Consumers hurting after latest rate hike
Consumers expect last week's 50 basis point rate hike to hurt their pockets substantially – so say the vast majority of respondents in a Fin24.com online poll conducted last week.

Veteran journalist Ronnie Morris passes away
[Tshepiso Seopa] [NEWSWATCH] Respected business and high court journalist Ronnie Morris died in Cape Town over the weekend. The Cape editor of the daily Business Report is believed to have died in his sleep at his Rondebosch East home, reports The Times.

IMC chief executive Yvonne Johnston to leave
Yvonne Johnston is leaving the International Marketing Council of South Africa (IMC) at the end of April, IMC Chair Wendy Luhabe announced on 10 April 2008.

Vodacom's Andre Beyers goes solo
After seven years at the helm of Vodacom's marketing efforts, Andre Beyers is now sailing solo as an independent brand strategy and marketing consultant. He opens the doors of Andre Beyers Marketing this month, April 2008, with four clients, Naspers being the largest.


New MD for HDI Youth Marketeers
Jason Levin has been appointed as the new MD of specialist marketing agency, HDI Youth Marketeers, effective 1 April 2008. Long-standing MD of HDI Liesl Loubser moves into the role of CEO.


New ideas on show at Markexs
A quiver-full of new marketing ideas and opportunities is anticipated at this year's Markex & World of Events. The show, which incorporates Business of Sport, takes place 10 – 12 June 2008 at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Employer branding: What HR generals need to know - CRF South Africa
Simon Barrow of People in Business in the UK, states that tomorrow's CEOs will spend more time on their organisation's reputation as an employer, than with the investment community, and fund managers will worry if they don't.

Record-breaking year expected for tourism expo
This year's Tourism Indaba, perhaps more than any other, is especially crucial for the industry and destination South Africa. This is because it's the Indaba at which many of the buying decisions for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be made. And with two months to go, South African Tourism's annual premier travel show has already attracted roughly 14% more visitors to the show than last year.

Trust your instincts
[Jacques Burger] One of my most satisfying moments recently was when a marketer was complimenting me on a highly successful campaign for one of our clients. What made the moment so sweet, was the question posed, “What research was conducted to determine that the campaign would be successful?”. And my ability to respond, “Nothing, we presented the idea and the client said, ‘I love it, let's do it'.”


Treat your client like a businessman
[Paul Middleton] When in 1969 the advertising agencies in South Africa began their journey of revolutionising the way clients brought their product to market, simplicity was key. Agencies had full service repertoires and were the clients' one port of call to take care of all their needs.

Pendoring Awards gets a fresh partner
For more than a century, Clover has approached its Afrikaans consumers through Afrikaans advertising. It has therefore been almost a matter of course that Clover has once again decided to be a sponsor of the Pendoring advertising competition and project this year.

Ogilvy SA hosts digital revolution workshop
Michael Tchao, Nike Techlab GM and Rory Sutherland, vice chairman of Ogilvy UK, will be in South Africa this week to educate businesses on how consumers are using digital media in their everyday lives.

John Farquhar's magic
[Louise Marsland] Celebrating his 80th birthday yesterday, Thursday, 10 April 2008, and 60 years in the advertising industry, the indomitable John Farquhar has promised to keep the industry on his toes while he is still alive. He has no plans to retire; he loves his work so much, it's become his ‘hobby'.


APEX 2008 winners
South Africa's Association for Communication and Advertising's (ACA) APEX Awards once again displayed the wealth of talent in the advertising and communications industry of South Africa. But the good news is that from next year, entries will be invited from the rest of Africa.


Discount for Loeries early birds
[Tshepiso Seopa] The countdown has began for all creative people wishing to wishing to make their mothers proud by winning a Loeries award this year. It's time to start working now to make the early bird deadline on Wednesday, 16 April 2008, get a 5% discount.

Happy birthday to a legend
[Louise Marsland] When I called John Farquhar this morning to wish him a happy 80th birthday, there was no doubt in my mind that he would be at his desk already, working. And he was – since 5.45am this morning at the ripe old (or in his case, ‘young') age of 80 – as usual. To call him a legend in his lifetime feels like an understatement.


SA makes One Show shortlists
NEW YORK: South Africa has once again made the shortlists for the 2008 One Show, One Show Design and Radio and One Show College Competition, which were announced earlier this week. The One Show awards the year's best work in advertising, design, interactive and student work from all over the globe.

Tribute to John Farquhar
[Chris Moerdyk] A lot of people love him. A lot of people hate him. Almost everyone is sh*t-scared of him.

JWT goes for ABC
JWT recently won the African Banking Corporation account in a three-way pitch against Grey Worldwide and Y&R Brands.

Local ad man sits on "best of the best" jury - The Jupiter Drawing Room
Graham Warsop from The Jupiter Drawing Room (SA) was invited to sit on the inaugural jury of the World Press Awards in 2007. This year he returned to Singapore to judge the awards again.


Magnum Ice-Cream appoints RedCube Agency - RedCube Agency
RedCube Agency has been awarded the Magnum Ice-Cream account and will be responsible for the Eva Longoria campaign, which will run over the duration of 2008.

ACA launches new corporate identity
The Association for Communications and Advertising (ACA) unveiled a new corporate identity at this year's Advertising Performance Excellence Awards (APEX) gala event held last night, Thursday, 10 April 2008, at Emperor's Palace. The new logo, inspired by beads and beadwork, common among many African cultures, captures the essence of how barriers can be transcended through advertising and communication.

Social networks – where content and brands collide
[Stanley Edwards] MIPTV, CANNES, FRANCE: Day four at MIPTV was dedicated to the world of social networks and included presentations from MySpace, Bebo and YouTube. As MIPTV is primarily a content market, many delegates were looking at these platforms as a place where their content could be viewed legally and monetised, which has unfortunately not been the case.

New name, new direction
Equillore is the new name chosen by the Arbitration Forum (AF) to represent the dynamic direction the company is moving into. According to Freedthinkers founder Mike Freedman, who collaborated on the project, the name is made up of two parts that represent the philosophy of the company.


Makeover for Pyotts
[ActivRetail] Pyotts, a household name since 1885, has recently relaunched the brand in order to further cement its position as one of South Africa's leading suppliers of premium savoury biscuits.


Build your personal brand, discover a new you
Pioneering local individual and employer branding company Leading Brands has partnered with the Tom Peters Company in the US to bring to South Africa a one-day “Brand You: Inspired Performance” workshop and experience. The workshop will be facilitated by Tom Peters Company (US) CEO and president Juli Ann Reynolds and leading South African brand authority Thebe Ikalafeng.

Imagine this - Vega School
The Jupiter Drawing Room (Jhb) is making the largest commitment to young creative talent that South Africa has yet seen with its sponsorship of a brand new Imagination Lab in the Johannesburg inner-city.


Reliable Music Warehouse appoints The Fearless Executive to design, build brand academy - The Fearless Executive
People are our greatest asset or so the story goes. In a time where the experience one receives in-store has become a key attribute in purchasing behaviour and brand loyalty, the “people” factor has become an important factor in generating revenue and protecting brand loyalty.

HKLM appoints new brand thinkers - HKLM
Strategic brand group, HKLM Johannesburg has appointed three new brand thinkers.

Nu Metro joins 3D revolution
3D cinema has come to Nu Metro Montecasino in Johannesburg with the recent installation of a Barco 2k digital cinema projector by Questek Advanced Technologies.

Spanish culture on film
The eighth Spanish Film Festival takes place 11 April – 8 May 2008 at Cinema Nouveau cinemas around the country. “The Spanish film industry is forever evolving, with our filmmakers stretching the boundaries of film even further,” says Raimundo Robredo, cultural counsellor of the Spanish Embassy. From 11 – 17 April, the films will be exhibited at Cinema Nouveau in Brooklyn Mall, Pretoria, before moving on to Rosebank Mall, Johannesburg, 18 – 24 April. Then it's on to Gateway in Durban, 25 April – 1 May and lastly the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, 2 – 8 May.

CRM leaves marketers in the lurch - Global Vision
Lauded for its 360 degree view of the customer, CRM vendors have focused primarily on sales needs, leaving marketers in the lurch when it comes to functionality. Jon Jacobson, MD and co-founder of Global Vision, speaks about new CRM trends that will be a boon for marketers.

Submit your FAD
The Foschini Annual Design (FAD) Awards competition is open for entry. Now in its seventh year, this competition affords aspiring fashion designers the opportunity to design reality fashion for the modern fashion-conscious South African working woman.


Creative Licence Design creates identity for Cresco Marketing - Creative Licence
Branding is an integral part of any company. People recognise and trust brands because of what they stand for and represent. The making of a brand begins with the formulation of a company's identity, beginning with the logo.


Rex breathes new life into Dulux Duco - Rex Creative
Dulux Duco presented the perfect opportunity for design specialist Rex to give an existing brand a whole new lease on life.

Red Rocket flies into 2008 - Red Rocket
Red Rocket has produced an incredible diversity of projects over the past six months, living up to its claim as a multi-disciplinary design firm.

Will Web 2.0 give birth to Journalism 2.0?
Reader participation, user-generated content and social networks are having an impact on journalism, and that impact is likely to grow in the future. But will Web 2.0 give birth to a new form of journalism? That question will be examined at the annual World Editors Forum (WEF), to be held in Sweden 1 – 4 June 2008.

The power of open advertising
In supporting OgilvyInteractive's competition brief as part of Content 360, OpenAd has had two of its own creatives shortlisted as finalists. Content 360, an international digital pitching competition stressing the importance of traditional media reaching audiences via the web, mobile and other networked devices, is running as part of the 45th MIPTV featuring MILIA taking place in Cannes 7 – 11 April 2008.

TEC Video embraces High Definition technology - TEC Agency
Sharper pictures, superior sound quality and the ability to view on ever larger screens are some of the qualities driving the growth in the worldwide High Definition (HD) market. Whether 2008 is the breakthrough year in South Africa, or whether we'll have to wait a bit longer, it seems as if HDTV is here to stay.


Exposing the seven deadly sins of email marketing - QuickOnline
According to quickOnline, a specialist group of digital presence consultants, it is reassuring to see an increase in the number of companies including newsletter functionality on their websites as part of their CRM programmes. Sadly however, the execution of the electronic newsletters leaves much to be desired as clients search in vain for the unsubscribe link.


Earn money by recommending a RedButton hotspot - RedButton
RedButton has just launched its affiliate program whereby anyone can earn additional passive income by recommending one of RedButton's products to a venue.

Two South Africans to judge Direct, Promo Lions
LONDON: Draftfcb South Africa's Glynn Venter will be a member of this year's Direct Lions jury, while Joey Pastoll of Cross Colours will be on the Promo Lions panel, the organisers of the 55th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival announced yesterday, Wednesday, 9 April 2008.

Neotel Telecommunications Academy launched
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] A one-year pilot skills programme in telecommunications, which was initiated in February 2007 by Neotel with the collaboration of the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), has now culminated to a full-time training academy where 27 students will be studying towards a three-year advanced diploma in telecommunications.

Our services will rock you! - The Learning Theatre
The Standard Bank Client Care personnel quietly entered the auditorium. Nobody was in the mood for a boring presentation on a Friday morning – management must have gone off their rockers completely! Who would have thought minutes into the so-called presentation, they would be laughing themselves silly...?!

ECHO wins the Emirates Airline contract - ECHO Events and Conferences
An undoubted highlight for ECHO has been winning the Emirates Airline contract. The first port of call was organising a road show for 1500 people in February 2008. This prestigious event, held at the CTICC and featuring a world-class performance by Johnny Clegg, was a fitting launch pad for the Emirates Airlines direct route from Dubai to Cape Town.


Insider secrets of the professional speaking circuit - Speakers Inc
The annual Speakers Inc. workshop for professional and aspiring speakers will take place on Saturday morning, 10 May 2008, at Melrose Arch Hotel in Johannesburg.

The weather may be cooling down, but this month it's all hot news! - Thirst Bar Services
To celebrate the change of season we've got a sizzling new menu of exclusive cocktails guaranteed to spice up your events. Get ready for the tingle of ginger and warm kisses of cinnamon in our newly perfected innovations. As you've come to expect, our winter options set new benchmarks for pleasing your palate without compromising on natural health.


Reach for a Dream calls on Kadoro Events & Communications - Kadoro Events & Communications
Kadoro Events & Communication was recently approached by the Reach for a Dream Foundation to assist with its public relations and eventing initiatives.


Coca-Cola dome says no to Ticket Connection - Coca-Cola dome
The Coca-Cola dome, venue of choice for many international artists, will no longer allow any promoter booking the venue to use the services of Ticket Connection for ticket sales of any event hosted there.

The Core Group commissioned Kreate to run a national in-store campaign to win a trip for 2 to the UK - Kreate SA
The Core Group, the distributors of Apple iPod, have commissioned Kreate SA to run a national campaign which will result in an ultimate all-expenses paid trip for two to the UK's top music festival, ‘T-in the Park' in Scotland.

Get hitched Vegas style at Sexpo
The Sexpo has announced that couples of any persuasion or preference will now be able to tie the knot at its Cape Town exhibition at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 8 - 11 May. The Sexpo Chapel of Love will offer daily commitment ceremonies or, for couples booking in advance, the opportunity to get hitched ‘Vegas style'.

The Baby Expo Joburg - 95% sold out with over 200 brands on board! - The Baby Expo
The Baby Expo Joburg, to be held from 15-18 May at the Coco-Cola Dome is already 95% sold out. With more than a month to go until doors open at the expo, The Baby Expo has signed up over 200 of the biggest and most interesting names in the pregnancy, baby and parenting markets, and the demand for stands still grows!


Audi A5 for Durban Motor Show - Kagiso Exhibitions & Events
The just-launched and highly rated Audi A5 coupé will be displayed at the Durban Motor Show 10 – 13 April 2008, even though Audi itself does not have a stand. The A5 will be one of the main features on the varied exhibit arranged by KwaZulu-Natal motoring journalist Jeremy Fall under the banner of his publishing company MotorTorque, which produces online magazines.

No more O for Thami Ngubeni
Thami Ngubeni will be moving on after completing a year as editor of O, The Oprah Magazine at the end of June 2008, South Africa, Associated Magazines announced today, Friday 11 April. Samantha Page takes over as acting editor.

Vanessa Raphaely takes AdMag Editor of the Year
This year's AdMag Awards, held yesterday, Wednesday, 9 April 2008, saw Vanessa Raphaely walk away with the prestigious Editor of the Year title for Cosmopolitan magazine. The publication also won Best International Title of the Year. ADvantage magazine's editor-in-chief John Farquhar named New Media Publishing as Publisher of the Year for its consistent excellence, while Newcomer of the Year went to Psychologies magazine.

New True Love food editor appointed - woman360
True Love has announced the appointment of Tumelo Mushi as the magazine's new food editor. “It's always a pleasure to welcome a dynamic and experienced journalist to the team and we have no doubt that Tumelo will be tempting True Love readers with lots of mouth-watering recipes in the near future,” comments woman360 publisher Liezl de Swardt.

It wasn't racism that burnt Bullard's bridges
[Chris Moerdyk] That so-called racist last column that David Bullard wrote a week ago was not the reason he was fired – it was just the last straw in a breakdown in the relationship between him and the Sunday Times that has been brewing for months if not years. And as always, there are two sides to this story.

WAN, WEF welcome Olympic comments on human rights
The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and World Editors Forum (WEF) yesterday, Thursday, 10 April 2008, welcomed Olympic president Jacques Rogge's call for China to respect its Olympic promise to improve human rights.

Hlahla re-elected National Press Club chair
Patrick Hlahla of the Pretoria News was re-elected as chairman of the National Press Club – Pretoria at the club's executive committee meeting earlier this week. This will be Hlahla's third year as chairman of the club.

SAHRC ambushed us – FBJ
[Tshepiso Seopa] There appears to be a war of opinions between the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Forum of Black Journalists (FBJ) after the commission released its findings on the need to have an exclusive racial organisation 13 years into the new South Africa this week.

Call for Vodacom Women in The Media nominations
Vodacom Women in The Media Awards 2008 is once again calling for nominations. Now in its sixth year, this is the only awards event in South Africa that exclusively recognises and honours women who have made a significant impact in the media industry.

Three Webby Awards for M&G Online
[Simone Puterman] NEWSWATCH: The Mail & Guardian Online multi-author editorial blogging platform Thought Leader has been named an official Webby Awards honoree, alongside blogs by CNN, CBS News, The New Yorker, CNBC, The New York Times, Time and the Observer Media Group, blogs M&G Online strategist Vincent Maher. M&G Online photo portal News In Photos was named official honoree in both the Newspaper and the Best Use of Photography categories, alongside The Globe and Mail, The New York Observer, LA Times, Las Vegas Sun, Ogilvy Singapore, 360 Cities, Rolex and more.

Top journalist and communications coach nominated as candidate for Woman of the Year Award 2008 - Janine Lazarus Media Consultancy
One of South Africa's leading journalists and media and communications strategists, Janine Lazarus, has been nominated for the prestigious 2008 Shoprite Checkers/SABC2 Woman of the Year Award in the Business Entrepreneurs category.

The rules of engagement - Janine Lazarus Media Consultancy
Just as an army should always be on red alert and prepared to go into battle at a moment's notice, so too should companies be geared to manage their reputation, deal with often unwelcome media interest, and mitigate the consequences of bad publicity.

Mobile marketing and the rules of engagement
[Stanley Edwards] MIPTV, CANNES, FRANCE: Day three at MIPTV was dedicated to the world of mobile and for content producers offered the promise of a new channel for content and for advertisers a new way the reach consumers. But what are the rules of engagement for success?


More business through SMS location alerts
Turning a passion for windsurfing photography into a business is no easy feat. Liz Metcalfe has managed to grow Cape Sessions as a business model majoring on new technologies, adding a new SMS service to better target customers for her digital photographs.

Integrated mobile-TV-PC trial gains suppports
NEW YORK: The Mobile Marketing Association is supporting ioglobal's trial of integrated mobile-TV-PC marketing measurement practices, the goal of which is to arrive at an optimal framework for assessing the role of mobile in integrated campaigns. The Three Screen Trial will be conducted in partnership with major media companies and advertisers and is intended to provide the mobile marketing industry with new mechanisms for measuring the role and effectiveness of mobile in integrated campaigns.

Sunday Times fires David Bullard
[Louise Marsland] Controversial columnist David Bullard has been fired by the Sunday Times. The axe finally fell on the ‘Out to Lunch' column after his latest offering published this past Sunday, 6 April 2008, was criticised for being racist.

Liberian newspaper threatened with lawsuit over alleged defamation
The National Chronicle, one of Liberia's daily newspapers, is being threatened with a lawsuit by a member of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's inner circle.

Jeremy Gordin SA Journalist of the Year
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Veteran journalist Jeremy Gordin, of the Sunday Independent, has been named South African Journalist of the Year and City Press editor-in-chief Mathatha Tsedu clinched the 2007 Lifetime Achiever Award at the seventh Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards last night, Thursday, 9 April 2008, while the Mail & Guardian team – made up of seven journalists – won the SA story of the year.

More insights from Business Day
BDFM's business daily Business Day today, Tuesday, 8 April 2008, launched a special project to provide a platform for insight into the economic powerhouse of Africa. Business Day Insights, which will be released quarterly, will explore a range of topics from finance, health, education, literacy and book publishing in South Africa to corporate social responsibility, the world of CEOs, government-private partnerships, trade and manufacturing.

Zulu daily reigns in Zulu kingdom
There is no contest in KwaZulu-Natal for the top spot among daily newspapers, but lower down the list of top 10 dailies, there is some neck and neck jostling for readers. This is according to the South African Advertising Research Foundation's AMPS 2007 Release B.

Isolezwe ngeSonto breaks launch records - Independent Newspapers KZN
The launch issue of Isolezwe ngeSonto has set a new local publishing record with the first issue selling over 40,000 copies on March 30, 2008.


Sondag 2007 B6 AMPS (First) impress - Sondag
Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag is justifiably pleased with its first AMPS 2007 B6 information, with readership topping 215 000. Predominantly consumed in the Western Cape and Gauteng, the newspaper's statistics show an excellent split between white and coloured readers, broadly 53% and 41% respectively.

More Cars in Action online
Cars in Action magazine has undergone a revamp in line with the arrival with its online edition carsinaction.co.za, which launched yesterday Tuesday, 8 April 2008. The new site carries all the title's popular highlights and much more, and is designed as to work hand-in-hand with the magazine and its long-time news partner, motoring.iafrica.com.


Makeover for SA motoring site
The relaunch of Independent Online's motoring.co.za website yesterday, Monday, 7 April 2008, not only introduces a new look but also a user-friendly classified advertising tool for commercial and private vehicle sellers and buyers.

SME Web sites: Buyer beware - The Firehouse
Unscrupulous web developers are taking advantage of the demand for quick, brochure-type websites by overcharging small companies. The good news, however, is that there are some great deals on the market.

Alchemy launches parenting website
Specialist parenting publisher Alchemy Publishing, which publishes Your Pregnancy, Your Baby, Your Child and Baba & Kleuter, launched www.yourparenting.co.za last week. “Your Parenting is designed to complement the magazines in their offering to readers and advertisers,” says website editor Lee van Loggerenberg. “For instance, if there's a kids' birthday party featured in Your Child, readers can download the party invitation from our site. Or when a Your Pregnancy reader has her baby, she can use our e-cards for her birth announcement.” The site is interactive, with feature articles, blogs, columns, tools, competitions, printables and expert advice.

The Rocky Horror Show's gone outdoor! - Clear Channel
The world's best-loved cult musical, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show, has gone outdoors!


Hoodzpeaks now available in paper - Right Stuff
Hoodzpeaks are specially-designed patented visor attachments for peak caps, which provide extra protection from the sun by extending over the ears and sides of the face. Now Hoodzpeaks are available in plastic as well as laminated paper, giving you the option to choose what suits your needs and budget.

National launch of the Making the Difference Through Design Competition - Sappi
Woolworths, together with the Western Cape Education Department, Design Indaba and Sappi, launched the “Making the Difference Through Design” educational initiative in 2006. Initially piloted at some 120 schools in the Western Cape during the 2006 school year, ‘Making the Difference Through Design' has received accolades from curriculum developers, administrators and teachers and was rolled out nationally during 2007.

Content 360 competition 2008 winners
Cannes, 11 April 2008 – MIPTV featuring MILIA has announced the 10 winners of the 2008 Content 360 competition which took place in Cannes, France, on April 10. The Content 360 competition rewards outstanding interactive and multi-platform content. Congratulations to Ochre Media and Okuhle Media from South Africa.

Strong SA presence at the AFCI Locations Expo in LA
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and a South African delegation comprising the Department of Trade and Industry (Dti), Gauteng Film Commission and Durban Film Office and Cape Film Commission will be attending this year's AFCI Locations Expo. The AFCI Locations Expo is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from today, Thursday 10 April 2008 until Sunday 12 April.

Strong SA presence at the AFCI Locations Expo in LA
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and a South African delegation comprising the Department of Trade and Industry (Dti), Gauteng Film Commission and Durban Film Office and Cape Film Commission will be attending this year's AFCI Locations Expo. The AFCI Locations Expo is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from Thursday 10 April 2008 until Sunday 12 April.

Egg-activity - Egg Films
Egg's trademark creativity has been hard at work these past few months with recent commercial offerings illustrating how their directors continue to produce fresh stuff.


Bioscope shoots MTN 'Showdown' for MetropolitanRepublic - Bioscope Films
Director Jerome Pikwane has just shot the latest MTN commercial for ad agency MetropolitanRepublic.


MTN Clap directed by Greg Gray of Velocity is One Show finalist - Velocity Films
Commercials director Greg Gray's spot for MTN titled “Clap” with agency MetropolitanRepublic is a finalist in the One Show TV category. The One Show is New York-based and awards the best work in advertising, design, interactive work from all over the globe.


Masters & Savant recreates Foschini's winter Parisian backdrop - Masters & Savant
In anticipation of the coming South African winter, Foschini has once again brought international fashion to our shores; and this season we will be adopting the chic Parisian mode.


Raw imagery used in AIDES commercial - Sub urban
A crying toddler struggles to get up to walk. Each time he gets onto his feet, he loses his balance and falls onto the stony, dry desert sand, making him cry even harder. Designed to demonstrate the severity of HIV/Aids, this commercial imagery depicts a distraught baby left alone with no one to take care of him - no one to pick him up and no one to comfort him.

Turn over a new leaf
Lipton Ice Tea recently launched its own multimedia integrated “Turn Over a New Leaf” campaign aimed at helping one enjoy a year that is fresh and alive.

SA's first social media press release
[Melissa Attree] The decision by Standard Bank to use a social media press release (SMPR) as part of the Standard Bank Pro20 Series is a bold one. This South African communication first is part of a campaign that has seen one of our most established brands get involved in the online conversation while simultaneously freeing the brand from the shackles of tradition and conformity.


Do you know who you're talking to?
[Tiffany Markman] Experts estimate that up to 50% of your time at work is spent on written communication, even if that's not strictly your job. So it's absolutely vital to develop your writing skills – not only because of the time involved, but also because your success may depend on it.


SABRE nomination for Cape Town PR agency
Green Point-based public relations agency Fleishman-Hillard Cape Town is one of only three South African PR firms to be nominated for a 2008 European SABRE Award.

Tropika treats fans to a tropical holiday with their favourite celebs - RedCube Agency
Thanks to the media and a lovely thing called freedom of the press it has become much easier to get your regular fix of celebrity gossip. No matter whose ardent fan camp you're a part of you can find out all about their latest exploits in a matter of minutes. But, what would you do to have a real one-on-one with your favourite celebrity?


Transformation from lizard to (news) monitor
The little grey lizard that was Ingeniso might have been "just another clipping service" but it has recently morphed into News Monitor, a news monitoring and analysis company. In addition to online article searches of its multi-publication South African print media database, monitoring and email alert functionality, www.newsmonitor.co.za now offers a comprehensive media trend analysis service.

Segale Mogotsi to programme Metro FM
After a radio career spanning over two-decades, Metro FM's Segale Mogotsi is bidding the microphone goodbye to take up the role of the station's new programme manager, with immediate effect.

Wimpy sizzles on Jacaranda 94.2's Just Plain Breakfast - Jacaranda 94.2
Jacaranda 94.2 and Wimpy have teamed up to create a sizzling breakfast offering, with the well-known food outlet having just become the station's Just Plain Breakfast Show headline sponsor for 2008/9.

IMM Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing for the serious marketer - IMM Graduate School of Marketing
Marketing is about strategically creating and maintaining a competitive advantage, producing a superior performance for your customers and company. But, our hyper-competitive world needs skilled, competent marketing leaders, so knowledge, aptitude and tactical skills are essential to your success as a professional marketer.

Synovate launches new system to measure barriers and the impact it has on a brand's market share - Synovate
Global market research company Synovate has announced that it has just launched a new solution called Market Barriers. The system which can be added to clients' existing tracking programmes quantifies the degree to which brand performance is a function of factors beyond brand relationship.

Healthy fast food group announces massive expansion
[ActivRetail] Kauai (pronounced ka-why), the healthy food and beverage company, has announced its five-year growth plan that includes opening a further 130 stores in South Africa, bringing the total number of the group's stores to 200 by 2012.

OUTsurance wins Isabel Jones Ukusizana Award - OUTsurance
The first-ever winner of the “Isabel Jones Ukusizana” Award from the Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance is… OUTsurance.

The Business Day Kaelo Corporate Social Responsibility Conference brings thought leaders to Africa - Kaelo Worldwide Media
Kaelo Worldwide Media, owners of the successful Corporate Social Investment platform Kaelo - Stories of Hope, together with Business Day will launch a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) conference in June that will bring a broad base of thought leaders to Africa and provide a platform for collaboration among CSR practitioners and business leaders.

SAIL Group forms partnership with UK Premier Team Holdings - SAIL
Premier Team Holdings and SAIL Group Ltd have signed an innovative and exciting partnership that brings together two groups on the opposite sides of the globe which share similar interests.

Kaelo – Stories of Hope CSI campaign expands into Indian market - Kaelo Worldwide Media
Kaelo International has partnered with Network 18 to bring the successful local campaign on Corporate Social Investment (CSI), Kaelo – Stories of Hope, to life in India. This international expansion will be the forerunner of deals soon to be concluded for Australian, Brazilian and Nigerian markets.

Sponsorship goal for Ajax
MTN South Africa continues its support for football in South Africa, signing a deal to sponsor local football giants, Ajax Cape Town. Ajax is currently the team that is considered title contenders for the 2007/8 ABSA Premiership. MTN has signed an agreement which makes it the title sponsor of the Cape Town-based club. Ajax is popularly known as the 'Urban Warriors' and the deal demonstrates MTN's support for the development of football in South Africa in the build-up towards the Soccer World Cup in 2010.

SABC political editor resigns
[Tshepiso Seopa] The outspoken chairperson of the Forum of Black Journalists and SABC' political editor Abby Makoe has resigned from the public broadcaster after nine months on the job. Makoe will be leaving at the end of the April, joining Jeremy Maggs, Lebo Monnamogolo and Sumitra Nydoo who have just recently announced their resignations from the SABC to work for new media organisations.

The latest and greatest in branded entertainment
[Stanley Edwards] Stanley Edwards, director of Platypus Productions, is once again at MIPTV 2008 in Cannes, running 7 – 11 April 2008, and is reporting daily for Bizcommunity from the conference programme "Audiences on the Move", which has more than 40 sessions featuring over 150 entertainment innovators. This is the freshest global perspective on television programming, advertising and media, telco-media convergence, online video, mobile media and social networking.