President Jacob Zuma, according to Meropa CEO Peter Mann, needs media training. This followed Zuma's interview with popular talk radio host Redi Thlabi early last week, and the resulting news stories lambasting him for blaming Hendrik Verwoerd for the current education crisis in Limpopo. A few lectures in Media Training 101 would have helped the president avoid this blunder, suggests Mann. Jacaranda's 'Lekker to be here' billboard campaign recently came under the spotlight for poor execution, with the message being lost in transit. Communications expert Bonnie Ramaila points out where the concerned ad agency went wrong in "Lekker not to read a billboard!". The opinion piece was swiftly followed up with a response from Jacaranda GM Kevin Fine. So you've given in to the social media marketing ra-ra, and have signed up to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus, Pinterest etc. What now?! Chemory Gunko, MD and creative director of Dsignhaus, provides "Four ways to really make social media work for you". Two new board members have joined the Marketing Association of South Africa (MA(SA)) - Ads24 CEO Linda Gibson, and FNB Share Investing CEO Gusta Binikos are now part of the committee. We wish them all the best in their tenure. And don't forget, the 2012 Bookmarks Awards is now open for submissions; the closing date for entries is 14 September 2012. You have to be in it to win it! Sindy Peters, Group Head: Content PS Find out more about the beginning, the rise and what lies ahead for Bizcommunity.com - which celebrates 11 years this month, by listening to the latest Biz Takeouts podcast from the Biz Takeouts Marketing & Media radio show. PPS Take a look at the latest Ornico ad showcase.
Responses to this column welcomed in our editor's column archive. Please send all South African marketing and media news to marketingnews@bizcommunity.com, opinion pieces to contributors-marketing@bizcommunity.com and international news to internationalnews@bizcommunity.com. For more on how to contribute to Biz, go here. Also follow @Bizcommunity on Twitter and join us on Facebook.