Designing a global window to connect the world
[Louise Marsland] On Friday, 29 February 2008, we listened to water dripping into an earthen jar in a temple in Tokyo, on the other side of the world – in real time. It was rather calming. One of Design Indaba's most inspirational speakers was Professor Shinichi Takemura, a renowned media producer from Japan, who is trying to get across the message that we are all connected through the Internet and each other to our planet.

The new globalism
[Terry Levin] As the third and last day of the 11th Design Indaba came to a close last week, it became increasingly apparent that it is pointless designing anything now unless it directly contributes to the wellbeing of people and their environment.

The soul of design
[Terry Levin] As the second day of Design Indaba 11 got into its stride yesterday, Thursday, 28 February, 2008, it became clear that the relationship between the way anything works and looks and the way it makes you feel is at the heart of all design thinking. In fact, design is impossible without both thinking.

The peak of creative excellence
[Louise Marsland] From Big Foot to the worst loo in the world and vampire fish, Ogilvy Johannesburg executive creative director Gerry Human used a ‘mountain' analogy to talk about the best advertising in the world – that peak of excellence, the weird and the wonderful, this morning, Friday, 29 February 2008, at this, the final day of the 11th annual Design Indaba.


The design of injustice
[Terry Levin] From the humble beginnings of all of nine speakers in 1995 to more than three times that number in 2008 – who would have thought that in 11 years the Design Indaba and the South African design scene would have evolved so much?

Winning Ogilvy CT ad created without electricity
Ogilvy Cape Town's art director Jennifer Macfarlane and copy writer Cuan Cronwright are the winners of The Times Young Creatives Competition, held 23 – 26 February 2008 at this year's Design Indaba Expo.


A week of creative focus in Cape Town
[Louise Marsland] The annual creative industries showcase, the Design Indaba Expo, ended yesterday, Tuesday, 26 February 2008, to make way for the annual Design Indaba Conference, starting today, Wednesday 27 February. With a host of inspiring speakers in the design, advertising, architectural and fashion industry, Design Indaba is known for attracting global talent to the podium. Bizcommunity.com was there too providing a comfy pew or two...

Food, glorious food
A culinary feast is the only way to describe Dutch Marije Vogelzan's presentation at Design Indaba yesterday, Wednesday 27 February 2008. Read more about this food magician on our blog.

An industry that lives its craft
Day one of the annual Design Indaba showcase was all about, well, design. And this was reflected in the design of the food, décor and delegates to the event at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. This is an industry that lives its craft. View our gallery of day one.

A pictorial showcase of Design Indaba 2008
The Design Indaba Expo is always a great creative showcase annual in Cape Town. Have a look at some of the pcis from around the show: sustainable living, Western Cape Department of Economic Development, Department of Arts and Culture and Cape Craft & Design Institute.

Bizcommunity.com adds colour at Design Indaba
Bizcommunity.com added some splashes of colour to the smokers' balcony at Design Indaba this week.

South Africa ready for business tourism – tourism minister
Business tourism is one of the fastest growing and most complex industries of the wider tourism sector. Officially opening South Africa's annual business tourism conference in Johannesburg earlier this week, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk detailed the planned expansion and construction of SA's international convention centres.

Bank celebrates coming of age
Absa has been celebrating a coming of age with its new brand campaign that broke nationwide in February 2008. The campaign, conceived by The Jupiter Drawing Room, is intended to position Absa as a brave, innovative and progressive brand that's committed to guiding the country towards a better tomorrow.


Global marketing show heads to SA
The Marketing Show will take place for the first time in South Africa in Johannesburg, 15 – 16 April 2008. The new format information event, which focuses on the best new marketing innovations and e-marketing techniques from the US, UK, Europe and Asia, is sponsored and hosted by Microsoft.

Strategic marketing, 7de Laan and Telkom - Opulent Consulting
Many people claim to be “marketing strategists” or claim to offer strategic marketing services. Is it a term that we just plaster over everything to make us sound more educated than we really are? Or is it like Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster: everyone's heard about it, but how many people have actually seen it?

Makgabo quits 2010 committee
Tumi Makgabo has resigned as the communications and international relations manager of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee (OC) South Africa, the (OC) announced late on Friday afternoon, 29 February 2008.

Loeries travel to Port Elizabeth
Fresh from its exhibition at the Design Indaba in Cape Town, The Loeries Awards winning work of 2007 has moved on to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. From 3 – 19 March 2008, the Travelling Exhibition, sponsored by the SABC, will display the best advertising, communication and design providing a platform for the creativity and talent in Africa and the Middle-East to shine.

Toyota still leading the way in Afrikaans
“Although market research by the Bureau for Market Research has indicated that Afrikaans-speakers have a purchasing power of more than 32%, most companies are still ignoring the importance of this group of consumers. It is unwise though to ignore the Afrikaans-speaker's culture and purchasing power,” says Pieter Klerck, senior manager: planning and advertising of Toyota South Africa.

Adhere to pitching guidelines – ACA
Given the recent outcry surrounding the “excessive and indulgent” number of advertising agencies invited to pitch to the South African Post Office (SAPO), the Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA) has reacted strongly by reaffirming its new business acquisition guidelines to member agencies and the marketing industry.

Wertheim Aymes appointed FNB media director
Respected South Africa media strategist Gisele Wertheim Aymes will become media director at First National Bank (FNB) in March 2008, after having worked over 19 years in the media publishing industry, it was announced this morning, Thursday, 28 February 2008.


A love story analogy
Allan Gray has always been a brand with a tonally distinctive style of advertising that aims to engage the audience by tapping into fundamental human truths. Its new TV ad is no different.

Hat trick for Ince
Advertising agency Ince has scooped the Advertising Agency of the Year award for the third time since 2005 in the annual Business Day Investor Relations Award. In second place is Overend Outsource and Terranova in third.

Creative Circle results for January 2008
The Creative Circle results for January 2008 are out and according to chairperson Festus Masekwameng, while a great panel was put together for that month, it was a “[p]ity about the work, especially considering all the looming deadlines for international and national awards.”

Koenderman calls for advertising quotes
The world's biggest collection of advertising quotes. That's what Tony Koenderman, editor of the upcoming AdReview publication, believes he has collected. And if you want to contribute to the book, visit the newly launched AdReview Supporters' Club blog, www.adreviewclub.co.za.

The dark continent - Lowe Bull
Lowe Bull Johannesburg recently picked up on the shock of a nation following the Eskom debacle and subsequent blackouts with this tactical proactive advertisement, produced for Lowe Bull Cape Town client Cape Times.


AMASA hears from Google South Africa - AMASA
This Wednesday, 5 March 2008, the Advertising Media Association of South Africa (AMASA) will host recently appointed country manager for Google SA, Stafford Masie.

Eskom gives Power of One thumbs up - Power Of One
South Africans from all walks of life have responded proactively to the Power of One, a national call to action from concerned citizens to alleviate the national electricity emergency.

Promise delivers a strong return on investment for client FishAways - Promise
Promise was recently briefed by Henriette Senekal, director of the FishAways brand at Famous Brands, to create an above-the-line campaign for FishAways.


Headlines to handle Loeries media relations
Johannesburg-based Headlines will now being handling media relations for The Loerie Awards 2008, it was announced yesterday, Wednesday, 27 February 2008. Since being revamped in 2005, The Loerie Awards has grown to encompass every area of brand communication and now incorporates activities throughout the calendar year, including the biannual magazine Migrate; the hard-cover printed annual and DVD of the year's leading brands and agencies, launched this year at Design Indaba; and the Judges Seminar at the end of June, where each international jury chairperson will speak to the industry about issues and trends.

Top RECMA rating for Universal McCann
The international Research Company Evaluating the Media Agency Industry (RECMA) recently awarded Universal McCann South Africa an ‘A' on the criterion “Competitiveness in pitches”, making it one of only three agencies in South Africa to receive this rating. “RECMA is a respected organisation known for its thorough methodology and accuracy of information reported,” says Nazeer Suliman, MD of Universal McCann. “We had a cracker 2007 and are thrilled that RECMA places us amongst the best media agencies worldwide.” For more information on Recma, go to www.recma.com.

Ultimate name change for bond originator
Bond originator MortgageSA announced yesterday, Thursday, 28 February 2008, that it will be changing its name to “ooba” and is launching a new credit card for homeowners. The name change reflects the company's evolved offering which now extends beyond bond origination.


Employer branding consultancy launches
Simon Barrow, the founding-father of employer branding, last week shared his vision for the future of branding in the workplace in South Africa at the launch of Human Brand, billed as SA's first dedicated employer brand management consultancy.

HKLM Cape Town appointments - HKLM
Janine Fourie has been appointed as MD and Paul Henriques creative director of HKLM Cape Town. They will be assisted by office manager Furzana Moosa.

Creating a performance culture in the workplace - Talk2Us
She's a business innovator with a strong background in software development and marketing. In 1990, Linda Hamman founded a company with an office “in the back of a car”, selling and supporting a well-known ERP software package.

Jenni Critchfield new CineMark CEO
Jenni Critchfield has been appointed the new CEO of CineMark as of 1 March 2008, it was announced over the weekend.


Life's good with Y&R
Young & Rubicam has been awarded a global network assignment by LG Electronics Global in more than 20 of its markets, of which South Africa is one. This was announced by Melanie Behan, MD of Y&R Johannesburg, yesterday, Monday, 25 February 2008.

Re-evaluating the Net Promoter Score
[Craig Kolb] Fred Reichheld, an American loyalty guru, has argued that the days of customer service satisfaction surveys are over (Reichheld, 2003). Instead we should only be measuring customer loyalty. According to Reichheld, all that is necessary is a single question, which he labels ‘The Ultimate Question'.


Leverage your unsubscribes
[The Email Diva] Your unsubscribes could tell you a lot – if only you let them. Right now, you probably just wave them goodbye, but with a little effort, you could find out why they are leaving. And more than once you may find that it is not that they are unhappy – they may simply be moving to a new company. Whatever the reason, find out what it is, and use it.

Ripe strikes gelato - Ripe Design
Find out what made Ripe designer Rory Allen turn a perfectly good Vespa into a delicious gelato, and while you're there, check out the rest of the submissions to the 2008 Art Vespa competition.


Real African images from Great Stock! - Great Stock!
Get the full spectrum of authentic African imagery from the renowned aFRIKA Collection: exquisite photography and footage, rights managed and royalty free, captured all over this beautiful continent.

Nine rules for creating successful widgets
[Jon Bishop] Widgets have only recently caught the attention of forward-thinking marketers. Here is a list of best practices for widget campaigns for helping outline a successful campaign. These rules might also be useful to know when engaging an agency, helping you to not feel completely useless!


News publishing industry search engine launches
DARMSTADT, GERMANY: IFRA Search, a search engine for the news publishing industry, launched officially late last week. It is intended to be a professional research tool for the media industry. Information relevant to the news publishing industry is drawn from IFRA's own, partners' and other high-quality sources.

Microsoft launches 2008 enterprise products
In the largest enterprise launch in the company's history, Microsoft unveiled its next generation of infrastructure and application platform products, focusing on security, Web applications, virtualisation and better business intelligence, yesterday, Wednesday, 27 February 2008.

Kagiso, Lagardère acquire Acceleration Media
Kagiso Media and Lagardère Active Radio International (LARI), a division of France's Lagardère group, announced today, Tuesday, 26 February 2008, that they have acquired South African online media agency Acceleration Media for an undisclosed sum.

Digital campaigning is complex...
[Japie Swanepoel] At the recent Habari Media MSN Digital Symposium in Cape Town, attended by online experts, ad agencies and marketing managers in charge of online efforts at some of South Africa's largest companies, the whole process of getting an online campaign out there was a topic of the panel discussion.

Global newspaper conference on Internet advertising
DARMSTADT, GERMANY: IFRA will hold an international conference in Paris dedicated to the new sources of advertising income, 8 –9 April 2008. The objective is to help newspaper companies to make the best of their advertising potential using online and wireless technologies and to understand this transition.

Chic new website and new employee - TEC Agency
TEC Video welcomes Awethu Fatyela, who has been appointed as receptionist and who will also be assisting in new business development.


TEC Video's tourism video of Ghana broadcast at The MTN African Cup of Nations - TEC Agency
TEC Video has begun 2008 with vigour with the compiling, scripting and editing of a spirited tourism video of Ghana – broadcast at the opening ceremony of The MTN African Cup of Nations.


FLUX receives finalist award at TT100 2007 - FLUX
FLUX, a leading South African software and service solutions provider and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, was a finalist in the Excellence in the Management of Technology category of the prestigious TT100 2007 Awards.

Acceleration sells media division to Kagiso Media - Acceleration
The acquisition of Acceleration Media signals Kagiso Media's intention to diversify into digital media and become a significant player in South Africa's online media and advertising environment.

Web Project Management course to be run by digital strategy firm Britefire - Britefire
Next week, international digital strategy firm Britefire will run an intensive two-day course in web project management. The course will teach participants how to manage high performance web development projects professionally.

Business school joins the conversation
The Executive Education unit at UCT GSB has taken a new route for promoting educational short-courses by recently launching a Women in Leadership blog. Explains Elaine Rumboll, director of Executive Education at UCT GSB, “The purpose… is to stimulate conversation and engage multiple perspectives around this complex and relevant subject. We have added blogging to our media mix because it offers an interactivity that traditional channels don't.” This is the first of many blogs that UCT GSB plan to launch around topical subjects for business executives this year.

OPA, WASA settling differences
The new Website Association of South Africa (WASA) has removed the Nielsen//Netratings data from its website in compliance with the Online Publishers Association (OPA)'s request. “The OPA will continue to work towards building a healthy and sustainable online industry through the use of a credible third-party audience measurement system, which allows sites to be compared on an objective, like for like basis,” the OPA said in a statement this morning, Thursday, 28 February 2008.

Tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock... - Tollreach Mindblast
The Easter rush is coming, and time is running out to reach more than a quarter of a million possible customers while they are bored and ready to interact with your promotional material! From 20 March 2008 many South Africans will load up their vehicles, reach over for the map book and start their journey towards various holiday destinations across South Africa.

SABusinessHub launches entrepreneurs' coffee groups - SA Business Hub
SABusinessHub and Majestic are bringing the sense of community back to small businesses. If we do not start working together, we will not survive. We are jading ourselves if we adopt the attitude that money will buy us out of trouble.

SA Business Hub, Afribarter form strategic alliance - SA Business Hub
SA Business Hub recently entered into a strategic partnership with Afribarter. The B2B barter exchange platform offers businesses in South Africa an interest-free, cost-effective alternative for financing business growth and development of brand awareness through an alternative currency called Trade Credits.

Revamped conference site embraces social media
The award-winning SAConference Directory, incorporating Direct Access, has launched its new website at Meetings Africa 2008. The website has been designed with the industry in mind, and has all of the facilities and networking tools that the phenomenally successful Facebook has, with added extras.

Kadoro Events & Communications pulls off double launch for DSM-I-Flex - Kadoro Events & Communications
Kadoro Events and Communications, in association with leading healthcare advertising agency Fine Healthcare, displayed its versatility when handling both the internal and external launches of DSM-I-Flex – a new arthritis product for flexiblility, constituted with rose-hip as the principal ingredient.


Light at the end of the tunnel - Top Companies Publishing
Topco Media's Africa Energy Summit will generate bold solutions to the energy shortage.


Power of One – Rock Concert - Power Of One
Sandton is going to rock on Saturday, 15 March 2008, when Prime Circle, Flat Stanley, Plush and Voodoo Child will pump out the tunes at an all-day concert in support of the Power Of One campaign. DJs Justin Vee and Bump 'n Grind (Devon & Dizzy) will be mixing the tunes late into the night.

International honours for CTICC - CTICC
Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), which after just four years of operations has entered the lists of South Africa's top 500 companies, this month also received two international awards that take Cape Town's status as a destination of note to new heights.


Many vehicle makes already signed up for Durban Motor Show - Kagiso Exhibitions & Events
Fourteen makes of passenger cars, as well as several makes of motorcycles and quads, have reserved space already at the 2008 Durban Motor Show, which takes place at the Durban Exhibition Centre, 10 – 13 April 2008. The organisers are continuing negotiations with a number of other manufacturers and dealer groups to increase this number.

Sneddon leaves Touchline for 8 Ink
Andrew Sneddon has been appointed as MD of 8 Ink Media, joining Sam Sneddon in the family business, it was announced this afternoon, Wednesday, 27 February 2008. Sneddon was formally an executive director at Touchline Media.


True Love cook ready for the bigger challenge
[Tshepiso Seopa] After being in charge of the True Love kitchen since 1987, Dorah Sitole will, as of 1 March 2008, be in charge of the entire True Love household. She is taking over from Busisiwe Mahlaba, who has been appointed market development executive in Media24 magazine division.

Ride Magazine circulation - Ride Magazine
When the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) alleged circulation figure fraud and suspended a number of publications late last year, a few titles were sacrificed and there were some high profile resignations, but that did little to prevent a wider shake-up in media circles. The climate was right for some fresh thinking.


Dare Magazine offers advertisers niche youth targeting - The Publishing Partnership
Dare Magazine is fashion retailer Legit's quarterly publication, launched in August 2007 by the Cape-based The Publishing Partnership. It offers a "previously untapped" market of up-and-coming, savvy, young account holders between the ages of 18 and 23, relevant information and tips on fashion, relationships, money and technology.


It's official – top SA city guide launched - Mediaweb Publishing
The first annual issue of Not the Official SA City Guide has been launched to provide invaluable information for visitors to South Africa's leading three cities. Stylish, funny and always irreverent, the free guide book is aimed at local and international visitors to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and surrounding areas.


Relationships strengthened with customer magazines - New Media Publishing
Five titles in the New Media Publishing stable have increased significantly in circulation, according to the latest announcement from the Audited Bureau of Circulation. Dish/Skottel, South Africa's biggest magazine, continues its incline as Multichoice signs on new subscribers. Mango's in-flight magazine, Mango Juice, recorded its first ABC of 14 543 (Oct- Dec 07).


Mzansi title celebrates 100th issue

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Launched in March 2005, Move! magazine has just celebrated its third birthday and its 100th issue. This proudly South African product is aimed at women aged 22 – 40, who earn a low-to-mid income and are rooted in the township. From health and diet to money, men and stokvels, the magazine shares with readers inspiring stories aimed at uplifting and empowering them as women of Mzansi.


New editor for home improvement title
Brigitte Billings has recently been appointed editor of homeowner publication Complete Home Solutions, produced locally by Publishing Dynamix. With a passion for architecture and interior design, Billings' experience combines writing, PR and editorial. Her background includes editing a diverse range of titles across the B2B and consumer spectrum, from lifestyle to industrial and education. Her responsibilities extend to B2B newsletters Decorators Choice and Architect, for You.

Women's golfing mag goes standalone

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SA Woman Golfer magazine will be distributed for the first time as a standalone publication from its March/April/May issue, due on the shelf on 3 March 2008. Distributed by RNA Distributors, it will be available in the top 50 CNA stores, Fascination Books, Mr Price Sports, Spar, Sportsman's Warehouse and other selected retail outlets for R24.95. Readers can also subscribe online at www.sawomangolfer.co.za at a discounted rate.


Annual city guide now on shelf

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Time Out Cape Town for Visitors 2008, published in partnership by New Media Publishing and the iconic Time Out international publisher, hit the newsstands last week. Now in its fifth edition, the 128-page annual magazine is edited by Lisa van Aswegen and has a print run of 20 000. The magazine will be available at leading retailers until April.

SANEF condemns assault on journalist
The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) has condemned what is calls the “outrageous assault” on a Drum journalist who was covering the unrest that has occurred in Bloemfontein end of last week after the story of the University of the Free State Reitz hostel video had broken.

Last call for Tabbie nominations
CLEVELAND, US: The nomination process for the 2008 Tabbies is close to wrapping up. Entries in the editorial and design awards programme, run by Trade, Association and Business Publications International (TABPI), must be postmarked by Wednesday, 5 March 2008.

Sharon Grundy says goodbye to ABC
After 20 years of dedicated service to the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC), Sharon Grundy has left the organisation, it was announced this morning, Monday, 3 March 2008. She is replaced by Mishack Nekhavhambe.

Radio, TV channels rapidly increasing in Africa
A rapid increase in the number of radio and TV channels in Africa over the last three years has piqued interest in the continent by international media players. A recent report, African Broadcast and Film Markets, published jointly by Balancing Act and InterMedia, has documented this growth.


Calling Africa's journalists
Attention African journalists: the deadline to apply for the 2008 Kaiser Family Foundation Award for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Reporting in Africa has been extended to 14 March 2008.

HRC public hearing on ‘coconuts'
NEWSWATCH: On Wednesday, 5 March 2008, the South African Human Rights Commission will hold a public forum concerning the racial prejudice complaints against the controversial Forum of Black Journalists and the issue of exclusive organizations, reports IOL. Meanwhile, SABC chief executive Dali Mpofu was hauled over the coals by ANC MPs yesterday, Tuesday 26 February, at the National Assembly committee on communication, also writes IOL.

Mobile advertising showing real results
[Eddie Groenewald] The mobile advertising space is starting to see important growth and is likely to explode in the run up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Internationally, mobile advertising and branding campaigns are starting to show significant results.

SA needs more mobile publishers - Multimedia Solutions
South Africa has slipped on the latest mobile stats into fourth position of countries generating the most mobile Internet traffic on the Admob network, being supplanted by the UK.

Son sets in Gauteng, Free State
Media24 today, Monday, 3 March 2008, announced the closure of the Gauteng and Free State editions of the Son newspaper, effective 29 February 2008. The successful flagship editions of Son in the Western and Eastern Cape, however, are unaffected by these closures.

This year's World Newspaper Congress lineup
Eighteen months after combining three publishing companies into one multi-media group, Belgium's De Persgroep is ready to report on the lessons of its transformation at the World Newspaper Congress, to be held in Göteborg, Sweden, 1 – 4 June 2008.

Makeover for world editors blog
The World Editors Forum (WEF), the organisation of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) for senior newsroom personnel, has relaunched its Editors Weblog to increase functionality and make it easier to navigate.

Record Mondi Shanduka Newspaper entries
The finalists in the seventh annual Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards were released today, Wednesday, 27 February 2008. Hosted by Mondi Shanduka Newsprint in partnership with the Newspaper Association of South Africa, the competition received a record 575 entries across 10 categories.

Egyptian Information Minister bans four foreign newspapers
The Egyptian government recently placed a ban on four foreign newspapers that reprinted some of the cartoons that were published by 17 Danish newspapers on 13 February 2008 in a show of solidarity on the issue of freedom of expression.

Latest ABC's for Beeld - Beeld
Beeld's latest ABC figures reveal that the paper has upped its circulation since last year. This growth is attributed to a strong marketing strategy and a commitment to delivering high-quality content.

Zulu Sunday newspaper launches in March - Independent Newspapers KZN
Isolezwe ngeSonto, a new Zulu Sunday newspaper will be launched across KwaZulu-Natal on 30 March 2008 by Independent Newspapers KwaZulu-Natal.

Key global partnership for Moneyweb
Moneyweb is to integrate its Mineweb.com website with InfoMine.com, a Vancouver-based leader in high quality intelligence and data on the global mining industry, the AltX-listed business and financial media company announced yesterday, Tuesday, 26 February 2008.

Mass market reach with in-game ads - Skillpod Media
In-game ad placement – the placing of ads alongside or within online games – is poised to break through into the mass consumer market in South Africa. South African online games supplier SkillPod Media recently inked a deal with Brabys Ad Sales.

Spot on the rental market - Private Property
Spot your rental property on the latest hotspot on the web, Rentaspot, a new subsidiary of leading online property giant, Private Property.

Facilitating interaction in the educational sector
The recently launched www.surf4schools.co.za, the brainchild of Cape Townian Delicia Merrington, is an education-based website offering schools, parents and pupils an online method of buying and selling new and old textbooks, sports equipment, musical instruments and other equipment. It also includes a recruitment facility for employers and job seekers in the educational sector (under-resourced and community-based schools lacking the necessary funding may register at no cost). A direct marketing campaign is currently being rolled out to over 2000 schools nationwide.

Spot on the rental market
www.rentaspot.co.za is a new subsidiary of online property giant Private Property. Comments Justinus Adriaanse, Private Property CEO, “Already, Private Property has built the busiest rental portal in the country with thousands of properties listed each month by private tenants and landlords. Rentaspot will benefit from the experience that Private Property has gained over the last 10 years.”

Lifeline goes online with new intranet
Non-profit organisation LifeLine Johannesburg went live last week with a new, intranet-based content management system that provides its more than 90 volunteer counselors with a wide range of benefits. These include a user-friendly, graphical working environment; centralised, easily updated contact database and newsletter; and enhanced business processes. The new system was designed, developed and implemented at no cost by Cambrient, which provides open source content management and integrated digital marketing applications.

ComutaNet embraces digital - ComutaNet
ComutaNet in partnership with Adcheck, specialist in the development of mobile solutions, has implemented a PDA system that replaces manual, paper based systems with digital data. This technology is reportedly revolutionising the way campaigns are conducted and measured.


Outdoor advertising powerfully proactive - Clear Channel
Clear Channel Outdoor, along with all other OHMSA members, are contributing positively and proactively to the massive power shortages by installing timer switches on all their illuminated outdoor advertising structures (excluding airport and scrolling sites).

Old products but new hope for all - Exell Technologies
Over the past few years everybody has been going on about JDF this and JDF that. You must automate otherwise you won't make it in the next five to ten years. Now this is all well, good and very true. JDF is the future of production automation or streamlining your business, but let's face the facts.

Interview with Dewald - Exell Technologies
Dewald Rosema started Exell Technologies in June 2006 to fulfill and facilitate the gap between equipment/systems and production/business processes in the printing sector.

HP expands large format media portfolio
HP has recently added three new papers to its large format media portfolio which are designed especially for print service providers and creatives. The portfolio now includes papers for a variety of uses, including graphic design, professional photography, digital fine arts, prepress/proofing, and commercial and industrial printing. More information is available at www.hp.com/go/designjet/supplies.

Slater blazing a trail for South Africa
Inspiring, sensitive, humorous, courageous, and compassionate, these are some of the words to describe the African MIPDOC Trailblazer for 2008 Karin Slater. She has been selected by the Encounters Documentary Festival, which form part of the global jury made up of Reed MIDEM and reputable international documentary associations and festivals.

Positive reaction for SA/Hollywood Exchange
There is good news for the delegation of media and entertainment professionals from the South African entertainment industry who are heading off on a business development mission to Hollywood in April 2008 – the reaction from some of US hosts, with whom the group is likely to meet, has been extremely positive.

Oscar for SA-produced doccie
Taxi to the Dark Side, one of the films made for the South African co-ordinated, global documentary project Why Democracy?, won the Documentary Feature award at the 80th Annual Academy Awards held in Los Angeles on Sunday night, 24 February 2008.

Creative Vision and FNB graffiti downtown Joburg - Creative Vision
Commissioned by ad agency Switch Through the Line, the brief was to create nine commercials for campus TV. The first five were funky and memorable ads for FNB student account.


Frieze Films revitalises logo - Frieze Films
Boutique production house Frieze Films has kicked off 2008 with a revitalised logo that is more fluid and contemporary than that decided on when the company opened doors some 10 years ago.


No free lunches on this shoot - Sanga Films
Cindy Lee and Sanga Films have delivered a hilarious campaign for Nandos on behalf of Black River Football Club. Once again Cindy's innate love for, and ability with, comedic performance ensured that the controversial scripts were a hit.


Parkinson and Jupiter team up to make speed dating SAA ad - Fresh Eye Film Productions
Can cities speed-date? According to the new SAA television commercial, they can. It shows people rotationally meeting each other, not as themselves, but as characterisations of each major South African city.


ITN Source footage featured in Academy Award nominated movies Atonement and Sicko - ITN Source
ITN Source, one of the world's leading providers of professional video content, is eagerly awaiting the results of this Sunday's 80th Academy Awards ceremony to be held in Los Angeles, as licensed footage from ITN Source is featured in nominated films, Atonement and Sicko. The use of archived footage within these films highlights the quality and scope of material offered by ITN Source for the film community.

AREA 5.1 launches at V-Lab - V-Lab
Out with the old and in with the new as V-Lab revamps an industry stalwart into a 21st century powerhouse.


Sheilla Kubheka bolsters showreel - Sub urban
In addition to her natural ability to connect with her audience on a personal level, Sheilla Kubheka's overwhelming presence as a strong, talented, female director in South Africa made her the most prominent choice to direct the new Radox TV spot for TBWA/Hunt/Lascaris, Durban.

The role of awards in PR
[Jane Weaver] Awards in public relations is seen as a motivator to drive levels of professionalism in the industry, as well as to encourage more integrated thinking for campaigns to deliver effective results for clients. Johanna McDowell, chairman of HMC Seswa, also actively endorses and encourages South African PR agencies to enter their successes into international competitions.

Brewster goes sailing
The Scholar Ship, allegedly the world's first ocean-roaming university sailing from continent to continent in quest of cultural knowledge, has appointed Marcus Brewster Publicity (MBP) as its agency of record for South Africa, it was announced yesterday, Tuesday, 26 February 2008.

Communication secrets to get you what you want
[Robynn Burls] Did you know that women have 11% more neurons in their brains for emotion, feelings and communication? In fact, when it comes to emotion and communication, women have an eight-lane superhighway, compared to the country road that men use (yes, there are exceptions to the rule, guys). This is according to research done on how biology influences behaviour by neuropsychiatrist Dr Louann Brizendine.

Build-A-Bear Workshop brings guests the ultimate party experience! - Alerting the Media
It's party time at Build-A-Bear Workshop with the launch of the Ultimate Build-A-Party Contest from 15 February to 13 March 2008.

No power, no leadership, no confidence - Crisis Communications Consultancy
In a time of crisis, it is critical that the head of an organisation takes centre stage to communicate consistently until the crisis is deemed over.

The year of personal improvement: 2008 - Quo Vadis Communications
Quo Vadis Communications will be running its communications courses in Johannesburg and Cape Town during March, April and May 2008.

Pure Communications launches Japan Marketing - PURE Communications
Pure Communications has announced the launch of its newest practice area, Japan Marketing. South African companies have always struggled with managing their distribution and marketing in Japan, and likewise Japanese companies operating in South Africa often struggle to find marketing agencies that understand their culture.

Kaya FM MD resigns
[Tshepiso Seopa] BREAKING NEWS: At a press conference held this morning, Friday, 29 February 2008, Kaya FM announced that its MD Charlene Deacon will be leaving at the end of March.

RadMark showcases top 2007 radio ads
[Tshepiso Seopa] It is said that radio is the theatre of the mind and that listeners create their own visuals. To prove this, RadMark launched a new initiative. Called the “Top 10 SA Radio Case Studies 2007 – Unlock the power of SA radio”, at the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, yesterday, Wednesday, 27 February 2008, to advertisers and marketers with the aim of sharing with them information on how to unlock this power.

Gary Stroebel new OFM MD
Gary Stroebel, the current sales and marketing director at OFM, has been appointed to the role of MD as of 3 March 2008, the radio station announced yesterday, 26 February 2008. He replaces Lyndon Johnstone, who is taking up a consulting contract with African Media Entertainment, majority shareholders of OFM.


Radio 2000 confirms White's departure
Ray White has ended his stay with Radio 2000, the SABC confirmed late yesterday, Monday, 25 February 2008.

Still good news for SABC Radio advertisers - SABC Radio
The 2008 SABC Radio advertising rates, which were not increased in 2007, remain low and in line with South Africa's reported inflation. The new rate card will be effective 1 April 2008.

Radio station leaps into promotion
Friday 29 February 2008, is Girl Power Friday on OFM. The station is dedicating its extra day to women and between 9am and 4pm, a selected list of ‘girl power songs' are being played. The list is drawn up from suggestions SMSed throughout the week. One listener's entry is being drawn per hour and she will become R1000 richer.

SAPS praises 702 GPS initiative
The South African Police Service has praised Talk Radio 702 for its initiative, driven by John Robbie on his Tuesday morning show, which has resulted in 734 GPS systems being pledged for donation to the SAPS. “Our sincere thanks to all the businesses and organizations which rose to the challenge and responded to 702's call to play a positive role in reducing crime levels in this country. We will ensure that this equipment, so generously donated, will be put to the best possible use in order to secure and protect our clients, the law-abiding citizens,” said director Sally de Beer, Office of the National Commissioner, yesterday, Wednesday 27 February 2008.

Angy Ireland appointed CEO of Research International - Research International
Angy Ireland has joined Research International SA (RISA) as its new CEO, replacing Cees Faber who left RISA at the end of January 2008.


SA paper accepted by American Research Foundation
The American Research Foundation has accepted the paper “The Challenge of Driver Analysis” written by John “Butch” Rice, the co-founder TNS Research Surveys (formerly Research Surveys), one of the largest research companies in Africa. Rice, who has retired from the active management of the company, spends his time consulting and writing. He was also intimately involved in the development of the Conversion Model, a leading measure of customer equity globally.

Giving brands the final word
Every shopper making a purchase and up where? At a till point, of course – and that's when they also have little to do but take in what's in front of them...


It's the experience, stupid! - DMX
The honeymoon is over for South African retailers. According to figures released by Statistics South Africa last week, retail sales have fallen for the first time in nearly seven years.

Bullion PR & Communication bags audio branding account - DMX
Communications consultancy Bullion PR & Communication has won the bid to provide public relations services to DMX Music Africa - a global leader in the development and engineering of audio branding.

The sound of sales - DMX
The right music can contribute to enhanced customer satisfaction and increased restaurant sales, says a business music expert.

Customer touch points – the power of consistent delivery - DMX
In a market where advertising is becoming saturated, brands live or die through every experience your customers have with your staff. Craig Cesman, CEO of DMX Music, looks at customer touch points, the interface where your brand meets your consumer and then lives or dies.

Addressing South Africa's power crisis in Kaelo – Stories of Hope - Kaelo Worldwide Media
“When the signal was given for everyone to turn on their lights, my heart just beamed as one by one the homes on the hillside came to life.” Meet Rolf Papsdorf, a man who has made it his life's mission to solve one of South Africa's biggest challenges – how to bring energy to millions of scattered rural communities in South Africa.


Words, wine and wanderings
Wegbreek is to sponsor the newly established Wegbreek Wine Route as part of the annual Stellenbosch Woordfees festival. Back copies will be handed out at restaurants and tasting enthusiasts will have the opportunity to subscribe at a special festival rate. Each subscription will come with a free gift or a discount off the meal, for those who are dining.


Sponsorship guide for June
The Chartered Marketing Council and Wag the Dog Publishers will be publishing the third edition of the Investors' Guide to Sponsorship to be ready for distribution in June 2008. The contributing editor is Richard Steyn, ex-editor of The Star.

Digital migration on track
[Michael Appel] The Department of Communication (DOCs) responded recently to media reports criticising the finalisation of a policy framework for the digitisation of broadcasting, assuring that things are on track.

New player in East African terrestrial TV arena
CNBC Africa has secured a major terrestrial television distribution deal in East Africa, giving the 24-hour business news channel free-to-air coverage to an audience of more than 10 million people in and around Nairobi in Kenya.

If you have nerves of steel, enter now
M-Net's game show Deal or No Deal, in which contestants can win up to R1 million in each episode by choosing the right case, is back on the box in April 2008. Ed Jordan will return as the host, 26 gorgeous FHM models will open the cases one by one, and the mysterious banker will once again try to strike a deal with the contestants by making interruptive phone calls. But who will the contestants be? South Africans who want to try their hand at winning a million can now enter online at www.mnet.co.za/dealornodeal.

Full screening of Free State University video
On Tuesday, 4 March 2008 at 8pm, 3rd Degree on e.tv will show the full racist video by students from the University of the Free State in which five university cleaners are forced to participate in inhuman and derogatory actions. There will also be a debate between the South African Students organisation and the Freedom Front Plus on what is happening with our youth.

SA actor to star in new overseas series
South Africa's Stelio Savante will guest star in Strike TV's new series 'Solly's Wisdom'. The series, written by Paul Edwards and produced by Pat Stack, president of Out Of Pocket Films, will be shot on location at the Sony Pictures Lot in Los Angeles, US. Savante will portray a well-groomed, metrosexual pick up artist.