The PICA Awards: The best of the best

[Danette Breitenbach] The PICA Awards were held recently in Johannesburg. The Awards bring together the publishing industry and reward publishing excellence. I spoke to the winners.

A "best-seller" brand

[Claudio Milo] If a brand tells the story of a company's products or services then the "author" ought to have the story-telling skills of a best-selling writer.

Four perils of a 'December mindset'

[Catherine Milward-Bridges] At the time of writing this article there were 34 days to go, before the end of 2013. This is a time during which we should start a paradigm shift, to seeing 2013 for what it is: The year that's gone by. Right? Wrong!

Dancing with the stars

[Eugene Yiga] Following the performances of Grace at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch, The Cape Dance Company (CDC) presents Cadence at the Artscape Theatre as part of its annual end-of-year season.

Mandela movie a hit

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: South Africans are flocking to see the Mandela movie, reports IOL, which also reports MWEB is to increase its data speeds, and EWN reports Cell C's Alan Knott-Craig is recovering well after a stroke.

How essential is hosting for marketing campaigns?

[Ness Garcia] When you are planning an online marketing campaign, your first thought usually has nothing to do with the host your company is with. Although it may not seem to be that big of a deal, it is extremely important.

Why "meaning" matters

[Rowan Belchers] Companies today are very different to how they were 20 years ago. What was commonplace for the previous generation would be laughably outdated these days: gold watches for long service, company cars, secretaries bringing tea on trays, the office computer room, going home for lunch...

South Africa: The brand has unlimited potential

[Tralone Khoza] Country branding is important for all countries; especially for developing countries to be able to effectively compete in the global market place.

Just how tasty is your piece of the pie?

[Lorrianne Cloete] In the category of lifestyle PR, ask not how big your slice of the proverbial editorial pie is, but rather just how tasty. Let's face it, the media landscape has changed, the market has changed and surely now too should the measurement of editorial.

The Zuma show? What show?

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: e.tv has denied a claim that it would air a show on the housewives of Nkandla, reports IOL.

Creating global South African brands, one expat at a time

[Al Mackay] I recently read an article in Harvard Business Review that I found fascinating. It's on diaspora marketing; how emerging market brands can go global by targeting their diasporas in the West.

Digital marketing from a South African perspective

[Stephen Sandmann] I believe that an effective digital presence is crucial for any brand to truly succeed in today's digital world and South Africa is no exception.

Nose-jobs, agencies and copyright infringement

[Paul Jacobson] Brands that neglect to ensure that their digital agencies are aware of the likely risks they face, are complicit in exposing themselves and their stakeholders to a range of substantive risks.

Noah way! Trevor to star in own US sitcom

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: Home-grown stand-up comedian Trevor Noah is to star in his own US sitcom, reports Sowetan LIVE, and MyBroadband says a new report on SA's mobile pricing will debunk some beliefs.

Is the cash register in your agency broken?

[Sid Peimer] The cash register in an agency is the PowerPoint presentation (not just the PowerPoint, but the whole package that comes with it - which is usually you).

Content marketing: What could possibly go wrong?

[Dylan Balkind] If you've heard the term 'Content Marketing Matters Most' and felt your jaw slack with the lack of enthusiasm, you are not alone. If you felt this way because of how this content generally inundates your day and leaves you overcome with an acute case of the discombobulations - you are not alone.

Dispelling myths about newspapers

[Daya Coetzee] What is a newspaper? This may seem like a rhetorical question, but perhaps the answer lies at the core of what its future holds. Is the 'heart' of a newspaper black ink on white paper, or is it the content in a format that can be read?

See yourself as a brand

[Laura Chiweshe] The term personal brand may appear technical, however, no matter who you are and what you do, creating, maintaining and being consciously aware of your personal brand is essential.

'Killer' reporters out to clobber Krejcir?

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: Police apparently fear that reporters with machine guns hidden in their cameras could pose a risk to Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir, reports Times Live, and Communications Minister Yunus Carrim says he has received the PP's report on the SABC, reports IOL.