Bizcommunity.com to launch radio directory
Bizcommunity.com is launching the first in its range of comprehensive directories aimed at improving online visibility for media and marketing companies. It will go live 1 February 2008.


Learning from failure
[Vivian Warby] Failure could be used as one of the biggest learning experiences in an entrepreneur's life, yet in South Africa it is harshly punished, says David Murray of Cape Venture Partners. According to Murrary, 95% of entrepreneurs putting a new idea out there will fail, but that many of those 95% will go on to eventually launch a successful product.

The US$100 zerophobia
[Naseem Javed] What a difference a single dollar makes. A very big difference indeed. As a matter of fact, almost like a mind-altering-shock wave, a global hysteria, a cry of the consumer to be heard around the deepest corners of the globe, in addition to being 'breaking news' to the heart's content for the glitzy-TV-media-machine.

Marketing Excellence Awards must build credibility
[Chris Moerdyk] The Sunday Times Business Times Marketing Excellence Awards, held this past weekend, now have the best chance of becoming the country's premier marketing event simply because the organisers have admitted that changes are needed to get rid of some glaring flaws.

Latest release of geo-demographic segmentation tool reveals fresh insights - Knowledge Factory
Revenue generation-focused marketing insights company, Knowledge Factory, has announced the immediate availability of the latest version of its geo-demographic segmentation tool, ClusterPlus. Featuring completely updated Deeds Office information, the new release provides marketing strategists with even more precise insight into the characteristics, behaviours and lifestyles of the people of South Africa.

Official 2010 slogan revealed
Africa is a continent with a rich reservoir of resources, but the continent's biggest asset by far is the warmth, friendliness, humility and humanity of its people. This has been the inspiration for the official slogan of the 2010 FIFA World Cup: “Ke Nako. Celebrate Africa's Humanity”. The slogan was launched by the chairman of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, Irvin Khoza, yesterday, Sunday, 25 November 2007, during the worldwide broadcast of the Preliminary Draw TV show in Durban.

Prelim draw highlights 2010 branding, logos
[Lavinia Mahlangu] Actively identifying several sponsors, events and products linked to the 2010 FIFA World Cup through branding, has been one of the many focus areas in the week leading up to the Preliminary Draw on Sunday, 25 November 2007.

Dazzling TV show for 2010 prelim draw
[Lavinia Mahlangu] The Preliminary Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa will take the form of a dazzling television special, according to the Local Organising Committee (LOC). The draw takes place this Sunday, 25 November 2007, at the Nkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.

eThekwini launches 2010 logo
[Chris Khumalo] eThekwini Metro earlier this week launched its composite 2010 FIFA World Cup logo which forms part of its branding efforts that will give the city of Durban a unique identity as the host city for the games.

Edgars scores with FIFA
NEWSWATCH: FIFA has appointed Edgars Consolidated Stores as the official operator of the 2010 FIFA World Cup stores, reports the SABC.

Sony enables HD viewing of landmark film at prelim draw - Volcano Advertising
The high definition (HD) technology of Sony's Digital Cinema Projector will be used on Sunday, 25 November 2007's world premiere of the landmark film, More Than Just A Game at the 2010 Preliminary Draw. The film the dramatic and little-known story of organised football played among prisoners on Robben Island.


Live prelim draw broadcast by Radio 2000
On Sunday, 25 November 2007, the SABC's Radio 2000 will be broadcasting live the first 2010 Preliminary Draw on African soil from the Nkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, 5pm – 7pm. Says Radio 2000's station manager Carlito Sheikh: “Radio 2000 is broadcasting the draw live as it so happens to ensure that the soccer loving nation that we, as South Africans, may be informed instantaneously as the fixtures are drawn.”

D&AD Student Awards 2008 launch
LONDON: The D&AD Student Awards 2008 launched last week with a fresh set of design and advertising briefs written by some of the world's leading creatives and business professionals, including helping South African brand Nando's spread the ‘Spirit of Peri-Peri' through viral advertising.


Creative Circle results for October 2007
The Creative Circle results for October 2007 are out and according to chairperson Brett Morris, it was not a particularly strong month overall, with very few entries in all categories. This “made the standouts really stand out and also some ad of the year finalists that are lucky to be going through. Kind of like how England landed up in the Rugby World Cup Final,” he says.

Film, Press Lions jury president announced
LONDON, Craig Davis, worldwide chief creative officer JWT, will chair both the Film and Press juries at the 55th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival next year 15 – 21 June 2008 in Cannes, France, the organisers announced last week.

International ad spend rising
AMSTERDAM: Advertising spending for the period January to August 2007 closed with a positive global trend of +2.1% in the countries where Nielsen is directly monitoring it, Nielsen Global AdView reported last week.


Campaigning in support of the community
[Tshepiso Seopa] Recently marketers and advertisers have been using the advertising medium for not only sending out campaigns to the desired target market but also to support the community. Most brands came in strongly in support of the Springboks during the recent Rugby World Cup; the Salvation Army has continued to fight against the abuse of mankind and exploitation; and the Gauteng provincial government is helping people to gain access to government information and services.


What SA expats get up to overseas
NEW YORK: Former Saatchi & Saatchi executive creative directors Jan Jacobs – a South African expat – and Leo Premutico, who helped take the agency from creative obscurity to Cannes and Clio ‘Agency of The Year' in just over two years, have recently left that company to launch Johannes Leonardo with the backing of WPP.

Net#work outGunns the rest
Net#work BBDO is the highest ranked South African creative ad agency in the recent 2007 Gunn Report, coming in at 36th. Looking at SA's placing in the world of creativity, it was ranked the 17th most-awarded country, sandwiched between Mexico and Chile. The US took top position.

Jupiter appoints deputy MD - The Jupiter Drawing Room
Claire Cobbledick has been promoted to deputy MD of The Jupiter Drawing Room (Cape Town), it was announced last week. Cobbledick currently heads up the Strategy Department at TJDR Cape Town and will continue in this role, as well as assuming her new managerial position.


Ocean Basket presents the Queen - Joe Public
A very naughty corgi, a cast of real people and the anticipation of a rather royal visitor are just some of the elements that add a quirky touch to Joe Public's latest campaign for Ocean Basket.


New offering set to change lives... - Draftfcb (South Africa)
The era of democracy and social change which our country is undergoing brings with it challenges and opportunities that require a new and innovative strategic insight and a marketing approach which goes way beyond traditional advertising.


Entries are open for AMASA's Roger Garlick Award - AMASA
The Advertising Media Association of South Africa (AMASA) has officially opened entries for the Roger Garlick Award which recognises exceptional innovation in media. Entries close on 13 February 2007. Judges for the 2008 Roger Garlick Awards will be looking for entries with a strong strategy as the underlying factor.

Singh&sons travels time for KIA - Singh&Sons
Cape ad agency Singh&sons has revealed its latest offering for car manufacturer, KIA. Highlighting KIA's ten-year warranty policy, the television commercial depicts the humorous side of the motor company's substantial offer.


Showcasing the next generation of creative talent
The annual AAA school of Advertising showcase launches next week on Tuesday, 27 November 2007, and the exhibition will run until Friday 30 November. Guest speaker at the launch in Randburg, Johannesburg, will be Mick Blore, group executive creative director, Saatchi & Saatchi.

Amplifying the effects of radio
5FM recently launched “The Power of 5”, its new brand campaign across TV, outdoor, cinema and print. Created by Net#work BBDO, it is all about the effect 5FM has on the world around you – amplifying listeners' everyday experiences, adventures and senses into larger-than-life explosions of reality.

Creating market equity through reverse branding
[Gregory Serandos] As consumers become increasingly savvy, traditional branding efforts that begin with the brand (e.g. BMW) and create an association (safe, cautious drivers) become more and more dubious. This is why, in the US, we are experiencing the rise of reverse branding, which turns traditional brand marketing on its head. In the reverse branding scenario, customers start with the category like a search engine or a pizza, and from there they make one brand (Google or Debonairs) the obvious choice.

When there is more to a barcode than just a code - 34
Brand activation specialist thirtyfour's Scan & Win concept is billed as a simple but effective marketing mechanism for FMCG retail that rewards consumers when they purchase participating products.

Three cheers for November 1 - November 1
If you can deliver on service, success it seems is inevitable. For young company November 1, which is celebrating its third birthday this month, it's all about quality.


Talk2Us welcomes another talented designer to its fold - Talk2Us
Talk2Us has strengthened its team with the appointment of a new designer, Loren Vita.

How to win customers' trust and loyalty
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Every market has its good, its bad and its ugly but there is a general perception that South African companies do not care about service and that service is much better overseas, Jamie Clyde of Kulula.com (formerly of Virgin Mobile), told delegates who attended a Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals (SOCAP) South Africa Breakfast held today, Thursday, 22 November 2007, at the Southern Sun Hotel in Rivonia, Johannesburg.

Countdown to new open standard for publishers, search engines
NEW YORK: The new non-proprietary open standard ACAP (Automated Content Access Protocol), developed to protect the intellectual property of anyone wishing to make content available on the worldwide web, will be unveiled and showcased for the first time this Thursday, 29 November 2007, in New York after an intense and highly collaborative 12-month pilot project between publishers, including Media24, and search engines.

Milestone for SA Internet
News24.com, the breaking news and information service in the 24.com network of sites, has recorded more than one million unique South African visitors in a month – the first South Africa website to do so. This is according to international statistics group Nielsen//NetRatings' list of the most visited local Internet sites for October 2007.

Video killed the radio star
[Pedro de Gouveia] This new wave song by British band Buggles was the first music video to be shown on MTV, when the station debuted in the US in September 1981. The song was seen to herald the demise of radio. Something that has not quite happened in the 26 years since it was released…


European business leads ‘consumerisation' trend
Research conducted for Unisys, the worldwide technology services and solutions company, has revealed that European companies are more willing for their staff to use their own IT applications in the course of their work than firms in any other region around the world. The survey, conducted by international research house IDG Research Services, highlights a shift in corporate attitudes to the use of personal IT applications (Web 2.0 technologies) by staff as employees use their own devices and systems to complete tasks as part of their job.

ICASA launches consumer advisory panel
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) will launch a Consumer Advisory Panel (CAP) to advise the authority on matters relating to consumer issues in the country on Monday, 26 November 2007.

South African celebs less celebrated in SA - MyVideo
Open a South African magazine or newspaper and celebs are hardly if ever mentioned, but with the advent of MyVideo.co.za's new iViews platform, weekly interviews of our homegrown stars are intended to yank them out of obscurity into the life of superstars.

Orijin wins all - Orijin New Media Agency
Orijin, a leading broadcast design, animation and production company, took all the gold and all the silver in two categories at the recent Promax/BDA Africa 2007 Awards,which rewards excellence in on-air design and promo creation.

SPEND2WIN at Digicape - Digicape Apple Centre
If you make a purchase at Digicape this November to the value of R5000, you qualify for one coupon to enter the prize draw for MacBook, iPods, speakers and more. If you spend another R5000 you qualify for two coupons... so the more you complete, the greater your chances of winning a prize.

Live blogging from Reshaping Media seminar
Bizcommunity.com editor Louise Marsland is blogging live today from the Reshaping Media seminar at the Michaelangelo in Sandton, Johannesburg, hosted by Stan Edwards' Platypus Productions, so click through regularly to http://blog.bizcommunity.com for updates. Bizcommunity.com is a media partner.

Matric results the new media way
SABC News, in association with Vodacom, Marketel, the Department of Education, and the State Information Technology Agency, will once again publish matric results on Newsbreak 082-152, option 6, this year. This information line is reportedly the only one that provides detailed results, as well as results available in both SMS and voice versions. NewsBreak's sister SABC new media service www.sabcnews.com will be carrying in-depth analysis and reports on results from all the provinces, as well as interviews with the top candidates.

From a pickup line to a meaningful relationship
Guerrilla Marketing has evolved its arsenal to now include another stand-alone business, Guerrilla Interactive. The interactive army consists of a passionate and experienced team of full service web designers, developers, content managers and database management experts. “Creating a dialogue between your brand and your target market cultivates trust and with that comes an emotional investment in the brand. After all, meaningful relationships are always based on two-way communication,” says Michael Gullan, MD of Guerrilla Marketing.

Imagination Lab students graduate
[Tshepiso Seopa] After a year of learning essential skills in brand communications and work ethics, the more than 30 students who were a part of this year's Imagination Lab learnership programme are ready to graduate and start their careers in advertising.

PURE Communications launches voice training course - PURE Communications
PURE Communications recently announced the launch of its new Voice Training Skills programme into the enterprise, call centre, and government markets.

Microsoft Tech-Ed 2007 - Collyer Lessick & Associates
Collyer Lessick & Associates was once again chosen to manage and run Microsoft's annual African IT conference this year at Sun City and with over 1800 delegates attending, much was expected in terms of content in the sessions, as well as from the after-hour celebrations.


Kagiso Exhibitions & Events sponsors Soccerex Football Festival - Kagiso Exhibitions and Events
Kagiso Exhibitions & Events was a sponsor of the Soccerex Football Festival which took place at Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton on Sunday, 25 November 2007.

The DMA Assegai Awards – back with a bang - True Colour Events
Tasked by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), True Colour co-ordinated the newly independent DMA Assegai Awards which are wholly focused on the direct marketing industry. The South African Post Office was one of the sponsors responsible for re-inventing the awards ceremony for 2007.


Searching for the perfect man

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The search is on for Rocky, the perfect man created by Frank ‘n Furter for the musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show ,which opens at The Victory Theatre, Johannesburg, in February next year. Those who think they fit the bill don't have to eat nutritious high protein and swallow raw eggs ... to build up their shoulders, chest, arms, and... legs. What they do have to do is be able to do press-ups, and chin-ups as well as sing and dance! Auditions take place on 28 – 29 November 2007 at The Victory Theatre and all those gorgeous muscular specimens out there who can dance and sing may email their CV and a recent photograph to Tamaryn Petersen at tamaryn@wirelesszar.co.za.


Third SA tour date for Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim, the official 2010 FIFA World Cup DJ, has added a third date to his South African tour in December: he will now be performing at Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday, 5 December 2007, as well as holding a press day on Tuesday 4 December. His management team are also in talks about holding a series of events during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Pimp my Coffee Table - Homemakers Fair
The 2008 Johannesburg Homemakers Expo sees the launch of a fabulously quirky design competition - a first for South Africa – Pimp my Coffee Table. Ten immensely creative designers will each pimp a lucky member of the public's coffee table enabling them to feather their nest with some pretty impressive table candy!


Good things come in threes - IDG
October 2007 was the start of a collaborative campaign between IDG and Standard Bank. These two companies joined forces for three exhibitions taking place in both Cape Town and Johannesburg.


Vote of confidence in Oasys - Oasys Innovations
At the recent annual awards event of the Exhibitions and Events Association, Oasys Exhibitions, part of the Oasys Innovations Group of companies, was again presented with the Supplier of the Year award for 2007. Shareen Driver of Oasys Exhibitions was voted Best Exhibition Supplier Employee.

SABC Education Baba Indaba 2008 inspires parenting - Baba Indaba
With 2.1 million babies and children under five years old, and a total market value for healthcare, food and fashion reaching into the billions, South Africa is becoming Africa's leading market in this sector.

TPP rocks the PICAs - The Publishing Partnership
The Publishing Partnership received recognition for no less than four of its publications at this year's PICA Awards, which celebrate achievements in publishing excellence.

Roadmap to success - Entrepreneur Magazine
According to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulation statistics, Entrepreneur is one of the fastest growing consumer magazines in South Africa. Sold copy circulation increased by 122% year-on-year to 14 365 for the July – September 2007 period.


Fresh off the rack

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Pick n Pay's new customer magazine Fresh Living, published by John Brown, went on sale in 365 stores countrywide on Monday, 19 November 2007, for only R9.95. The 108-page magazine is part of the retail giant's R110 million brand makeover. Pick n Pay GM strategy Lyndsay Webster-Rozon says that elements of the new branding, revealed earlier this month, have been used throughout the magazine. These include the new Cachet brand font and ‘window' box device that has been used to contain additional information, pictures and text. The print run for the first issue of the magazine is 150 000.


Search is on for the best street artist
The Big Issue, in partnership with The Gallery at the Bay in The Bay Hotel, Cape Town, is on the look-out for the best unknown street art talent in the Western Cape with the launch of the annual The Big Issue Street Art awards this November . The creations of 20 finalists, across all mediums of sculpture, photography, painting and wirework, will be selected for exhibition at The Gallery. The pieces will be auctioned at a gala evening in April 2008 and further evaluated for the first, second and third prize award categories, which will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony after the auction. Half of the proceeds will go directly into the artists' pockets and half will be donated to welfare organisation's identified by the purchasers of the art.

Book lovers' title facing closure

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Books & Leisure magazine has “sadly come to the end of the road… as without the support from paid advertising we can no longer sustain the magazine,” managing editor Carol Röthlisberger said yesterday, Monday, 19 November 2007 in a statement. “If by some miraculous twist of fate in the next two months, Books & Leisure finds an investor, we will pick up the pieces and fulfill our promise of a world-class magazine.”

Reward for Beeld robbery info
[Simone Puterman] NEWSWATCH: A R25 000 reward is being offered for any information that leads to arrests in connection with the 38 computers, four cars, camera and cellphone stolen from the Hatfield, Pretoria offices of Beeld on Friday night, 23 November 2007, writes IOL.

Forget journ quality, let's talk about the audience
[Vincent Maher] Time and time again I hear it said that the quality of journalism is deteriorating in South Africa. Frankly this is rubbish — what is declining is the quality of the audience. The source of this criticism is a society that has become a carcass of fat and bone with very little meat.


Four young Kenyans become mobile reporters
“This is a great opportunity to promote responsive journalism and democracy in Kenya,” says Munene Kilongi. He is standing in a street in Nairobi while he is sending his report on the elections in Kenya from his mobile phone.

Fin24 consolidates brand
Financial intelligence media collective Fin24 announced today, Friday, 23 November 2007, plans to consolidate its collective intellectual capital under a single brand, Fin24. The alignment comes in the wake of Fin24's overarching business case that will create a singular financial intelligence service brand, with a greater product portfolio on offer.

Intelligence minister hasn't followed proper procedure – FXI
The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) will intervene as a friend of the Constitutional Court in the case of the Independent Newspapers v Minister of Intelligence Services today, Thursday, 22 November 2007. In a press statement, the FXI said it will argue that the minister has not followed the proper procedural approach in his attempt to withhold certain documents from the public.

Ifra's new Arabic edition also available online
Ifra's international magazine on the technology and business of news publishing is now available with a special added section of Arab-region publishing news and other features written in Arabic. This new Arabic-enhanced edition is being made available in Ifra's ePaper format to newspaper publishers and their staffs throughout the Arab states in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

M&G Online redevelopment begins
[Simone Puterman] NEWSWATCH: Vincent Maher, digital strategist at the M&G Online, revealed on his blog earlier this week that the online newspaper's redevelopment process, which will be blogged step-by-step, has started. This will probably be one of the most closely watched and interactive redevelopments in South African media to date, as the transparency will include asking the reader community for advice and feedback as the process unfolds.

New look for Press Council
The new Press Council of South Africa yesterday, Monday, 19 November 2007, released a new logo and wording which it is requesting all print media use when referring to the press ombudsman's office.


Swedish agency offers training opportunities to African journalists
[Walter Wafula] The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency has announced vacancies for the 2008 Seminar on Journalism and Democracy at the Institute for Further Education of Journalists, Fojo in Sweden. Journalists from six African countries, including; Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Rwanda, and Somalia are eligible for the course.

New investments cause Johncom profit knock
NEWSWATCH: Avusa (formerly Johncom), which plans to split its media and entertainment assets listing by the end of the first quarter of 2008 according to Business Day, has taken a R33 million profit knock because of its new titles The Weekender and The Times and in its digital online business, writes Business Report. The latter also reports that Telkom Media has acquired a 49% stake in Namibian free-to-air TV operator One Africa Television.

Applying the cardinal rule to mobile
[Harry Trisos] Amidst the technology hubbub of the 3G AfricaCom Conference in Cape Town this week, there is one thing that stands out like a beacon. It is that technology providers have delivered on their promise of a cost-effective and super fast mobile experience.

Nokia promises 'information society' via email
[Joyce Joan Wangui] Nokia, one of the world's leading providers of mobile phone services, has promised to release a new set of goodies in line with the company's goal to promote the information society.

Mobiles will trigger digital economy boom on continent
[Vivian Warby] Web access through mobiles will close the digital divide, says Robin Parker, MD of Bizcommunity.com Speaking at the PublishOnline conference held in Cape Town yesterday, Wednesday, 21 November 2007, Parker said lives will change drastically with the advent of smartphones. Phones of the future, he said, would be as fast and as capable as any laptop.

The tipping point for mobile is near
[Louise Marsland] With the development of technology such as the 3G card – the mobile success story of 2007 – providing consumers with increasing access to online, banking and other services, mobile communications is at a tipping point similar to that of the Internet a few years ago. This is according to the findings of the Mobility 2007 study released yesterday, Tuesday, 20 November 2007.

Mobile association releases US research findings
LOS ANGELES: In order to help brands and marketers identify key market trends, mobile subscriber usage patterns, and success metrics for mobile marketing in the US, the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) last week announced the results of its third-annual Mobile Attitude and Usage Study.

‘Exceptional' growth for Vodacom
The Vodacom Group posted a 15.1% increase in profit from operations to R5.7 billion and increased revenue by 17.2% to R22.8 billion for the six months ending September 2007. Group CEO Alan Knott-Craig said it was exceptional for a cellphone network to generate double-digit organic growth in a maturing market that had been going for 14 years.

Mobile marketing key to mobile gaming - Multimedia Solutions
Mobile gaming will need a serious boost to put it on track to be the success analysts have predicted it will be. Declining revenues internationally and a stuttering start locally are the products of a lack of knowledge and investment in a sector that is without doubt a sleeping giant, says Riaan Groenewald, Multimedia Solutions operational director.

Volkswagen shifts gear and goes mobile with fans on the Freshlyground Volkswagen Summer Tour - Brandscape
It was all go for Volkswagen as sponsors of the Freshlyground national concert tour during the first two weeks of November. The brief to Ogilvy Cape Town and Brandscape Proximity Marketing was to reach Volkswagen's target market at the Freshlyground gigs using media that was relevant, engaging and that would add value to the brand experience.

JIP Rockspaaider rocks the south - Beeld
Much-loved school band Ysterkoei was recently crowned the JIP Rockspaaider winner at the Southern Final held at Mercury Live! in Cape Town.

Partnership to grow Internet information in African nations
[HANA Reporter] Increasing awareness about Internet Governance issues and working together on the development and growth of the Internet in Africa are part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU).

Web Application Super Hero Conference open to all - White Wall Web
Every year, White Wall Web has bi-annual conferences to discuss issues relevant and interesting to the WWW team. Each end-of-year conference is a culmination of the year's learnings and industry developments and takes place over two days. This year WWW plans to do something a little different.


The online media dilemma in South Africa - iLogic
[Yoav Tchelet] South Africa is a developing country and with that its broadband penetration and development of online media is constantly evolving – or so it should be. South African companies still task their traditional agencies with developing and executing their TV, radio, print, outdoor, online etc. The problem with this, as has been identified in every market in the world from the US through to Asia, is that online is a medium just like any other.

Wheels24's Alternative Car of the Year Awards starts with a vroom - 24.com
Fasten your seatbelts and rev up your engines, as it's all systems go for Wheels24's Alternative Car of the Year Awards 2007. Tuned up and rearing to go, clicks of approval from car fanatics across the country will send the polls into overdrive in what is sure to be the hottest top-end race yet.

One in four for 24.com - 24.com
Connected South Africans spend 27% of their time on websites created by 24.com, Media24's digital publishing arm, according to a report by Nielsen//NetRatings. This equates to slightly more than one in every four minutes online – at least 16% more than any other local digital publisher and double that of the largest digital publisher in the UK.

Global Outdoor Systems erects landmark billboard in West Africa - Global Outdoor Systems
Earlier this month, new standards were set with the unveiling of one of the biggest billboards in West Africa.

Ndivhuwo – a journal for intellectual engagement - STE Publishers
Ikwezi Institute for Research and Development and STE Publishers have just published Ndivhuwo – a journal for intellectual engagement, which will aim to provide a space for critical intellectual engagement over issues of development. The magazine will be launched today, Thursday, 22 November 2007, at the Atrium of the Women's Prison, Constitution Hill, Johanesburg, at 6 for 6:30 pm.


Boston fetes Sappi International Printers of the Year - Sappi
The Sappi International Printers of the Year awards are reportedly the world's most prestigious accolades of excellence in print. Held each year in a different country, the much anticipated 2007 gala event was held last month at Boston's JF Kennedy Museum.

Multichoice Vuka! winners
Public service announcement (PSA) Anti-Human Trafficking by Saatchi & Saatchi was the overall winner in the professional category at the 2007 MultiChoice VUKA! Awards, which were announced at a gala awards evening held at The Bassline in Newtown earlier this week. It also walked away with the best soundtrack award.


Entries for music awards close soon
There are less than two weeks left until entries close for the 14th Annual MTN SA Music Awards that take place in May 2008. Friday, November 30 2007, is the cut-off date.

Adrian Bergoff wins Best Professional Animation at Vuka! - Condor Cape Town
When Mark Lawrie at Collective Energy approached VFX producer Michelle Barrow and Adrian Bergoff, head of the 3D department at Condor, with this environmental campaign for Afrofusion Communications, the brief was to create two comparative environments to show how we as inhabitants of beautiful mother nature can live in a cleaner environment by living by the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.


Hummer Hummer, Terraplane Hummer Hummer. - Terraplane
Net#work BBDO recently employed its use of repetition to drive home the cool brand Cell C exhibits, using Terraplane director Benjamin Magowan to do so.


Kiss Films shoots ''The Wedding Cake'' for Kraft foods, FCB Johannesburg - Kiss Films
Kiss films recently completed a new Kraft Foods' Royal Baking Powder commercial for FCB Johannesburg. The commercial, a testament to old world and family values, tells the story of a daughter and three generations of women in the family as they prepare for her wedding.


Bouffant ''puffs up'' its look with Rex - Bouffant
Boutique production company Bouffant turned to Rex, a young Joburg-based company of designers to design its new corporate identity for the birth of the company.


Think again. Think Terraplane. - Terraplane
Trevor Clarence recently completed a funny commercial for Net#work BBDO and McCain's Chips. This wry, dry look at a small town visionary and an almost too-keen following proves she really ought to think again, think McCain.


Jeana Theron of Velocity selected on Shots New Directors Showcase 2007 - Velocity Films
Shots magazine and dvd, which focuses on creative excellence in advertising, recently published its selection of top New Commercials Directors for 2007. Jeana Theron, a fairly recent addition to the stable of young directors at Velocity Films, has been selected as one of the directors to watch.


Egg in Jozi - Egg Films
Egg's Johannesburg office is open for business, and producer Nicci Cox has joined to head it up. It houses directors Slim and Laurence Hamburger, and is home to the Humanoids, too.


Greg Gray's Guinness campaign garners more international awards - Velocity Films
Greg Gray's international commercial for Guinness continues to win more accolades on the awards circuit.


Harnessing the forces of nature... - Bite Animation
Acknowledging the trend towards high-end VFX being used more frequently in the made-for-TV and the commercials field, Bite Animation recently purchased Realflow 4. Known for its extensive particle capabilities, the software has already been put to good use on a tongue-in-cheek advert for the 5 Alive brand, commissioned by director Petar Spiljevic of Velocity Films.

The Lime Envelope appointed again to organise SAMRA conference in 2008 - The Lime Envelope
Following the success of the 2007 SAMRA Conference, The Lime Envelope has been contracted to organise the 2008 SAMRA Conference which will take place at the Royal Swazi Sun in Swaziland's Ezulwini Valley, 27 – 28 May 2008.


Livewired has moved offices - Livewired Communications
PR agency Livewired Communications has moved its Johannesburg offices to 49 Kingfisher Rd, Fourways.

Africa's premier financial and business jargon buster - Tshirundu Communications
Moneybiz, a member of Tshirundu Communications, has introduced a couple of innovations that will see it growing its readership base by harnessing the power of web 2.0 – Biz Lingo, a business and financial jargon buster, and a blog for afro-optimist bloggers.

Tom London moving to Yebo Radio
[Tshepiso Seopa] Last week's announcement that Talk Radio 702 and 567 Cape Talk radio presenter Tom London will be leaving the two stations at the end of the year to pursue his other interests, fuelled rumours that London might be heading for Kaya FM where he will be hosting the breakfast show. However, London has denied that he is on route to the heart and soul of Jozi, telling Bizcommunity.com that his focus will be on Vodacom's Yebo Radio. He has also posted two comments on Bizcommunity setting the record straight.

Capricorn FM launches in Limpopo
The people of Limpopo today, Monday, 26 November 2007, woke up to the fresh sounds of the region's first black commercial radio station. Six months after receiving its commercial broadcast license, Capricorn FM began broadcasting from its state-of-the-art studios in Bendor, Polokwane.


Unleashing the power of student radio stations
Student Radio Network, a newly launched initiative aimed at unleashing the power of the student radio market, intends to bring in methods that will bridge the existing gap in getting access to airtime sales and barriers that prevents growth of student and community radio stations across the country.

London leaves 702, CapeTalk
Radio presenter Tom London will be leaving Talk Radio 702 and 567 CapeTalk at the end of December 2007 to pursue other opportunities, the stations announced yesterday, 22 November 2007. A replacement has not yet been appointed.

End of era as Ridgway leaves 94.5 Kfm
Radio stalwart Clive Ridgway leaves 94.5 Kfm this month after 17 years with the station to further his commitment to community engagement, the radio station announced earlier this week. The reins will be taken over by Ian Bredenkamp, who was recently appointed as 94.5 Kfm programming manager.

Career action plan for 2008! - theWorksquad
Can you believe it...? It is only about six weeks to another new year! If it is going to be anything like the exciting and buoyant one we have just been through, best you be ready for it. Particularly, if you are planning career moves.

A new chip off the old block
Ovenbake Chips are getting a facelift with revised packaging and a campaign to educate consumers on what has turned out to be Peru's most famous export – the potato.


Survey to help retailers find their roots
Have you 'strategically positioned' your store in a particular shopping centre? Are people who have access to your retail outlet your true target market? Are sales at an all time low? Quite simply, have you done your homework? The Newspaper Advertising Bureau's (NAB) Roots 007 survey reveals these straightforward answers that can either make or break your business.

Danny K loves store's showers
When staff at On-Tap plumbing franchise spotted Danny K in their store, shopping for bathroom and kitchen fittings for his new home in Gauteng, someone turned on the thought taps and thought… “What about a partnership with Danny K?”


SA suspends meat, poultry exports to EU
[Michael Appel] South Africa has agreed to temporarily stop the export of inactive commodities such as pork, chicken, lamb and milk to the European Union (EU), announced the Department of Agriculture yesterday, Tuesday, 20 November 2007.

Spar to add stores, upgrade distribution
A total of 25 new Spar franchises, 30 Build it and 40 Tops at Spar stores should open in 2008.

How the Bing stole Christmas - DMX
The best gift retailers can give their customers this festive season is a uniquely mixed music mix, claims DMX, instead of another round of Boney M or Bing Crosby.

UK distinction for local sales promotion expert
Lawrence Woollam from Achievement Awards Group was capped top student at the Institute of Sales Promotion (ISP) graduation ceremony in London this week. The institute is a UK organisation that represents brand owners, agencies and service partners engaged in promotional marketing.

‘Kaelo Stories of Hope' CSI case studies used in Stellenbosch MBA - Kaelo Worldwide Media
Stories of corporate social investment from the ‘Kaelo Stories of Hope' multimedia campaign now feature in academic programmes as the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) has incorporated the stories as local case studies in its MBA courses.

OUTsurance shines at FirstRand Volunteers awards - OUTsurance
Earlier this month, the FirstRand Banking Group honoured its volunteers in the first Chairman's Volunteer Recognition Awards Programme. The FirstRand Volunteers Programme was established in 2003 as a catalyst in breaking down perceived barriers to volunteering.

Regional status for SABC Tshwane offices
The SABC offices in Hatfield, Tshwane, have been accorded regional status and Mmabatho Ramagoshi has been appointed regional GM to head up the office, the SABC Board and group executive announced yesterday, Thursday, 22 November 2007.

Broadcast value chain transforming significantly
LONDON: The broadcast value chain is undergoing a significant transformation as digital workflows, high definition (HD) and traditional IT infrastructure revolutionise the TV industry. In a new report, The Evolving Broadcast Value Chain, 2006 – 2012, independent market analyst Datamonitor says this transition will present a clear market opportunity for technology vendors and systems integrators in the near term. It predicts that spend by broadcasters in North America and western Europe on technology will reach an estimated US$8.7 billion by 2012.

MultiChoice unveils urban music channel
On Friday, 23 November 2007, MultiChoice will unveil the international urban music television channel, Trace on DStv. The launch on channel 325 comes after a successful one-month trial period in April this year.

ANC presidential race still getting the 3rd Degree
Debora Patta continues to interview those vying for the position of ANC president this week on 3rd Degree on Tuesday, 27 November 2007, at 8pm on e.tv. The candidates will share their views on matters that are most important to South Africans such as crime, affirmative action and HIV/Aids in the build up to the ANC conference in December 2007. 3rd Degree will give viewers the chance to rate the party's top candidates and vote for the person they want to lead this country, come 2009.

Student films on SABC2
SABC2 will be broadcasting select CityVarsity student films in its Student Reel showcase program between 11pm and midnight on Wednesday, 21 November 2007 (Portrait of a Dark Soul, directed by Thabang Moleya), Wednesday 28 November (Case 474, directed by Thabang Moleya), and Wednesday 5 December (Love Poem, directed by Inger Smith; The One that Fits Inside the Bathtub, directed by Inger Smith; Considerately Killing Me, directed by Willem Grobler; Note to Self, directed by John Warner; and Swing Left Frank, directed by Johan Nel). These are films of students who graduated from CityVarsity in 2004 and 2005.