapshak and Stephen Grootes, not to mention Gwede Mantashe, a last-minute, unexpected addition to the lineup who set off fireworks and caused a time-crunch. Then there was the on-the-ball audience, some physically in attendance and who knows how many via the ubiquitous back-channel Twitter, of course (there were so many tweets at one stage during the morning that the hashtag #Gathering trended globally at number four). I generally find that the most fascinating part of a conference to be the question-and-answers sessions, and they were no exception this time - it's just such a pity that we ran out of time, thanks to Mantashe being shoehorned in. Kudos to everyone involved in bringing off such a sterling event - may you continue to grow from strength to strength. Here's to the crazy ones! Simone Puterman (@SimoneBiz) Managing editor PS In this week's Ornico Ad Showcase, we feature TV ads for Brothers for Life, Glenryk Pilchards, Ossa and Stimoral Infinity, and radio ads for Student Flights, Vodacom, Cradle of Humankind, Miller's and MTN.
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