Make logins easy!
[Stoney deGeyter] Here are 14 usability tips for login and my account pages. Let's face it, the easier it is for people to log in, the happier the are, and the more likely they are to make a purchase.

The seven deadly sins of community engagement
[Jonathan Hall] Community engagement is no longer a marketing option; it's a marketing imperative. Yet many organisations fail to exploit the opportunity effectively. Let's take a look at the seven ‘sins' that will ensure that an engagement strategy fails fast.

Toys R proximity#ttp
Proximity#ttp has recently been awarded the Redgwoods account, including the Toys R Us, Babies R Us and Reggies brands. The services marketing agency will be responsible for all advertising and brand activation, including creative, marketing, consulting services, direct marketing and digital initiatives.

Music as a weapon of mass distraction - Chris Moerdyk
Music can play an important role at marketing functions but be careful, it can also be a brand killer. For instance, doesn't it make you mad when you go out to a restaurant to have a quiet evening chatting to friends or family and the background music is so loud you can't hear yourself eat?

Celebrating Black makes its mark - Lifestyle SA Festival
The Lifestyle SA Festival – Celebrating Black! made its successful debut in Cape Town at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in December 2007.


A trip to see the lions
Last week two-month old radio station Capricorn FM took 1000 school kids from Limpopo, largely from disadvantage communities, to go and see The Lion King at the Monte Casino Teatro, Fourways, Johannesburg. This initiative was made possible through a sponsorship of over R1 million, including tickets for the show, transport, branding collateral and catering for the kids and the teachers who accompanied them. “As a caring radio station that is committed to the people of Limpopo, we realised a need to offer these kids something that they will value for the rest of their lives,” comments Simphiwe Mdlalose, CEO of Capricorn FM.

Seminar on World Cup 2010 regulations
Willem Krog, LLB, LLM admitted attorney and former MD of Ad Outpost and Andre van der Merwe, B Sc (Chem) B. Proc. LLB Patent Attorney, have teamed up and compiled a layman's guide to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Regulations and will be presenting it on 13 March 2008 at Indaba Hotel, Johannesburg.

Media granted fair use of 2010 phrases
[Lavinia Mahlangu] The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has granted the media fair use of terms related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which are now protected by intellectual property rights.

Take part in Joburg's 2010 planning
The world will get a comprehensive understanding of what Johannesburg is doing to ensure it hosts a successful 2010 FIFA World Cup at a summit in April 2008, reports the city on its official website. The head of Johannesburg's 2010 unit has also urged all residents to participate in planning for and hosting a successful event.

New D&AD education chairman named
LONDON: Al Young, creative director and co-founder of St Luke's Communications, was last week named the new education chairman for D&AD. The education chairman is an advocate and spokesperson for D&AD's Education Programmes which include lectures, the Student Awards, Workshops, New Blood – the leading graduating creatives exhibition and Xchange – the conference for lecturers and tutors.


Rooney quits Universal McCann
Sue Rooney, Pan-African media director for Universal McCann (UM), has resigned from her post following an extended maternity absence, to devote more time to her family, it was announced earlier this week. Nazeer Suliman, currently GM for UM, assumes the position of MD, with immediate effect, reporting to Graham Duff, president of UM EMEA.

AdMag judging panel announced
The judges for this year's AdMag Awards were announced yesterday, Tuesday, 5 February 2007. Judging for the awards will take place over two days, each with its own experts, due to the proliferation of magazine titles available to the consumer.

Sign Africa 2008 events launched
Practical Publishing has launched Sign Africa 2008, with larger venues, exciting new products and live demonstrations. For the first time, Sign Africa will be going to the Eastern Cape with a product day in Port Elizabeth, aimed specifically at the growing signage industry in that area.


Ireland/Davenport doctors up Nashua Mobile
If you're feeling a little restless, uninformed, and possibly even sweaty palmed and anxious, chances are you're not seriously ill but merely one of many South African consumers suffering from Internet-lessness (S. African/noun) – the term coined by advertising agency Ireland/Davenport for Nashua Mobile's soon-to-be launched Internet and data services campaign.

Land Rover on the up and up – in more ways than one - Wunderman SA
Land Rover is on the up and up – in more ways than one. Earlier this week saw the South African debut of ‘Cloud Hopping', the first television ad in Land Rover's latest brand advertising campaign promoting the Freelander 2.


Zoom in right from the start - Zoom Advertising
Zoom Advertising – Ogilvy's retail advertising and ‘brands at retail' agency – has been awarded the business for a new business. Soon to be launched in South Africa, Bike & Saddle offers year-round luxury bicycle trips and bike travel accessories.

AMASA sheds some light on load shedding at February meeting - AMASA
Advertising and media industry players will discuss the controversial topic of “load shedding” at the February 2008 AMASA meeting.

Two prestigious accounts for Promise - Promise
Promise Brand Specialists has recently acquired two prestigious new clients: full-service law firm Routledge Modise and The Westcliff Hotel and Spa.


New ASA head of legal and regulatory affairs
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of South Africa recently appointed Fred Makgato as head of legal and regulatory affairs. Makgato is an admitted attorney of the high court and holds a B. Proc. Law degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as an advanced banking diploma from the University of Johannesburg. Prior to joining the advertising watchdog, he was the MD of a private law firm and a practicing attorney.

Deadline nears for Roger Garlick Award
The deadline for entry to the 2008 Roger Garlick Award is Wednesday, 13 February 2008. Sponsored by Oracle Airtime Sales and in association with AdReview, this year's overall winner will win R25 000 cash and each AMASA Gold recipient R5000. The cost per entry is R550 inclusive of VAT. For more information, full criteria and entry forms, go to www.amasa.org.za.

New identity for law firm
Leppan Beech Incorporated (LBI) recently launched its new brand and corporate identity as part of its evolution as a service provider in the legal profession.


Talk2Us welcomes new web designer - Talk2Us
The latest recruit at Talk2Us's in-house Web-based Communication Division is Riyadh Gordon, whose "experience with the top 10 communication technologies are his strengths," according to Charles Nightingale, director in charge of this division.


Looking back to go forward - The Brand Union
Dauntless design, liberalising luxury and Africa's coming of age. MD of The Brand Union – Johannesburg, David Blyth takes a closer look at the next directions in branding on the back of what's been happening in the market last year.

Lending love a hand
When Durban resident Rivaaj Ramdhin wanted to propose to his girlfriend using Nu Metro's big screen recently, he approached Cinevation to add its special brand of magic to the occasion.

Focusing on architecture, jewellery and lifestyle
The Design Indaba 2008 will again present Specialist Indabas that complement the main conference programme. Focusing on architecture, jewellery and lifestyle, sectors identified as key areas of development in South Africa, these sessions will run alongside the expo this year, allowing attendance by conference delegates and the public.

Taking on the giants in the cell phone market - Design Oval
The cellphone market in this country is highly competitive with a number of large international players competing with a wide range of phone offerings. All this is very confusing to the consumer – do you want WAP, Bluetooth, PDA, MP3 technology? – the list goes on.

Time running out to enter Construction New Media Awards
Closing date for entries to the Construction New Media Awards is Friday, 15 February 2008, so be sure to get those entries in on time. The awards, now in its eighth year, honours and accredits those designers, writers, programmers and thinkers who produce challenging, imaginative interactive work, both on a creative and a functional platform.

Successful ACAP pilot completed
LONDON: MPS Technologies' eBook platform, BookStore, had been successfully used as part of the intense 12-month ACAP pilot scheme intended to revolutionise the relationship between publishers and search engines. ACAP is a protocol that works with search engines to protect publishers who wish to make their content available on the web.

Could SEO be a waste of your money?
[Allison Ross] Search engine optimisation (SEO) only works if your customers are searching online for your goods and services. Yes, statistics show that Internet usage is on the rise and yes, broadband is becoming more and more affordable. The fact remains, however, that the South African Internet market is still a niche market.


Interactive marketers unsure of tracking capabilities
In these days of sophisticated technology one would expect that keeping a track of performance of campaigns and so on would be relatively simple and marketers and others would have accurate figures at their finegrtips. Not so, apparently.

iluv iPod - Digicape Apple Centre
This Valentines Day why say it with flowers when you could give a loved one an iPod with a personalised video greeting? Or, if you're feeling charitably minded, you could place a bid for one of two rare (PRODUCT) RED iPod nanos with the proceeds going to a worthy cause.


Compact convenience for broadband modem
iBurst earlier this week launched a new ExpressCard modem after its Japanese technology partner Kyocera Corporation developed the device for use in new generation laptops featuring ExpressCard slots instead of PCMCIA slots.

An Easter without energy: load shedding – the icebreaker of 2008 - Tollreach Mindblast
Never mind tornados running amuck up and down William Nicol drive, the discussion in the lift will 10 to one be whether or not you had power the previous night.

Ad industry snaps up graduates
When AAA School of Advertising Class of 2007 students from the Johannesburg Campus graduated at the end of last year, they received their passport to the world of advertising. And, more importantly, most of the graduates have already been snapped up by the industry.

Rashid Toefy new Convenco CEO
Rashid Toefy will assume the role of CEO of Convenco, the holding company of Cape Town International Convention Centre as of 1 March 2008, the Convenco board of directors announced earlier this week. The CEO position has been vacant since December 2005, when Ian Douglas resigned from this position.


SpesNet roadshow keeps events company on the ball - Stephanie Moss Solutions
Seven cities, two and a half weeks, an original programme, involved audiences and an experienced team of events specialists, to pull it all together – that's the formula for a successful roadshow, currently being played out around South Africa.


Top notch PR and event workshops from P and P Content in 2008 - P and P Communications
P and P Content has added “The Secret of Corporate Event Management” to its suite of PR and media workshops.

Determination or denial? - Opulent Consulting
The increased cost of living, decaying public services, soaring interest rates and inflation, senseless violence and crime, skyrocketing fuel prices and the latest economic joke: load shedding!

Kadoro staff appointments - Kadoro Events & Communications
Kadoro Events and Communications is going from strength to strength and MD Amanda Maynard is delighted to announce several new appointments to her go-getting team.

‘Mr Nasty' joins Sound Media - Sound Media
Randall Abrahams, famous for his on-air sarcastic banter in Idols South Africa, has recently been signed by Sound Syndicate, a subsidiary of Sound Media.

A fiery launch for Diesel - Sound Media
With an exciting new relationship secured with L'Oreal South Africa, The Sound Contact were approached by the fragrance division to launch the new Diesel fragrance – an event which turned out to be as glamorous and innovative as the brand itself.


Getting into a fever on Saturday nights

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Saturday Night Fever, the Broadway and West End musical, is coming to South Africa in 2008, courtesy of Jacaranda 94.2 and Big Concerts. Says an excited 94.2 CEO, Alan Khan, “Jacaranda 94.2 play lists only the best music from the '80s, '90s and today in our very own Saturday Night Fever slot… Therefore, Saturday Night Fever is so much more than a musical for the station and our listeners. It's an emotional experience involving an era of hip-swaying, slick, funky grooves and don't forget that famous 'Strut' and white suit of John Travolta!" It opens 8 April 2008 at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg.


Theatrical dance spectacular set for SA stages

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The all-singing, all-dancing Bollywood-type musical extravaganza – The Merchants of Bollywood – that has already been hailed as a spectacular success by audiences and critics in Australia, Germany, Switzerland and the UK, will now be gracing South African stages in May 2008, thanks to Big Concerts, 94.7 Highveld Stereo and East Coast Radio. Performances will be at the Indoor Arena at the ICC Durban, 19 – 20 May and the Teatro at Montecasino, Johannesburg, 24 – 25 May (with a matinee shows on both days). For more information, go to www.merchantsofbollywood.com.

Exhibitions, the misunderstood marketing media
[Joy Donovan] Worldwide, trade exhibitions are growing at 10% per annum, making them the fastest growing marketing media – because they work in delivering better quality leads, more than from any other source, that are faster and easier to convert to orders. Yet exhibitions are frequently misunderstood and totally underestimated.

A jewel of an advertising expo campaign
Jewellex 2008 is set to dazzle with an advertising and marketing campaign conceived and developed by Blue Planet Media.


Oasys makes bold statement - Oasys Innovations
Exhibitions and events infrastructure supplier Oasys Innovations recently made an announcement which will further improve the company's compliance in terms of Black Economic Empowerment.

A naughty way to spend Valentine's Day
There's a way to recapture the lusty nature of 14 February – by embracing your sexuality and exploring the options at Sexpo Durban, South Africa's only sexuality exhibition, 7 – 10 February 2008 at the ICC Durban. You and your partner can find a variety of gadgets and gizmos that will shine a new light on the romance, or naughty aspects, of Valentine's Day. For more information, go to www.sexpo.co.za.

Media24 welcomes ABC reinstating titles
Media24 has welcomed the decision by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) to reinstate the titles suspended from certification last year, following the actions of a few individuals in Touchline Media and the Media24 Magazine Division, the media giant said Friday afternoon, 8 February 2008, in a press statement.

Finweek responds to ABC
Audits of Finweek conducted by the ABC and independent auditors have identified a number of administrative issues, some of which, according to the ABC board, have not been correctly reported and require revisions of circulation figures. “We're not disputing this, as it is purely a reclassification issue and will not affect Finweek's total circulation,” said Rikus Delport, Fin24 GM, on Friday afternoon, 8 February 2008, in a press statement. “Finweek strongly disagrees, however, with the ABC's statement regarding the other two transactions.”

ABC releases Media24 audit results
On Friday afternoon, 8 February 2008, the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) released three statements concerning audits on titles by Media24, New Media Publishing and 8 Ink Media, and has lifted the suspension on the Media24 titles involved in last year's circulation scandal.

Finweek under investigation by ABC?
NEWSWATCH: According to The Times Online,the circulation figures of Media24's weekly business magazine FinWeek are being probed by the ABC, which is due to release a statement today after its board meeting on the audit findings took place yesterday, Thursday, 8 February 2008.

Magazine researchers forum for Budapest
Following two successful events in 2006 and 2007, International Federation of the Periodical Press (FIPP) will be running a third research forum for researchers at magazine publishers in Budapest, Hungary, 18 – 19 March 2008. The forum will be hosted by Ringier Kiadó.

Scholtemeyer quits as MPASA director
Patricia Scholtemeyer has resigned as a director of the Magazine Publishers Association of South Africa (MPASA), the organisation said in a press statement this afternoon, Monday, 4 February 2008.

Lewis Club magazine feeds its readers - New Highway Publishing
Times are tough and customers will be feeling the pinch this year, especially in the LSM 4 – 7 market, where the Lewis Club magazine talks to over 870 000 readers every month.

First-ever cover sponsorship for directory

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For the first time since its inception, the fourth edition of the annual Sandton Central Essential Directory will have a cover sponsor – InterContinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers. “This is not only a tremendous endorsement for the directory, but indeed a solid sign from business that our directory concept is one that outshines and outperforms others,” says Cara Reilly, marketing manager, Sandton Central Management District.

Finweek to lodge formal dispute?
[Simone Puterman & Tshepiso Seopa] NEWSWATCH: It seems that the latest development in the ABC/Media24/Finweek circulation saga, according to The Times Online, is that Finweek will be declaring a formal professional dispute with the audit board today, Monday, 11 February 2008. Not only that, apparently Tim Modise has resigned from the 2010 Local Organising Committee and SABC board member Bheki Khumalo has had to quit his position at Sasol.

The Citizen loses McBride defamation case
[Tshepiso Seopa & Simone Puterman] NEWSWATCH: The Johannesburg High Court yesterday, Wednesday, 6 February 2008, ruled in favour of Ekurhuleni metro police head Robert McBride in the defamation case lodged against The Citizen and three of its journalists for editorial comments published in September 2003, reports Business Day and The Citizen.

New publisher for The Weekender
Karen Bonsall, formerly GM: sales and GM of The Weekender at BDFM, has been appointed publisher of The Weekender, Business Day's weekend publication, the business media owner announced yesterday, Wednesday, 6 February 2008. Her appointment came into effect 1 February.


Watchdog seeks support in Africa against pirate broadcasters
[Tshepiso Seopa & Simone Puterman] NEWSWATCH: ICASA is working on clipping wings of the new satellite service broadcaster MSNBC Africa if the channel does not comply with the law, reports SABCnews.com, and has called on other regulatory bodies in sub-Saharan countries to join the fight to stop pirate broadcasters.

Journalism workshop a first for Design Indaba
For the first time, Design Indaba is presenting the Design Indaba Journalism Workshop in conjunction with the Design Indaba Expo, taking place 23 – 26 February 2008. New York design critic and assistant professor at Parsons, Susan Yelavich will lead the workshop with the assistance of an international team of acclaimed editors, journalists and writers. The cost is R1500 per person. To apply for participation, contact Deborah Weber at deborah@interactiveafrica.com.

Dynamic discounts on mobile calls from MTN
MTN South Africa yesterday, Wednesday, 6 February 2008, launched MTN Zone, a prepaid-per-second billing price plan that offers potential discounts of up to 95% on mobile phone calls for MTN prepaid subscribers making MTN to MTN calls. According to the press statement, MTN Zone is a world first.

Wap-based social entertainment launched
Glocell Wireless Service Provider recently launched wap.ubyou.co.za by, which gives cellphone users access to a locally flavoured entertainment-based social networking platform.

The BlackBerry comes to Uganda
[David Muwanga] MTN Uganda and Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless technology, recently launched the easy-to-use BlackBerry Curve 8300 smartphone in Uganda.

Officially the world's largest cellphone

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The Cape Town-based MTN Sciencentre has set a new Guinness World Record for the world's largest functioning mobile telephone. Measuring 2.50 x 1.14 x 0.49 metres, the fully functional scaled-up Sony Ericsson W810i has broken the existing record that was first established by the Maxi Handy at the Rotmain Centre, Bayreuth, Germany in 2006. Head of the MTN Sciencentre Julie Cleverdon says; “We are thrilled with the achievement, which is the result of a collaboration of efforts between the MTN Sciencentre, Ericsson and Sony Ericsson.”

Special focus by business newspaper on budget 2008
Business Day, in association with MTN, will cover every aspect of the national budget through a comprehensive publishing programme this month, and will also publish a pre-budget synopsis on 20 February 2008, examining Government's financial performance, and forecasting possible scenarios.

IFRA expo once again at Vienna
DARMSTADT, GERMANY: The Austrian capital of Vienna will for the second time be the location of IFRA's international exhibition for the news publishing industry, 12 – 15 October 2009. The main reasons were the high levels of satisfaction among both IFRA Expo visitors and exhibitors with Vienna and the exhibition centre last year, as well as the good cooperation between IFRA and Reed Messe Wien.

Microhoo or Yasoft: how does it affect you?
[Eve Dmochowska] Microsoft has made a bid to buy Yahoo. There is a lot of hoopla about it in the press, and there is grave concern as to “what happens now?”. Frankly, I do not share the excitement.


Looking beyond the click - Habari Media
Habari Media encourages the incorporation of Post Click Data when analysing online media campaigns.

Simply Colossal offers subsidised online marketing to SMMEs - Simply Colossal
Attention business owner: if your business is in its early stage or if your annual turnover is less than R1.2 million, you may be eligible for an up-to-80% subsidy of your online marketing costs.

Advances in digital signage
Digital signage company TBM has been experiencing a revitalising change under the stewardship of its new MD, Rob Nelson, and now offers its own virtual signage solution based on satellite IP multicasting.

Sneak peak at our Hoodz - Right Stuff
With the high incidence of skin cancer comes the unique idea of adding extra sun protection to your everyday peak cap. The average cap is great for cutting the glare, but is it providing protection for your ears and sides of your face? The solution is the patented Hoodz which snap onto your favourite peak cap, providing additional sun protection for face and ears.


V&A Waterfront the latest location for POP Outdoor's popular POP Scroller units - POP Outdoor
The hottest tourist and shopping destination in South Africa, The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, will soon be home to three new POP Scroller units located at the main drive in entrances and busy thoroughfares.

‘Dream' film industry project gathers momentum
With all the legal documents signed concerning the Cape Town Film Studios (formally known as Dreamworld), Anant Singh, chairperson of Cape Town Film Studios, says that critical mid-year dates in 2008 can now be met in terms of the Environmental Management Plan and funding agreements.

V-Lab's 3D seatbelt proves the catalyst for ad industry change - The Video Lab
So how exactly do you link two different brands in one television commercial and still hope for a storyline? With a 3D seatbelt, naturally.


Kiss Films shoots second Virgin Money campaign - Kiss Films
Kiss Films recently completed filming three new Virgin Money spots for the latest campaign for agency Black River Football Club.


Tebs Mosothoane against drunk driving - Sanga Films
At the end of 2007 Tebs Mosothoane shot a hard-hitting PSA for South Africans Against Drunk Driving, courtesy of an Ogilvy Cape Town script.


Mukunda and MetropolitanRepublic team up again - Sub urban
After a successful 2007 and shooting over a dozen commercials together, Sub urban's Mukunda has just finished another "finger" campaign for MetropolitanRepublic promoting its MTN cricket sponsorship.


It's a Fountain of Love - The Refinery
Refinery's Fountain of Love challenge for Mama Rosie is still going strong. In December 2007 and January 2008, a total of R11 500 was raised for this NGO.

Corsa picks Corsa people - Cinergy
Corsa picks Corsa people. And McCann Worldgroup in Johannesburg picked Cinergy's Jonathan Cohen to direct the new Opel Corsa commercials for General Motors.


Animation keeps the industry in the light – regardless of Eskom - Masters & Savant
The current power shortage has already hit the advertising and commercial production industries hard, especially as these industries rely on uninterrupted power. Generators may be the only alternative to ensure that the industry continues to meet the expectations of their clients and the economy, according to animation and commercial production house, Masters & Savant Worldwide.

Surfing up a treat
Brand activation specialists Cinevation recently created an added value offering for youngsters who opted to watch the animated movie Surfs Up at Nu Metro cinemas. The brief called for a promotion to entice young movie goers to Nu Metro and Cinevation responded with a custom-made cone that was filled to the brim with licensed Surfs Up goodies.

PR agency takes on biotech challenge
Sentient Communications, a Cape Town-based public relations agency specialising in the technology sector, has recently added biotech to its list of niche sectors with the addition of Eva Sittig, a professional science writer from Europe who has both a biological and technical background.

Public relations – the JZ way
[Khaya Buthelezi] I think many PR practitioners would agree with me when I say the Jacob Zuma brand would probably be one of the most challenging to communicate to its chosen markets.


PRISA president also on world body board
PRISA president Mixael de Kock this week returned from New York City where he attended the investiture of the new IPRA world president, as well as meetings of the IPRA World Council and the IPRA Board. De Kock completed a second two-year term as SA national chair on the international body's world council at the end of last year and is now serving a two-year term as a board member of IPRA.


Bridget von Holdt appointed to IPRA
InZalo Communications' MD Bridget von Holdt has recently been elected as the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) council member for South Africa. IPRA is a professional global association for senior international PR executives who aim to provide intellectual leadership for the profession.

Montagu Property Group appoints Grapevine Communications - Grapevine Communications
Montagu Property Group has appointed Grapevine Communications to handle its PR and communications.

Nicole Fox quits 5FM
5FM confirmed yesterday, Sunday 10 February 2008, that presenter Nicole Fox will be leaving the national youth radio station after eight years on-air. She will be presenting her last weekly nighttime show on 31 March 2008 from 7pm.

New Year growth fo Gagasi, Kaya
At the start of the new year, two radio stations have managed to do what precious few others have – boost their audiences. No stranger to entrenched audience growth, Gagasi 99.5 once again features in the group of stations showing growth, and with it is Kaya FM 95.9. This is according to the first RAMS for 2008.

A classic revival
94.5 Kfm brunch show host Benito Vergotine has taken over hosting the 10am – 2pm slot on Sundays with a show dedicated to old school classics.

Language, nation building award for Radio Pulpit
This past weekend, Radio Pulpit received the Pan South African Language Board (PANSALB) award for multilingualism and nation building of the decade in electronic media.

Putting the youth back into YFM
99.2 YFM's new programming manager is Vukile Zondi, the radio station announced yesterday, Monday, 4 February 2008. Zondi's appointment is part of the station's commitment to recruiting and grooming young talent into managerial positions.


Pollock bowls a fast one on Jacaranda 94.2 - Jacaranda 94.2
Jacaranda 94.2 scooped a South African first by securing Shaun Pollock as its sports news presenter, during the Just Plain Breakfast show from 6am to 9am, today, Friday, 8 February 2008.

SA researcher elected to international crime prevention body board
Respected crime prevention expert Barbara Holtmann has been elected vice president of the International Centre for Prevention of Crime (ICPC) that is based in Montreal, Canada. Holtmann is a safety and security researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). As a member of the executive, Holtmann will contribute to setting the agenda for the ICPC.

Woolies to up organic food sales by R1bn by 2012
Woolworth said last week that it will continue to expand its organic food range, aiming to increase organic food sales by more than R1 billion by 2012.

Franchise dream comes true in Bloem
A dream will come true for two young Free State men on 19 March 2008, when Pick n Pay opens its first converted Score store in the province as a Pick n Pay Franchise Family store in the city centre.

Six principles of effective consumer education
[Isobel McAleenan] Research by Publishing Dynamix on consumer requirements in the area of home improvement shows that homeowners prefer to be better informed prior to shopping for products and services.


A healthy choice of labelling
With poor lifestyle choices, including over-nutrition, being the primary cause of growing chronic illnesses in South Africa across all demographic sectors, a scientific benchmark system is being locally adopted to identify healthier food products.


Retailer wants review of SA fuel-pricing regulations
Pick n Pay wants Government to look again at how the price of of fuel is regulated in South Africa.

Buzzing branded trollies bring benefits
Icon Media-branded trolleys will be buzzing around selected Dischem stores, thanks to a new media partnership signed with the pharmaceutical chain.

PUMA and Ghana extend partnership
PUMA and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have announced a multi-year extension of their successful partnership through the 2014 FIFA World Cup. PUMA CEO Jochen Zeitz and GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi made the announcement during a special reception in Ghana's capital of Accra.


Monde Tabata bids Megapro and Primedia farewell - Megapro Marketing
Primedia has announced the resignation of Monde Tabata, MD of Megapro Marketing, effective 1 February 2008.

Surfer brand gets with the lifesaving programme

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Hang Ten will be sponsoring national non-profit organisation Lifesaving SA Coastal Club Life Guards with uniforms comprising branded hats, short and long sleeve t-shirts and rain jackets, as well as 10 coastal Lifesaving clubs from Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal with funding and contributions to the organisation's skills and development programme.

Satirical animation series airs
Soweto TV last week aired its very first three-minute animation series. Kiep Kiep and Sporro is a social and political satire animation which broadcasts every Monday to Friday at 7.55pm on Soweto TV and DStv channel 331.


Maggs, Direko to join e.tv
Top journalists Jeremy Maggs and Redi Direko are to anchor e.tv's 24 hour news channel, which will to be launched later this year, the broadcaster announced today, Friday, 8 February 2008.

Regulating TV becoming increasingly difficult
[Chris Moerdyk] Looking at where global broadcast technology is inexorably heading, it is not too difficult to concede that governments are going to find it increasingly difficult to regulate what its citizens watch and listen to. Particularly when countries such as South Africa start making fast and economical broadband available to the masses.

Scorpions under the magnifying glass
With a 90% conviction rate, the success of the Scorpions cannot be disputed. Despite this, the ANC has decided to disband this elite unit and incorporate them into the South African Police Service. The party has given Government a June 2008 deadline. Is the ANC using the disbandment of the Scorpions as a means to fight their own political war? And if the Scorpions are eradicated, what happens to the impending cases against Jacob Zuma, Jackie Selebi and others? Tomorrow evening, Tuesday, 12 February 2008, on e.tv at 8pm, 3rd Degree will take a closer look.

Second season of soccer series kicks off
In the second season of TV series Total Soccer, TV personality Kenneth Nkosi will present the five episodes made by award-winning local filmmakers in a collaboration between Little Bird Television and Total South Africa. The documentaries explore the social value of football in our new democracy, in which the game becomes a metaphor for liberation, and will also depict how South Africans are gearing up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Total Soccer starts on Sunday, 10 February 2008, at 6.30pm on e.tv.