Loeries Communication Design judges released
The Communication Design Judging Panel for the 2008 The Loerie Awards were announced yesterday, Wednesday, 21 May 2008, headed up by Vince Frost of Frost Design.

Loeries Advertising Online judges announced
The Loerie Awards announced the Advertising Online Judging Panel for the 2008 Awards yesterday, Tuesday, 20 May 2008, with Pete Case, creative director of Gloo, as assisting chairman.

SA companies needs operational flexibility - de Bono
Finding the flexibility in business operations - and injecting your organisation with innovation - are the only ways left for South African companies to differentiate themselves from countries such as India and China, according to Edward de Bono, the world's foremost creative thinker, who will be appearing live in South Africa on Wednesday, 4 June 2008.

Joburg Tourism Company condemns xenophobic violence
Johannesburg can ill afford the current wave of xenophobic violence sweeping the country, says the chief executive of the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC), Lindiwe Mahlangu, as people from African countries make a significant contribution to the economy of Johannesburg through trade and commerce, job creation and tourism spending.

Consumer Protection Bill's impact on marketing
When the Consumer Protection Bill comes into effect next year, most South African companies are going to have to change how they write their customer documents. According to plain-language training and consultancy firm, Simplified, the bill will affect a range of customer documents, from adverts and marketing brochures to more functional documents such as consumer contracts and agreements.

Xenophobic violence unacceptable - BWA
The Businesswomen's Association (BWA) has added its voice to the public outcry, strongly condemning the spate of xenophobic violence that has engulfed various townships and informal settlements within the Gauteng Province. “We would like to add our voice to the denunciation of these acts,” said BWA president Basetsana Kumalo in a media statement yesterday, Thursday, 22 May 2008.

ANC deputy president condemns “ugly, barbaric” attacks
[Louise Marsland] ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe told the International Media Forum in Johannesburg this morning, Thursday, 22 May 2008, that attacks on foreign nationals over the past week was an attack on the values of our civil society in South Africa and needed to be condemned as hate crimes. He called on all South Africans to condemn these barbaric acts.

Art with Heart gains momentum
Art with Heart 2008 already has its first 11 artists on board and is now eagerly awaiting the next 50. Created by Stanley Edwards, director of Platypus Productions, the idea of Art with Heart is to gather “frustrated” artists working in the advertising, marketing, production and media industries to join him in rediscovering their creative talents while staging an auction to benefit a chosen charity.


Business, tourism leaders call for decisive action on attacks
Both Moeketsi Mosola, CEO of South African Tourism, and Jerry Vilakazi, CEO of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), yesterday, Tuesday, 20 May 2008, added their support to the calls by the President, senior government officials and other leaders for an immediate stop to attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.

The positive “R” words
[Naseem Javed] The current and unavoidable recession of America, slowly impacting Canada, Mexico, spreading it wings towards Europe and Asia, all the way to the farthest corners of the world, is nothing to be either afraid or surprised of. It is just one of those cycles that appear every decade or so. While some land soft, some land hard, but this may be the hardest, yet still there are some very positive things in that "R" word.

It's official: affluent neighbourhoods are least likely suburbs to be affected by arson - Knowledge Factory
New statistical geographic representation of crime information offers local organisations superior risk assessment and management by modelling suburb crime patterns.

When the going gets tough, the tough get smarter - Knowledge Factory
As the National Credit Act and steadily climbing interest rates start to dampen the real estate market, property franchise owners need to arm themselves and their agents with the right tools and information to ensure their continued success.

Continental FIFA World Cup sponsor until 2010
Continental has become the fifth company to join the six-to-eight-member club of FIFA World Cup sponsors until 2010, continuing a partnership that started back in January 2003. The agreement was announced earlier this week by FIFA president Joseph S Blatter and Dr Alan Hippe, member of the executive board of Continental AG, at a symbolic signing ceremony held at the Home of FIFA in Zurich.

3D geodesic dome - The future is now - 3D Deco
756, 755, 754 and counting... With the 2010 FIFA World Cup beckoning and organisers working around the clock to bring this show-stopper to life, 3D Deco forges ahead with a fresh, new and inspiring design.

Cannes Lions launches Young Lions Zone
LONDON: Young Lions and Student delegates attending the forthcoming 55th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival will be able to further enhance their experience by visiting the new Young Lions Zone, a place where they can learn, be inspired and meet fellow young creatives, the organisers announced earlier this week.

Advertisers desert Zim state broadcaster
[Dumisani Ndlela] The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings board chairman Justin Mutasa says advertisers have deserted its broadcasting operations, admitting that poor programming has crippled operations - but he blamed the crisis on sacked CEO Henry Muradzikwa, whom he accused of running down operations by not consulting the board and government.

It's all about advertising - Wicked Pixels
Check out the latest news in animation and sneak a never-seen-before peek at the making of last year's Loeries Gold Craft winner, MTN “Stickies” (MetropolitanRepublic).


Kulula paints restaurants green with Billads - Billads
Kulula.com is the latest brand to jump on board Billads, a bill folder advertising platform.


Redline's financial adverts for listed clients are Sake24 winners - Draftfcb (South Africa)
Redline, the integrated corporate and investor communications agency within the Draftfcb South Africa advertising and communication group, is constantly proving its worth as a professional and creative marketing partner with its performance in the country's awards programmes.

Lowe Bull Group does itself proud at Clios - Lowe Bull
The Lowe Bull Group has secured four wins out of its seven shortlisted finalists in the 2008 Clio Awards, which took place in Miami, Florida, this past weekend.

Lessons in luxury - AdMakers
[Di Paice] Lessons learned in the uber-luxury category can be used to woo the new luxe customer as the landscape of luxury changes.

Red Cherry Media's interactive TV proved successful for Go Advertising and Canova! - Red Cherry Media
GO Advertising recently booked an interactive TV campaign using Red Cherry Media's ADS UP/WOT'Z UP/SPOT ON brands for its client Canova, an immunomodulator product which enhances the immune system.


Vizeum wins Total South Africa
Vizeum was recently awarded its first global multinational brand and reportedly Africa's largest petroleum company, Total South Africa, and is now responsible for all the media planning and buying of the Total SA business. Vizeum handles the brand in over 25 countries globally and internationally centralised at Vizeum in Paris.

Separate Brand SA from SA government
Brand South Africa generated heated debate among delegates yesterday, Wednesday, 21 May 2008, at the two-day International Media Forum Conference held in Bryanston, Johannesburg. The question? How do media reconcile the responsibility of reporting hard news with their role of promoting South Africa to the international community?

Deadline looms for Carrol Boyes' New Designer Search
After announcing the Frame theme for Metal 2008 in January this year, Carrol Boyes is urging all South African designers, artists and creatives to submit their entries for her New Designer Search in time for the closing date, Saturday, 31 May 2008.

Online intiative for reporting xenophobic violence
For Quirk eMarketing, merely talking about the ongoing xenophobic attacks hasn't been enough, and www.unitedforafrica.co.za is the result - a site which provides real-time, geo-located updates of what's happening in areas affected by the xenophobic violence. This mashup represents a collaboration between 15 different individuals and NGOs, including the TEDsters who developed Ushahidi.com, Cell-Life, Quirk eMarketing and TAC.


Rise of digital agencies
[Johanna McDowell] The digital era is exploding with potential and it cannot be ignored by any advertising agency or client who wants to flourish in the future. In order to build brand space in this new age, agencies need to understand the market behaviour, know what kind of messages are best suited for the digital media and know how to use the digital age to their advantage. It is about predicting the new online marketing trends and ensuring that clients are leveraging them correctly.

Latest Universal McCann social media study released
Universal McCann Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) recently released its latest comparative study on social media trends. The third in a series, Wave 3 brings together the latest results and evolving trends of social media, aiming to provide facts behind the hype.

Aggregrating online coverage of xenophobic attacks
[Simone Puterman] African social media and news aggregator Afrigator last night, Wednesday, 21 May 2008, launched a page dedicated to the xenophobic attacks currently happening, tracking blog posts, news, podcasts and videos. The dedicated page is similar to the one created for the violence in Kenya that occurred after elections beginning of the year.


Online friendships as strong as direct relationships
[Walter Pike] Consider that almost everyone who is online is participating in social media in some way, around 60% have joined some sort of social network and the same amount use social media to vent about poor product and service experience. Consider that more that 70% of Internet users research a company's' customer care performance before making a purchase.


Absa joins Facebook
“Social networking sites offer opportunities for us to establish new channels of communication with our customers, and better understand their needs,” says Christo Vrey, managing executive of Absa Digital Channels, and this is why Absa, South Africa's largest retail bank, has launched its profile on Facebook.

Quick online solutions to a healthier company - QuickOnline
A healthy company is one that keeps its staff and has its customers coming back for more. The healthier a company is, the lower its staff and client turnover. It stands to reason that happy staff and satisfied customers have no reason to go elsewhere. Turnover is not only expensive; it's also counter-productive and unhealthy. The key to reducing it? Communication. That's neither an epiphany nor a practical solution.


Holton & Associates brings additional software for home users and small businesses to the market - Holton & Associates
Holton & Associates, distributors of computer software products, has introduced a new range of software products aimed at home users and small businesses, in order to maximise the investments they have made in their computer systems.

Podcast for tech mag
Hot on the heels of the ZA Tech Show podcast, technology lifestyle magazine SACM has also announced its new monthly podcast, ‘Switched On'. Sponsored by Leaf and produced by local dance-music aficionado, Derek “The Bandit” Richardson, the podcast is presented by SACM assistant editor Regardt van der Berg, and Derek “The Bandit” in a 30-minute mp3 file. Included on the SACM cover CD each issue, the monthly podcast will also be available for download on the new-look www.sacm.co.za.

Are education's ivory towers beginning to crumble?
[Jim Freeman] “Knowledge is information combined with experience, context, interpretation and reflection.” - Bill Gates. When we were kids at school, teachers used to tell us we should never define by example. In effect, they were telling us that individual situations and circumstances do not determine the rules.


To be launched soon - new IMM GSM publication - IMM Graduate School of Marketing
As a reputable provider of higher education and training in marketing and marketing related fields, the IMM Graduate School of Marketing constantly strives to remain abreast of industry trends and changes.

The Consumer Protection Bill demands that you change the way you talk to your customers - Simplified
The Consumer Protection Bill is expected to change what most South African companies say to their customers and the way they say it. It obliges companies to communicate with consumers in a way that is fair and easy to understand.

Launch of interactive party invite site
Following on from its recent re-launch campaign, savoury snack giant Pyotts has launched an interactive website which allows consumers to design their own ‘e-vite' and manage invitations and RSVP's online, leaving them with one less thing to worry about when planning an event.

Shares? Bears? Futures? Reaching the everyday investor
If financial terms leave you dazed, then you're the person the JSE is looking for. The JSE Week, 19 - 22 May 2008, aims to reach the everyday investor and dispel common myths about investing.

How to ensure seamless event registration
[Karen Ashwin] Since the process of registering for an event is the first point of contact between the client and the event attendee - and first impressions last - a streamlined and professional system to manage registration is imperative.


Good Food & Wine Show Cape Town ‘08 - Thirst Bar Services
Kahlua, the full-bodied, rich and sweet mocha liqueur, complemented by Thirst Bar Services and Lavazza, whipped up a storm at the recent Good Food & Wine Show at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The team from Thirst creatively developed a range of Kahlua cocktails and entertained guests right beside the National Coffee Barista Championship stage.


Provantage Events launches the next big thing in TV - Provantage Media
Provantage Events organised the launch event for the latest ‘big thing' in TV at a gala red carpet evening at The Roundhouse on Constitution Hill. The event marked the culmination of an integrated international teaser campaign for the 'hit new TV series' LG Scarlet campaign. The LG Scarlet was launched globally in May, with South Africa proudly hosting the second launch event in the world.


Village Pro: Pimp your boss! - Student Village
Recent graduates and young employees are invited to attend Village Pro's 'Managing the Generation Gap' event; a fun, interactive look at how young employees can understand and manage the conflicts that can arise between them and their older managers - for free.

HP Carnival comes to town - Kadoro Events & Communications
Kadoro Events and Communications recently livened up the HP head office in Rivonia with festive elements and colourful fairground attractions for the HP Carnival product launch.


Success story: 26th Africa Cup of Nations, 2008, Ghana - The Event Production Company
Held in Ghana at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, the opening and closing ceremonies for the 26th Africa Cup of Nations took place earlier this year. The Event Production Company, partnering with CAP Events and Global Media Alliance of Ghana, was brought on board to take care of logistics, choreography and audiovisual aspects related to these ceremonies.


Seether live in SA
5fm will present Seether live in South Africa this June. The SA-bred, LA-based rockers are finally returning for their highly anticipated four-date, country-wide tour. Kicking off at Cape Town's Grand Arena at Grand West Casino & Entertainment World on 15 June 2008, the band will then be performing at Johannesburg's Standard Bank Arena on 16 June, Durban's Wave House on 20 June, and finally the Port Elizabeth's UPE Indoor Sports Centre on 21 June.

Brazil to promote bilateral trade with SA
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Agency (Apex-Brasil) will host a trade mission to South Africa in May 2008. Central to the mission is Brasil Tech, an event focusing on ‘Brazilian Technology for South Africa' and comprising a forum, workshops and scheduled one-one B2B meetings. Brasil Tech takes place in Johannesburg at the Sandton Convention Centre, 27 - 28 May 2008. For more information, go to www.tradeprojects.net.

The Baby Expo Joburg - delivered in all its glory - The Baby Expo
Despite the tightening of belts country-wide due to rising interest rates and cost of living, 28 230 visitors were only too happy to come to The Baby Expo, held recently at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg, and take advantage of the workshops and show specials on offer.


National Boat Show - A family fun fest! - Biz Events
Picture a lifestyle where your family spends every weekend and holiday together, soaking up the sun, playing in the water and creating the kind of memories that are the glue, which holds families together for a lifetime. Sound like fantasy? Come live the reality at the National Boat Show Featuring Dive Expo 2008 (NBS)!

Oasys for Free State shows - Oasys Innovations
The exhibitions and events infrastructure company, Oasys Innovations, has made another strong appearance this year at the annual NAMPO Agricultural Trade Show and the Bloemfontein Show.


Impossible is nothing! - 3D Deco
3D Deco has once again raised the benchmark for modernism, creativity, and slick décor with yet another one of its hot little numbers winning best stand award.


The great Homemakers makeover - HOMEMAKERS
Since the company began 26 years ago, HOMEMAKERS has steadily grown into the innovative media company it is today. With growth comes change and therefore, the new HOMEMAKERS identity was developed to better represent the company's objective to create synergy between the divisional brands and growth strategy.

New lifestyle golfing magazine for SA
Touchline Media and the MoreGolf Group is launching Golf+, intended to fill a lifestyle golfing niche identified by the two companies. The monthly magazine will be published by Touchline Media's special project division.


New magazines showcase Sandton, Joburg
Not only did Media Nova launch its new glossy magazine Sandton last week, Ballyhoo Media has published Joburg Style, a glossy quarterly guide to what's happening in the city, endorsed by the City of Joburg.


FHM voted SA's coolest male magazine - UCM
According to the new Sunday Times Generation NeXt Youth Brand Survey, FHM is South Africa's coolest male magazine brand amongst young consumers.

Tracy McGregor voted FHM Sexiest Woman in South Africa 2008! - UCM
Nine of the top 10 women on the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2008 reader poll are South African, and topping that luscious list as FHM Sexiest Woman in South Africa 2008, is none other than super-hot, blonde bombshell Tracy McGregor!


Bonus blockbusters for the fans
Due to demand, tvplus asked seasoned Blockbuster compilers Heidri and Yvonne van Eeden to produce a book especially for the legions of blockbuster fans within its readership. The 64-page tvplus Book of Bonus Blockbusters (and its Afrikaans twin, tvplus Bonus-blokraaiboek), went on sale last week and includes all the blockbuster answers at the back. “We know our readers love blockbusters, and this book is something they've been asking requesting for a long time,” says tvplus editor Natalie Cavernelis. Published by Human & Rousseau, it retails for R69.95.

Media freedom needs more than talk - ANC
The ANC believes that mere declarations of media freedoms on their own are not enough. These freedoms must be underpinned by an equitable distribution of media resources, development programmes and a deliberate effort to engender a culture of open debate. This was the ANC approach 16 years ago, and it holds today, said Kgalema Motlanthe, deputy president of the ANC at the International Media Forum South Africa in Johannesburg last week.

Xenophobia in SA: ‘media should take the blame'
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] At least 50 people are dead, more than 1000 injured, scores of women gang-raped and nearly 35 000 are displaced as xenophobia attacks - described by The Sunday Independent as ‘ethnic cleansing - SA style' - show no sign of abating. As the continent celebrated Africa Day yesterday, Sunday, 25 May 2008, victims of the violence and other immigrants accused the South African media of fuelling the attacks by what they see as ‘constantly anti-foreigners reporting'.

News from Africa read with keen interest, says foreign media
[Janine du Plessis] There is currently an unprecedented interest in news from Africa, according to Barry Moody, Africa editor for Reuters. “Africa is no longer a distant curiosity, now it's a place of expanding potential,” the editor told local and international media and government communicators at the International Media Forum South Africa (IMFSA) last week.

Govt defensiveness adds to neg image - DA
Government and the ANC too often conform to the stereotypes that Afro-pessimists have of African governments, stated the Democratic Alliance's parliamentary leader Sandra Botha at the International Media Forum in Johannesburg, yesterday, Thursday, 22 May 2008. She also said that the extreme defensiveness and arrogance with which the president and Government respond to negative media reports has had a devastating impact on South Africa's international image.

Foreign media speak out over Africa reporting
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The 2008 International Media Forum South Africa (IMFSA) that ended yesterday, Thursday, 22 May 2008, in Johannesburg, provided a viable platform for representatives of foreign media to ‘clear their names' about allegations flying around that they only focus on Africa's negative reporting, thus betraying the dark continent. CNN Africa bureau chief Kim Norgaard lashed out at critics, saying there is nothing better than reporting on the full picture of Africa to help change people's lives.

Mbeki's xenophobic response too late - Financial Times
President Thabo Mbeki put out a strong statement on the xenophobic attacks in and around Johannesburg this week - but it should have been done last week, immediately when the crisis erupted, said the Financial Times correspondent in South Africa, Alec Russell, speaking on Wednesday, 21 May 2008. at the International Media Forum conference in Bryanston, Johannesburg.

SA press freedom not under threat - Pahad
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The African National Congress (ANC)'s proposal for the creation of a Media Appeals Tribunal (MAT) has put the party on collision course with media analysts, editors and journalist,s who fear that such a process will curtail media liberties. But speaking at the International Media Freedom of SA (IMFSA) that opened yesterday, Wednesday 21 May 2008, in Bryanston, Johannesburg, Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad has said that SA press freedom is not under threat.

‘Xenophobic attacks hurt SA's image abroad'
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] As demand for news on Africa continues to increase overseas, what Africa does or does not matters the most, due to economic reasons. Many speakers at the 2008 International Media Forum SA (IMFSA) currently taking place in Bryanston, Johannesburg, said that the latest xenophobic attacks have deeply hurt South Africa's image abroad and could scare away investors and tourists. Meanwhile, Government spokesperson Themba Maseko told delegates that these attacks were unacceptable but orchestrated and caught Government off-guard.

Engaging with the international media
Against the background of a terrifying week of xenaphobic attacks in South African townships, displacing more than 20 000 immigrants from their homes in Gauteng, the International Media Forum in Johannesburg is addressing the issue of SA's image abroad and how to engage with the international media. Bizcommunity.com is blogging and reporting from the event today and tomorrow, 21 - 22 May 2008.

Launch of MediaClubSouthAfrica.com
The International Marketing Council (IMC) of South Africa, custodian of Brand South Africa, today, Wednesday, 21 May 2008, launched MediaClubSouthAfrica.com, a web-based media service for all who want to track the country's progress and achievements in the build-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and beyond. The launch took place at the International Media Forum South Africa (IMFSA) which opened in Bryanston today.

World press protests China jailing journos
PARIS: The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and World Editors Forum (WEF) have protested to Chinese President Hu Jintao against the jailing of two journalists last week and the continued crackdown on freedom of expression ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games.

SABC board to appeal
NEWSWATCH: Legal action continues today, Tuesday, 20 May 2008, with the SABC board intending to lodge an appeal against yesterday's high court ruling in favour of Dali Mpofu, reports the Mail & Guardian Online.

New Parliamentary press gallery chair
Primedia Broadcasting's group parliamentary correspondent, Gaye Davis, has recently been elected chairperson of the Parliamentary Press Gallery Association (PGA). The association comprises those media representatives that report full-time on the proceedings of South Africa's Parliament.


SA media covered Zim elections well - MMP
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Covering the Zimbabwe elections - held on 29 March this year and deemed the most important in that nation's history - has been a painstaking challenge for foreign media. Journalists, accredited or not, had to brave accusations of bias by Zanu-PF, harassment, arrests and raids from police to send out a crucial piece of information, however small. But despite these challenges, South African media has performed well, according to a report released by the Media Monitoring Project (MMP).

Reclaiming the SABC
The Media Monitoring Project, together with civil society partners, including MISA South Africa, is developing a Memorandum of Demands and Expectations that will be presented to the SABC board and Parliament in light of the recent shenanigans. “The SABC's mandate requires it to act in the public interest, but the public service broadcaster's mandate and the act that covers it does not formally require the SABC to directly engage with citizens nor keep them fully informed of major decisions that could affect service delivery,” says the MMP.

Reaching the mobile consumer
[Daniel Goss] Modern consumers are online, on-air, and on the go. This was one of the dominant focuses at the recent 42nd World Congress of the International Advertising Association. So how should advertisers reach them?


Moving on from SMS marketing
[Eddie Groenewald] Marketers using SMS as their only form of mobile marketing need to move onto the greener fields of mobile marketing. While SMS is extremely effective under certain circumstances, it's very limited, given the fact that it can only hold 160 characters per message. It also generally has a negative experience associated with it, which does not assist in building positive brand interactions.


How mobile technology is facilitating development work
[Zachary Ochieng] The advent of mobile technology has transformed and facilitated the work of a number of NGOs involved in various forms of development work, mainly relief and advocacy. Nothing attests to this better than a report recently released by the United Nations Foundation and The Vodafone Group Foundation.

MTN Swaziland launches popular CallerTunez service - Starfish Mobile
Starfish Mobile International, an African Wireless Application Service Provider, has teamed up with MTN Swaziland, to launch the country's first Ring Back Tones (RBTs) service for its mobile customers.

Sondag treats readers to week in Zanzibar, with added superstar host - Sondag
One-year-old Sunday Afrikaans newspaper, Sondag, has initiated a readers' competition sure to positively entrench the brand in the minds of readers for many years to come.

Zululand Fever exceeds all expectations - Sky Blue Media
After only five months in the area, the Zululand Fever free community newspaper has exceeded all expectations. According to Greg Orsmond, MD of Fever Publications, the newspaper was immensely rewarding to launch.

OPA revitalises its corporate identity - Online Publishers Association
The Online Publishers Association has been busy lately. Apart from opening up membership to smaller online companiesas well as inviting advertising agencies to join and make a constructive contribution, the OPA has now redesigned its logo to ensure it is more in line with international online design trends.


Choosing the right online environment for your message - Acceleration Media
[Jacqui Boyd] Choosing the right environment to place your ads is perhaps the most important success factor for your online advertising campaign. You need to make sure that you are able to reach the right people with your message, in a format that will grab their attention, and at a cost that is appropriate for the benefits you receive.

More than just washroom advertising
A decade down the line, The Letter Corporation (TLC) now offers targeted indoor advertising in more than 26 malls, compared to its initial washroom holding in just 10 shopping centres. It will soon be adding more malls to its ever-increasing stable, as a direct result of advertiser demand and their need to speak to a captive audience.

Massiv TV acquires fleet of cabs
Massiv TV, the TV channel which broadcasts remotely directly into taxis, has taken over Cab TV Multimedia Solutions, it was announced earlier this week. This platform, comprising 100 vehicles, will now be added to the Massiv TV fleet.

Vodacom chooses taxi rank branding for its Yebo Millionaires campaign - ComutaNet
ComutaNet currently reaches over 20 million economically active South African commuters on a daily basis. Through its wide variety of media options, this vast market can be reached in an upfront and personal manner. It was for this reason that Vodacom chose taxi rank branding to launch its Yebo Millionaires campaign directly to its targeted market with little to no wastage.


Eastern Cape - a burgeoning market for outdoor advertising! - Tractor
The Eastern Cape is home to a vast majority of South Africa's upper LSM group and is a market that is not to be ignored.


The Marketing Kraal empowers communities - The Marketing Kraal
The Marketing Kraal is not only creating brand awareness for its clients with wall murals and containers across the country, but is also contributing economically to the empowerment of communities.


Cape Town Waterfront's premier billboard sites and Amphitheatre naming rights granted to POP Outdoor - POP Outdoor
POP Outdoor has recently secured some of South Africa's highest profile locations, none more so than the branding and naming rights to the V&A Amphitheatre at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.


Giving back encourages brand loyalty - Primedia Face 2 Face
Brand loyalty is a major reason consumers will remain devoted to a brand for years on end. As a child you may have seen your mom buy Omo washing powder, or another laundry brand time after time, and for this reason would continue to use that particular product.

Seeking innovation in printing
Xerox's seventh annual multinational Printing Innovation with Xerox Imaging (PIXI) Awards will open for entries on Thursday, 29 May 2008, to coincide with drupa, the world's leading print industry exhibition. For the first time, the awards will this year recognise a new business application category and also print providers using Xerox production systems in an environmentally friendly manner.

To Photoshop or not to Photoshop?
[Bryan Traylor] Everyone knows that Adobe's Photoshop is a great tool that really helps make photos better. I believe this 100% BUT... And it's this BUT that is critical. We use Photoshop on a daily basis at Locker 14 to clean, crop, fix imperfections, and add elements to existing images. The one thing I don't use it for is to make my shot work.


Home grown hero for global commercial
Production company Velvet Films recently completed filming the latest Gillette Fusion commercial for Johannesburg ad agency Net#work BBDO. Elements of the commercial, starring SA Springbok champion Brian Habana, were filmed internationally while Habana's scenes were shot here in South Africa.

Pedigree and Discovery Health directed by Jonathan Cohen - Cinergy
It's been a busy time for Cinergy, with director Jonathan Cohen and producer Darren Gordon, working almost simultaneously on two commercials, one for TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris and client Pedigree, and one for MorrisJones and its client Discovery Health.


Creative Vision's animated PSA receives more international acclaim - Creative Vision
Creative Vision's 3D-animated AIDS awareness PSA, “Shower”, has been invited to screen at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro in the FIAE 2008 - third International Festival of Erotic Animation, with Sex, Love and Eroticism as the key themes.


Local heroes take on Lara Croft - Collective
Greg Francois of Collective Films has just returned from the deepest jungles of Thailand, having shot a new campaign for Pepsi's new energy drink, “Adrenaline Rush”.


Refining a brilliant idea - The Refinery
There is a script. Then there is a director who likes to do the unknown. And then there is a Flame artist at The Refinery who likes to develop that unknown and make it possible. Throw them all in a room together and you get a world first for the latest Old Mutual script.


Grant De Sousa adds spice to Knorr spot - Collective
Grant De Sousa continues to prove his mettle as a performance director with two recent additions to his reel, firstly for 1time Airlines and now Knorr Soup Mix.

Provantage roll out the red carpet for moms across the country on Mother's Day - Provantage Media
Provantage Media rolled out the red carpet for moms on Mother's Day in all 500 KFC outlets in South Africa, on behalf of Magna Carta.

RedCube joins Porter Novelli network
Porter Novelli has extended its presence in South Africa through a partnership with RedCube Agency, it was announced this morning, Monday, 26 May 2008. As part of the alliance, RedCube Agency will be rebranding its company name into RedCube Porter Novelli. The partnership follows the integration of Porter Novelli's current partner in South Africa, Sefin Porter Novelli, and RedCube Agency.

PRISA national conference around the corner
“Modern hermeneutics has become the art of interpreting meaning and meaningfulness of whatever it is that we call reality in terms of individuals, organisations and societies at large.” So says Dr Stiaan van der Merwe, executive manager of Coaching South Africa, who will be presenting a “world-first” paper on the subject at the upcoming PRISA National Conference in June 2008.

Communications chaos over xenophobia crisis
[Chris Moerdyk] Communication by national, provincial and local government in response to the spate of what has become known as the “Xenophobia violence” has been nothing short of pointless and pathetic.

Cut costs - not credibility
[Trish Riley] The credit crunch, inflation, rising prices. While all of these are affecting each of us personally, their impact on business cannot be underestimated. And, with marketing and advertising activities traditionally the first to be cut from budgets, eliminating all branding and public relations activities can result in a corresponding cut in credibility.


Jane Weaver new PRCC chair
Jane Weaver, MD of HMC Seswa Corporate Communications, is the new chairman of the Public Relations Consultancy Chapter (PRCC) of PRISA.


Google journalists before pitching - Encyclomedia
Reporters respond far more readily to PR practitioners who seem to know what they want, or at least know what their target markets want. But the old I-thought-this-would-interest-your-readers trick is as old as a poor knock-knock joke. It doesn't work.

Sentient launches consumer publicity practice
Cape Town-based PR consultancy Sentient Communications recently launched its Consumer Division, with which designs and executes campaigns for clients targeting consumer audiences. “This is the obvious next step for Sentient - we've just reached our fifth birthday, growing from two people to 14 in a few short years... We saw a huge need to be able to offer something special in consumer PR and publicity as well, both because our business-to-business clients sometimes needed support when talking to consumer audiences, but also because some great consumer clients had heard about us and wanted to work with us,” says Sarah Rice, MD of Sentient Communications.

Heart 104.9FM in action at the Good Food and Wine Show - Heart 104.9
Heart 104.9FM brought Cape Town Soul to this year's Good Food & Wine Show. Several of the station's vibrant larger-than-life personalities dominated the stage with the international stars of the culinary world in the high tech kitchen environment of the Chefs in Action Theatre.

Wortley to head development of DStv-i
Oracle Airtime Sales (OATS) announced on Friday, 23 May 2008, that is has appointed industry media guru Brenda Wortley to the newly-created position of director: strategy and research. In this capacity, Wortley will head up the development of DStv's recently announced ‘return path' panel - to be known as DStv-i.

Should I stay or should I go? Synovate survey reveals South African attitudes towards emigration - Synovate
According to a recent survey by global market research company, Synovate, 20% of South Africans are definitely planning on emigrating or seriously considering it.

Will 2010 encourage sportier South African schools? - African Response
According to BEE market research company African Response, 71% of South Africans believe that hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup will popularise sporting activities in South African schools. This is yet another benefit of hosting this event.

Retail Advertising Conference heads to SA
The Newspaper Advertising Bureau (NAB), in association with its holding company Caxton/CTP Publishers and Printers, will host South Africa's first ever international Retail Advertising Conference (RAC) in Johannesburg, 12 August 2008, and Cape Town 14 August 2008.

Turning the SA fashion design industry into a global player
[Gavin Rajah] It is certainly agreed by all fashion pundits that it is simply not enough to have a range of pretty garments grace skinny models that wander down a ramp show at any one of the many consumer interfacing fashion shows abounding in South Africa, in order to be a success in the fashion industry.

Germans like SA wines, ja!
Nederburg gains as Germans grow a thirst for wines rather than beer.


Protect our youth from premature death - The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA
World No Tobacco Day, Saturday 31 May, focuses on Tobacco-Free Youth as the only effective measure to reduce the very real risk of youth becoming regular users of tobacco products in adulthood. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance and child and adolescent experimentation can easily lead to a lifetime of tobacco dependence.

Mamas shine at Bernina sewing competition - Clover
The Clover Mama Afrikas recently put their sewing skills to the test, by competing for a state-of-the-art 340 Berdette embroidery machine from Bernina, in their first-ever sewing competition. Mama Esther Nkosi of the Mpumalanga Christian Network in Nelspruit came out tops with her dress that wowed the judges and fashion guru, Marianne Fassler.


Hertz hits the road - Hertz Rent a Car
Hertz Rent a Car has just taken delivery of 18 branded VW Polo Playas. The Hertz Playas have taken over South African roads since 21 April 2008, ably handled by the Hertz sales staff.


Golf Day with a heart - The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA
The Planet Fitness Royal Cape Golf Day in aid of the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA will take place on Friday, 13 June. The competition format of the annual charity golf day is 4-Ball Betterball Stableford and entry fees include green fees, dinner and great prizes. This is an ideal networking opportunity for companies and their clients.

Who wants cake? - Clover
Thanks to Clover Partner Zimmermann & Jansen SA, the caregivers of Clover Mama Shirley Merime's Ebenezer's Sizabantu Bakery are now empowered to bake, decorate and market affordable cakes to their communities.


Hertz Rent a Car dishes the prizes - Hertz Rent a Car
Kgagamatso and Laura Theunissen both won a Garmin Nuvi 200 GPS system in the Hertz Rent a Car promotion.

Mini cricket achieves maxi results
[ActivRetail] Company sets new Guinness World Record with Bakers Mini Cricket.


Exp Nigeria implements another successful activation for Heineken - Exp.
With Heineken in the third year of its global sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League, Heineken Nigeria has rolled out a campaign called the Heineken Champions Planet for the second consecutive year.


Official corporate hospitality partner for British and Irish Lions tour announced - SAIL
SA Rugby has appointed two of South Africa's largest and most successful sports marketing and hospitality groups as the official corporate hospitality supplier for the British and Irish Lions 2009 tour to South Africa.

Sparkling movie sponsorship
Appletiser is the headline sponsor for the premiere of Sex and the City in South Africa and will be hosting the premieres on 27 May 2008 in Johannesburg at Montecasino, and 28 May in Durban at Pavillion and at Canal Walk in Cape Town. SA brand manager Gwen Ridsdale says that Appletiser and Sex and the City shares a great synergy and it made perfect sense for the brand to affiliate itself with the movie: “The campaign taps into the sexy, fun and feminine qualities of both brands.” As part of the Sex and the City activation, Appletiser has created a Sexy Fruits and the City logo that is in line with the brand's strategy going forward, which focuses on the promotion of all four Appletiser variants collectively.

Premium chocolate brand aligns with fashion

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Premium imported Belgian chocolate brand Cote D'Or announced on the weekend that it has signed up as presenting partner for this year's Vodacom Durban July Fashion Experience. The partnership reinforces the brand's alignment with premium events, style and fashion. “We have, for some time, wished to partner with South Africa's premium social and fashion event,” says Cote D'Or brand manager Tebogo Sethole, “I believe that the Vodacom Durban July Fashion Experience presented by Cote D'Or will be bigger, better and more avant-garde this year than ever before.”

Third screen for Township TV
In partnership with Johannesburg City Parks and DStv, Township TV has been switched on in Diepkloof, Soweto, bringing the number of live parks to three. Diepsloot was launched in December last year and Eldorado Park in March.


Interactive gay TV channel for SA
Wrapped magazine has launched a digital channel targeting the gay community, which will serve as an extension of the magazine's content. "Wrapped TV's test broadcast went live at the beginning of May and to date we have had very positive feedback on the channel," says Morne Ebersohn, publisher of Wrapped magazine.


SABC2 official Comrades 2008 broadcaster
SABC2 is the official national TV broadcaster for the Comrades Marathon, taking place Sunday, 15 June 2008, it was announced yesterday, Thursday, 22 May. It will screen all the live action of the 83rd Comrades Marathon on Sunday 15 June, 5.30am - 5.30pm.

Sunday Times Generation Next winners
So which are the coolest brands as voted by the youth? Earlier this week, the fourth annual Sunday Times Generation Next awards were held in Johannesburg, the results of an extensive brand preference study of urban South African youths aged eight - 22, conducted by HDI Youth Marketeers in partnership with Sunday Times and support from Monash South Africa.


WAN congress to focus on reaching young readers
The latest research on the media habits of youth will be presented in "Youth Media 'DNA': What the Young Want From Newspapers & Other Media," a special session at the World Newspaper Congress, to be held in Göteborg, Sweden, 1 - 4 June 2008.