Celebrating 30 years of creativity
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the annual advertising industry awards, The Loerie Awards. Born in an era of big lapels and floral prints, the Loeries survived the eighties with their mullets and shoulder pads, raved their way through the nineties and came of age in the naughties - celebrating creative excellence for 30 years and spanning four decades.

Record number of entries in this year's Loeries
Entries closed for the 2008 Loerie Awards on 31 May 2008 with over 3400 entries received for the 30th anniversary of the annual advertising awards - a 17% growth on last year's entries in the professional categories.

Countdown to Loeries begins
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Loerie Awards, the Oscars of the brand communication industry. A bumper festival and awards are promised at The Loerie Awards festival weekend, which will be held from Friday 25 July to Sunday 27 July 2008 in Margate on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. And in the wake of last week's floods, The Loeries has donated R10 000 to the Ugu District Council Mayor's Fund.

Developing customer-centric relationships
[Yaron Assabi] Today service is the key differentiator in any buying decision and therefore closing the loop with all processes around customer service and relationship marketing strategies are essential to the success of any business. The sum of all customers' experiences is equal to the company's image and brand.

The cyberspace domain blast
[Naseem Javed] Now you can buy any domain with any suffix. If a dotcom is gone, so what? For a cost, you can create your own suffix, any letters and any name. Domain names are made of three parts. The www, the "name" and the suffix like .com. With ICANN's latest decision yesterday, you now have full creative control over the last two parts. This is a revolutionary new concept creating a global scale boom in new names, massive confusion in duplication, global copycatting - all compounded with cyber-squatting, where piles of popular names will be turned into pyramids of shared stupidity.

Three-way partnership on in-store media
As part of vida e caffé's ongoing expansion into the local coffee market, an alliance has been created with publishers 8 Ink Media and Tagon Media to sell in-store media for the cult coffee company. The partnership includes loyalty cards, take-away coffee sleeves, stirrers, serviettes, tags, vida-fi (free in-store wi-fi), as well as a number of new initiatives.

Marketers give desperate MFSA staff the finger
[Chris Moerdyk] It has now been more than three years since the Marketing Federation of Southern Africa (MFSA) collapsed in an embarrassing heap and former staff are still waiting for their pension fund payouts. And South Africa's self-centred marketing community has told them to go to hell.

New commercial for Vodacom soccer sponsorship
A stylish new television commercial by Draftfcb sees Vodacom kicking off this year's soccer sponsorship campaign. The creative response sees the bringing to life of the 1950's Sofiatown lifestyle including its music, dance moves, style of dress and setting. The dance hall replaces the soccer field as the stars show off their ‘moves' to the distinctive musicality of the penny whistle and Sophiatown jazz.


Giant ad campaign for adidas
Eye catching advertising was produced for adidas and advertising partner TBWA Berlin for the city of Vienna which hosted the second UEFA EURO 2008 spectacular in June.


Cape Town advertising duo create children's book
Ogilvy South Africa's chief operating officer Mike Abel recently teamed up with Morgan van Heerden, head of art at OgilvyOne Cape, to create children's book ‘Canoot and the Pickle'. The story, penned by Abel, is set in a fantastical world which is illustrated in full colour by Van Heerden.

Pendoring entries close next month
There is less than a month left to enter for the annual Afrikaans advertising awards, the Pendorings. Entries close 18 July 2008.


Campaigning for a job in the ad industry
Advertising graduate Pamela Anne Meyers has launched a campaign documenting her job-hunting process in her quest to become a junior strategic planner. The campaign can be followed via http://pamela4planner.blogspot.com, a blog where viewers can track the progress of the campaign, its targets and their responses.

Global ad agency dumping Zim firm over Mugabe campaign?
[Dumisani Ndlela] Global marketing and advertising agency Young & Rubicam (Y&R) is to sell its stake in Zimbabwean associate Imago Young & Rubicam (Imago Y&R) after the Zimbabwean agency's involvement in an election campaign for President Robert Mugabe.

Mick & Nick reminds youngsters to “be true” - Lowe Bull
In basketball and skateboarding circles, the Nike Dunk requires little introduction. Created to complement the uniforms of US varsity and college basketball teams, the Dunk's classic style saw it quickly leaving the courts to become a cult icon and an inspiration for fashion and youth culture.


AMASA presents ‘Marketing in a Recession - to Spend or not to Spend?' - AMASA
On Wednesday, 02 July 2008, AMASA will host Millward Brown's Marketing Sciences specialist, Hendrik van Vuuren, who will lead a thought-provoking discussion around what many of us in the marketing, media and advertising industry are talking about - to spend or not to spend in the threat of recession.

Cannes wins for Draftfcb South Africa - Draftfcb (South Africa)
Draftfcb South Africa came back from the French Rivera this week with one Silver Lion in the Radio Campaign category and a draft of finalists across the board.

Lowe Bull and Tracetec shakes up vehicle tracking market - Lowe Bull
How do you create a space for a challenger brand in a growth market dominated by big players? Target new markets. That's the strategy Lowe Bull is rolling out for Tracetec, through its new brand communications campaign which breaks around South Africa this week.


A handful of Silver and Bronze for King James - King James
King James capped a celebratory week on Saturday night by winning a Cannes Silver Film Lion for their most recent Allan Gray TV commercial “Beautiful”. The awards won by King James at Cannes place the agency as the third highest ranked SA agency group, behind heavy hitters at least three times their size.


Tracker is Taking Back Tomorrow - Joe Public
While not a pleasant topic, crime is a reality in the lives of all South Africans. This insight and the relevance of Tracker's involvement as a force for good in the country, led agency Joe Public to create a campaign that is intent on turning around the thoughts, actions and lives of South Africans, effectively helping them Take Back Tomorrow.


Art with Heart launches blog
The art showcase that raises money for charity while demonstrating the artistic talent that resides within this industry, Art with Heart, is rolling ahead and has announced its own blog. The blog will be updated regularly with information on the event as it gathers momentum. To view updates on this year's artists, find information on how to join Art with Heart or to view last year's work just log onto www.platypusblog.com/artwithheart.

What is changing the brand trust playing field?
The Internet and consumer expectations are two catalysts that have recently dramatically changed the playing field when it comes to building brand trust, and not all marketers have adapted their strategies to compensate for the challenges arising from the new environment. So says Added Value Europe's director of responsible marketing practice, Leslie Pascaud, writing in the 2008 edition of The Encyclopaedia of Brands & Branding in South Africa, which will be launched in September 2008.

Virgin Mobile celebrate two years
[Tshepiso Seopa] Virgin Mobile celebrated its second birthday on Tuesday, 24 June 2008, after launching in South Africa on the same day in 2006. The mobile operator attributes its success to its brand positioning as the best, not necessarily the biggest, in the telecoms industry and also that its targets consumers with a higher income.

Dramatic growth in Africa - Interbrand Sampson
For many years Interbrand Sampson (IBSA) was confined by the Interbrand Group to operate in Southern Africa. Now in the last 18 months, as these restrictions have been relaxed, IBSA has seen dramatic growth in Africa.

Do you know who evolutionised Chappies? - Berge Farrell
Did you know that a local packaging and iconography specialist recently completed what is perhaps the biggest design job on one of the smallest pieces of real estate?


Eskom's ‘trust bust' - its most crucial ‘load-shedding' to date? - Brands & Branding
“Reliability, integrity, empathy and familiarity are four of the dimensions on which trust is built. By not adhering to these tenets, Eskom is facing load shedding of its own; that of its credibility.” These two sentences, from Brand Economics' senior vice-president, Jonathan Knowles, succinctly summarise what every good marketer, brand builder or public relations professional has been thinking since the entity plunged South Africa into its current energy crisis.

Maximizer rolls out CRM benefits for Barloworld - Maximizer
Barloworld Equipment has implemented the Maximizer CRM solution to better manage its clients and increase the efficiency of its marketing campaigns.

10 finalists bagged in Exclusive Books design competition
The recent nationwide challenge to South Africa's young designers to submit fresh concepts for national retailer Exclusive Books' distinctive shopping bags, has yielded a bounty of talent and 10 exceptional finalists, from design schools across South Africa.


D&AD Student Awards 2008 results
With one first prize, two second prizes and four entries going ‘in-book', South African students are definitely rising to the challenge of the D&AD Student Awards. Stephanie Larsen from the University of Pretoria has won a first prize for her work for the Virgin Atlantic Airways Design brief and Klea Ferriera, Keenan Mulvaney and Sylvia Mckeown picked up second prizes.

Rex gets creative juice flowing - Rex Creative
Johannesburg-based design house Rex Creative, teamed up with Network BBDO to deliver an advertising campaign for Cell C's new Juice.co.za portal - and revealed yet another area of expertise in the delivery of cutting-edge illustration and animation.

Web copywriting: setting the record straight
[Tiffany Markman] As it turns out, web copywriting is a contentious issue - peppered with strongly differing views and hotly defended opinions. At this kitchen of contention, it can be hard to distinguish between the myths and the truths. Also, Google regularly changes the rules. So here are a couple of the latest prevailing myths about web or online copywriting…

Tequila\ changes direction
In a launch to clients this week, Tequila\ has announced that it has repositioned and will now focus on positioning as an agency that delivers digital, design and conceptual design solutions that are routed in the client's business strategy.

Vodacom simplifies mobile Internet, buys into Zoopy
[Simone Puterman] Vodacom has acquired a 40% stake in South African startup Zoopy.com, a South African-based social media community website, it was announced this morning, Thursday, 26 June 2008. This follows hot on the heels of yesterday's announcement of Vodacom's new Mobile Internet service which allows accurate representation of the Internet on a cellphone through technology that adapts the PC-screen format of any website into a smaller, cellphone-friendly format.

IBM opens New Africa Innovation Centre
[Gabi Khumalo] An Africa Innovation Centre was officially opened in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday 24 June 2008, with the aim to drive information technology skills development and address business challenges in the economic growth of sub-Saharan Africa.

SA firm opens imaging bureau in Luanda
South African enterprise content management (ECM) firm Digital Archiving Systems (DAS) has opened an imaging bureau in the Angolan capital. The enterprise, which is worth US$250,000, will see the employment of 10 skilled ECM workers.

Orijin Design takes World Gold! - Orijin New Media Agency
At the recent Promax/BDA Word Gold Awards and Conference in New York, Orijin Design won World Gold in the Broadcast Design category - Best On-Air General Entertainment Design for a branding design piece done for MK, the alternative music channel on the DSTV bouquet.


Five minutes with our search marketing expert... - longtail
Melt du Plooy, longtail's Search Marketing Manager, has been involved in the Internet industry for over 10 years and has gained his experience from many website projects where search marketing played a major role. Melt was asked to answer some questions on search engine optimisation and he promised to keep it as non-technical as possible.

iBurst technology cracks nod from IEEE
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a global technical standards group, recently approved the iBurst technology as a new standard for IEEE 802.20 at its headquarters in New Jersey, US, Currently driven commercially by Japanese vendor Kyocera, this mobile broadband wireless access system has been commercially rolled out in more than 10 countries worldwide. Says iBurst South Africa CEO and VP of the iBurst Assocation, Thami Mtshali, "We are pleased that the IEEE has chosen to ratify iBurst as a global standard because the decision will drive adoption of the technology by vendors and telecom operators around the world. More widespread use of the technology will help to drive equipment prices down, to the benefit of iBurst South Africa and its broadband customers." iBurst South Africa has a countrywide wireless broadband network with more than 230 base stations.

Consolidation of direct marketing opt-out registers
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) of South Africa's existing opt-out register has merged with a two-year-old solution by specialist direct marketing consultancy P:Cubed into one entity that allows consumers to opt out of receiving unsolicited direct marketing. "Given our interpretation of where the direct marketing industry was headed with respect to growing pressure for self-regulation and the legislative and regulatory environment moving towards opt-out, P:Cubed developed its online opt-out service over two years ago," explains Raoul Miller of P:Cubed.

The best time to send an email
[Aaron Smith] The email messages you send out will be much better received if they arrive at a time when the recipient is more likely to be in the right frame of mind to read them. If they arrive at any other time - particularly if they arrive along with a raft of other messages - there is a good chance they will end up being deleted ... unwanted and unread.

NFVF supports Trevor Jones Scholarship
The Trevor Jones Scholarship is an initiative by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), National Film and Television School (NFTS) and world-acclaimed South African-born screen composer Trevor Jones to assist talented young South African filmmakers study in the UK at the NFTS. Offered every two years, the next opening will be announced soon for the 2009 academic year.

USB-ED programme in strategic marketing metrics to be presented in Cape Town and Gauteng - USB-ED
A programme in strategic marketing metrics will be offered by USB Executive Development Ltd (USB-ED) at the University of Stellenbosch Business School from 25 to 26 August 2008 in Bellville, Cape Town, and again in Gauteng from 22 to 23 September 2008.

South Africa's first coaching academy receives ICF accreditation - CCI Coaching Academy
CCI and Consciousness Coaching® are now the first South African coaching academy and curriculum to be accredited by the ICF (International Coaching Federation) with its highest accreditation - ACTP (Accredited Coaching Training Program) for CCI's coach training program “Diploma - Professional Consciousness Coaching”.


UCT runs BEE course with Empowerdex director - UCT Graduate School of Business
The UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) and Vuyo Jack, Director of Empowerdex, will team up this July to run an innovative and practical Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) course.

International comedy festival moves to Joburg
In previous years, Cape Town hosted the International Comedy Festival but this year Johannesburg will take its turn to present what is billed as the broadest selection of comedy styles and material ever seen at such an event. 94.7 Highveld Stereo and Hunta Entertainment are staging the Jozi Comedy Festival at Montecasino, Fourways, 30 June - 6 July 2008.


Kadoro pulls together luminous launches for Radiant Lighting - Kadoro Events & Communications
Kadoro Events and Communications recently brought their magical touch to a series of brilliant launches across the country to unveil Radiant Lighting's revised industry catalogue.


Gearhouse In2Structures' semi-permanent venue - Gearhouse SA
This is a highly versatile structure that can be transformed and configured according to the show or event and the client's requirements.


New events division for HWB
HWB Communications recently launched a new conference, events and functions facility with Rita De Morney as events coordinator. The new department provides clients with the complete solution from concept design to full project management. Recent events HWB Communications was associated with include the Cape Town International Convention Centre's fifth birthday party and the Cape Town Book Fair.

Exhibition space in high demand at rAge 2008 - rAge
rAge - the largest gaming expo in Africa and the highlight of the local gaming gaming calendar is making its way back into the Coca Cola Dome from 03-05 October for its sixth consecutive year, and is being more enthusiastically received than ever before.


A street market vibe at East Coast House & Garden Show - Kagiso Exhibitions & Events
Putting a positive spin on living on the east coast of South Africa, your local East Coast Radio House & Garden Show will do something to ignite your spirit as they celebrate all that is local! The Local Rocks theme will highlight all that is local, funky, fun and right here in front of you.

Call to entry for Pica Awards
Are you ready to take your measure of greatness? Celebrating individual creativity, honouring collective endeavour, the PICA Awards - South Africa's premier acknowledgement of excellence in the magazine publishing world - are now open for entry.

New look, partners for parenting lifestyle mag
From the August/September 2008 issue, RaisingKids will sport an updated modern format and increased distribution along with new partners Babies R Us and Toys R Us. Produced by TLG Publishing since November 2007, the magazine covers modern day issues to educate and empower parents of kids from birth to seven years.


Reader's Digest celebrates 60 years in SA
The June 2008 edition of Reader's Digest celebrates six decades in South Africa, with articles dedicated to commemorating and remembering what South Africans love about the magazine and the country.

New assistant publisher for New Media Publishing
Jason Curtis has recently been appointed assistant publisher at customer publisher New Media Publishing (NMP). Curtis joins NMP after five years with The Publishing Partnership.


TCB Publishing acquires community mag publisher
TCB Publishing announced yesterday, Monday, 23 June 2008, that it has acquired a majority share in WWW Advertising, a Pretoria-based publishing house specialising in community-based magazines. The objective is to extend the footprint of the magazine nationally in the near future, as a result of the potential for growth in this particular market.

FHM team creates own TV and online ad campaign - UCM
In the current difficult consumer economic environment in SA, cost control for media companies is all-important. But consistent marketing becomes even more crucial in recessionary times to ensure long-term brand success. The benefits of advertising during a slowdown will continue to return healthy dividends long after the slump is over.


Preditor Publisher CMS v1.6 released with Extra Tools and Ratings Module - Prefix Technologies
Prefix Technologies has announced the next release of Preditor, the enterprise CMS for publishers. The release schedule has been brought forward to enable the company to meet growing scalability and feature demands from new customers.

Dynamic news and lifestyle aficionado is appointed Deputy Editor of True Love magazine - woman360
Mapula Nkosi (formerly Sibanda), City Press' features editor has just been appointed as True Love's deputy editor. Nkosi brings with her a bevy of news, political and lifestyle media experience having worked extensively across these beats.


Looking for entertainment ideas?

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Ideas magazine's special collector's edition, Entertainment Ideas, is packed full of creative ideas and inspiration for those who love experimenting in the kitchen, enjoy entertaining and delight in socialising around the table. “This special edition is for somebody who understands that it takes more than a recipe book and a trip to the supermarket to put together a memorable feast,” comments Sarenda Eloff-Vorster, editor of Ideas and Idees. Entertainment Ideas costs R29.95 and is available at selected stores.


Pull-out posters for surfing title

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The latest edition of ZigZag, allegedly South Africa's longest running, and only core surfing magazine, has reverted from square-back bound to staple-bound in order to cram three high quality giant pull-out posters. Says Zigzag associate publisher Iain Evans, “...[W]e are creating a media offering that caters for what surfers actually want - the best quality surf pics, in-depth journalism, pull out posters, stickers and a specialist girls' surfing mag included. All for 25 bucks. Every surfer is gonna be stoked!” The mag goes on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, 25 June 2008.

End in sight for SABC board?
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] NEWSWATCH: The SABC's controversial board could be heading to a shameful early exit by September as the ANC in parliament pushes for a proposal to amend the Broadcasting Act that will make it ‘legal' to fire the embattled group, according to Sapa and The Sunday Independent. But chairperson Khanyisiwe Mkhonza remains defiant and undeterred by the move, saying for now it is business as usual.

2008 Ruth First Fellows announced
The 2008 Ruth First Journalism Fellows announced this week, are financial journalist and senior associate editor of Business Day, Hilary Joffe and award-winning Times photographer Alon Skuy.

Kagiso acquires Urban Brew
JSE-listed Kagiso Media has reached an agreement to acquire a controlling interest (50.1%) in Urban Brew Studios, it was announced yesterday, Wednesday, 25 June 2008. During the past year, Kagiso Media has diversified its media suite to take full advantage of the new revenue streams which have resulted as convergence has taken place in South Africa's media environment and this acquisition is expected to enrich its offering, both to marketers and consumers.

Cape Talk team held hostage
NEWSWATCH: Foreigners at the Bluewaters camp in Strandfontein took Cape Talk's breakfast team hostage this morning, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, reports 702 Talk Radio. Morning show host Aden Thomas and his team were forced to resume broadcasting so that the foreigners, who have since apologised, could air their views.

Do tabloids dislike foreigners?
[Tshepiso Seopa] Should the recent xenophobic attacks be blamed on bold headlines that read: “THE TRUTH” about “Aliens”? Has tabloid journalism fuelled the fires of hatred and intolerance? This month's journalism dialogues, organised by frayintermedia in partnership with the Mail & Guardian, looked at the contentious issue of whether tabloids helped fuel xenophobic riots and killings.

Buckland, Maher to leave M&G Online
[Simone Puterman] It was confirmed yesterday, Tuesday, 24 June 2007 that both Matthew Buckland and Vincent Maher, Mail & Guardian Online GM and strategist respectively, will shortly be leaving the online newspaper. Buckland is off to 24.com in Cape Town, and Maher to manage social media at Vodacom.

Mpofu's case against SABC postponed
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Thrice-suspended SABC CEO Dali Mpofu's case in the Johannesburg High Court against the board has been postponed to Tuesday, 1 July 2008, to give chairperson Khanyisiwe Mkhonza and her band time to file an answering affidavit. Before postponing the matter yesterday, Tuesday 24 June 2008, Judge Mohamed Jajbhay made an impassionate plea to both parties to try by all means to resolve the matter in an amicable way.

Top print and web newspaper designs
PARIS, FRANCE: The World Editors Forum (WEF) recently asked five prominent newspaper designers to pick their Top 10 newspaper designs and Top 5 newspaper website designs to illustrate the evolution of newspaper design and how it is beginning to relate more to the web.

IFRA heads to North Africa
DARMSTADT, GERMANY: With a focus on new developments and latest challenges for the news publishing industry, such as business models, cross-media marketing and digital publishing, IFRA is offering a diverse programme of conferences and study tours international and regional events in North Africa, India and Europe in the second half of 2008.

AdMob enters South Africa
Global mobile advertising network AdMob has entered the South African market, with intentions of capitalising on the opportunity presented by a very active local base of mobile Internet users. “South Africa is a very important market for AdMob because of SA users' love for the mobile web. AdMob has seen early success helping advertisers reach SA users and is now investing to grow our SA presence,” comments Niren Hiro, AdMob VP of business development.

MMA publishes fifth edition of mobile marketing journal
DENVER, CO; SAO PAULO, HONG KONG AND LONDON: The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) last week released the fifth issue of the MMA International Journal of Mobile Marketing (MMA-IJMM). The latest installment focuses on the development of a better understanding of the who, how and why of mobile marketing.

Vodacom launches mobile soapie
In what it claims is a first for South Africa, Vodacom announced yesterday, Monday, 23 June 2008, that it is launching an ad-sponsored soapie produced specifically for cellphones. SoLikeLife will be available free of charge exclusively to Vodacom's 1.7 million Vodafone live! customers as part of the operator's strategy to diversify into multimedia.

Three wishes granted by cellular marketing
[Brett St Clair] As I rub my Nokia N95, I get on my knees and make three wishes...


BP Ultimate and Brandscape shatter Hypertag proximity marketing records at Soweto motor show - Brandscape
BP's mobile proximity marketing strategy, powered by Brandscape Marketing, demonstrated the power of mobile communication in the emerging economy at the first “Loxion Motorshow” held at Soweto's prestigious Maponya Mall between 4 - 8 June where more than 11,000 people visited the show.


MTN to acquire 100% of i-Talk Cellular
MTN has entered into an agreement to acquire the shares in i-Talk Cellular that it currently does not own and secure 100% ownership of the company. i-Talk Cellular is an exclusive MTN service provider. MTN currently holds 41% of the issued shares in i-Talk Cellular. In terms of the existing shareholders' agreement governing i-Talk cellular, MTN has exercised its pre-emptive rights and signed an agreement with the Bebinchand Seevnarayan Trust to acquire the 59% of i-Talk Cellular that it currently holds. The transaction is subject to competition authority approval. Last week, MTN also announced that it had entered into an agreement with Verizon Business, part of US-based Verizon Communications Inc, to acquire 100% of Internet Service Provider (ISP) Verizon South Africa (Pty) Ltd.

MTN acquires Verizon
MTN announced yesterday, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, that it has entered into an agreement with Verizon Business, part of US-based Verizon Communications, to acquire 100% of Verizon Business South Africa. The transaction is in line with MTN's strategy to provide integrated communications solutions in all of its markets and follows similar acquisitions by MTN subsidiaries in Nigeria, Cameroon, Cyprus and Cote d'Ivoire. It is intended to bolster the scale and product offering of MTN's existing South Africa-based ISP, MTN Network Solutions The transaction also supports MTN's customer focus and commitment to providing more choice and will help position MTN to offer a broad range of communication offerings beyond its mobile services. Closing of the transaction is subject to, inter-alia, regulatory and competition commission clearances.

Matthew Bull is appointed Creative Counsel to the OPA - Online Publishers Association
Matthew Bull, the charismatic, talented and super-charged Global Creative Director of Lowe Worldwide has been appointed Creative Counsel to the OPA.

Habari Media adds Private Property to portfolio - Habari Media
Habari Media, South Africa's largest online sales house, has won the account to market all online advertising inventory for www.privateproperty.co.za.

DQ&A SA expand their staff complement - DQ&A SA
DQ&A SA would like to welcome Shamima Ahmed and Nur Saban to the online trafficking fold.

Beating price increases - Meso Outdoor
If the ongoing price increases are getting you down, we are here to let you know that all the rates for the available billboards space that Meso Outdoor has on offer are remaining the same.

Popimedia ensures Standard Bank's TravelWallet is on the move! - Popimedia
Standard Bank, understanding the synergy of their TravelWallet product with the significant distribution channel exclusive to Popimedia, undertakes a comprehensive promotional campaign, in the Tempest Sixt Fleet of cars around the country.


Primedia Face 2 Face a fundamental arm of the Primedia Crime Line Initiative - Primedia Face 2 Face
In late 2007 Primedia Face 2 Face became one of the companies behind Primedia's Crime Line Initiative. This fantastic initiative is based on the principle of encouraging members of the public to send anonymous tip offs via sms about a crime that has happened, or is going to happen.


Nu Metro Film Distribution hit the road with 40 Popimedia cars again! - Popimedia
Nu Metro Film Distribution, following on the success of their December Wrap-A-Back (back window branded) campaign, have again decided to put 40 Wrap-A-Back vehicles on the road, around the country, with Popimedia during the winter break.


ComutaNet's Star Radio - proven popularity - Comutanet
With 11 media platforms speaking to South Africa's 20 million strong commuter market on a daily basis, ComutaNet arranges for regular 'audits' of different media in its bouquet to cross check the ongoing effectiveness of each. Star Radio is the latest ComutaNet medium to be placed under the microscope.


The thigh's the limit! - Clear Channel
Nando's, dedicated to feeding South Africans with fire in their bellies, have done it again! Their advertising, embracing many topical and humorous issues revolving around life in South Africa, is fun and irreverent. Their latest campaign, which includes outdoor advertising, is centred around ‘thighly' topical Vernon Koekemoer to promote their double thigh special.

callas software enhancements for PDF-based print production at drupa 2008 - Printing Questions
A technology preview of callas pdfToolbox 4 will reveal the most complete, all-in-one print production toolset.

SuperSport breaks new ground with updated identity
In shooting their new station identity logos, SuperSport became the first company to use the much talked about Phantom camera to film sports for commercial use.


Embarrassed Paarl Media donates to Zim victims
In an attempt to lessen the negative fallout from the debacle over being found out to have printed election material for Robert Mugabe, Paarl Media has decided to make a special donation to the people of Zimbabwe.

Brewster gains Total SA
Marcus Brewster Publicity (MBP) has been appointed PR agency of record for Total South Africa, part of the multinational French-based energy company, it was announced yesterday, Tuesday, 24 June 2008. According to CEO Marcus Brewster, this puts Total in the uppermost tier of MBP's client roster, which includes SAB, RE/MAX of Southern Africa and Mango.

Velocity wins two out of the three film and television category wins at Cannes for South Africa - Velocity Films
Velocity has won two out of the three film and television category wins at Cannes.

Benjamin Magowan 3rd December 1980 - 26th June 2008 - Terraplane
It's hard to write about someone's passing when you can picture them saying to each attempt: “Nah, that's naff, boss.”


Local doccie wins at 2008 World TV Awards
A Chedza Media documentary screened on SABC2 that promotes better religious understanding recently won best documentary from the 2008 World TV Awards. "The Letter," produced by Chedza Media in Johannesburg, is intended to help us understand the conflict between Israel and Palestine on a more personal level and was filmed on site in the West Bank and Tel Aviv. The awards programme is in its fifth year and is organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), which seeks to facilitate regional and international dialogue on electronic media and to assist members through educational programs.

Win your own brand PR agency
[Tshepiso Seopa] Up to R1.3 million is up for grabs in the ‘win your own agency challenge'. RedCube Porter Novelli, Vega Brand Communications School and Finweek have partnered together to form a CSI initiative with the intention of discovering and nurturing talent brand PR communications.

Communication today - are we better off?
[Marion Scher] Communication is what I do for a living and I have to say, in my last 20 years as a journalist, technology has made my job easier and easier - albeit puzzling at times. But I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps we were better off before instant messaging.

Sharpen your writing through cutting-edge self-editing with Morné Malan - The Write Co.
“I believe that Morné is the best editor in South Africa,” says Amanda Patterson, CEO The Write Co. “He is my first choice when I need fiction or non-fiction writing edited.”


PURE Communications reaches merger deal with Indaba Productions - PURE Communications
PURE Communications, an independent public relations firm, has announced its merger with Indaba Productions, a brand development and advertising agency.

Rosebank College appoints Grapevine Communications - Grapevine Communications
Grapevine Communications has been appointed to handle the communications for Rosebank College, part of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) which is a registered provider with the Department of Education. The IIE is part of the listed AdvTech Group.

RedCube Porter Novelli has been awarded the Centrum account - RedCube Agency
RedCube Porter Novelli, one of SA's leading independent brand public relations agencies, has been selected to handle the Centrum account, managing all the brand PR activity for the Centrum Guardian Project.

Capsolys is Alerting the Media! - Alerting the Media
Capsolys, a rising hip-hop star on the African skyline, has joined the Alerting the Media! Celebrity Division.

New programme manager and lineup changes for OFM
Tim Zunckel, breakfast show host on Radio 2000 and owner of the Tim Zunckel Radio Consultancy has been appointed new programme manager at OFM from 1 July 2008. He will be replacing Shana Kilbee, who will be relocating to England.


Pabi Moloi replaces Buli G on 94.7
Pabi Moloi will take over the 12pm - 3pm weekday slot on 94.7 Highveld Stereo, starting Monday, 30 June, the station announced this morning. She is replacing Buli G who is pursuing her music career and is currently in negotiations with a major record label for her first album deal.


SABC fires Metro FM marketing manager
Following upon an internal investigation and disciplinary hearing into serious allegations of misconduct, Metro FM marketing manager Olwethu Hoyana has been dismissed, the SABC said in press statement this afternoon, Thursday, 26 June 2008.

Absa Heartwarming Campaign building better communities - Heart 104.9
Absa and local radio station Heart 104.9FM are putting their best foot forward and showing their hearts with the launch of the Absa Heartwarming Campaign. The three year campaign, leading up to 2010, will aim at building better communities by starting in the disadvantaged schools and children of Cape Town.


Gauteng's (wealthy) people have spoken... - Jacaranda 94.2
Last weekend's Sunday Times newspaper (22 June 2008) revealed that Jacaranda 94.2 currently attracts 28% of Gauteng's most wealthy radio listeners, making it the second most-listened-to radio station by this highly desirable target audience.

SA families go online to close generation gap
Instant Messaging (IM) is now the trendiest way, apart from the phone, to keep in touch according to new research released last week by Microsoft, which showed that 61% of South African families are using the web to stay in touch with family and friends - from the young to the old. IM is proving more popular than email, social networking sites, letters and is in some cases seen as more trendy than using sms or text messaging.

RPI partners with Walker Information
Market researchers, Research & Planning Intelligence (RPI), has secured an exclusive partnership with Walker Information, the global company that measures and manages stakeholder relationships.

A day in the life of a newspaper in South Africa - African Response
A newspaper takes its first breath on its passing from seller to buyer and from that moment its unpredictable journey has begun. The latest results of the SAARF AMPS study reflected a rise in readership which left circulation figures unaffected and as such, newspapers seem to have taken on a ‘life of their own' in South Africa.

Are we morally corrupt? - TNS Research Surveys
Against a background of the ANC Youth League claiming “it is prepared to kill for Jacob Zuma” if his corruption trial proceeds, Robert Mugabe declaring war against the ballot box (without any official comment from South Africa), xenophobia, the Hlope affair that threatens to slide into a racial divide, the Black Journalists' Forum and the admission criteria outcry, the Amazon/Post Office issue and with crime as South Africa's number one current problem, the question is “Are we as a nation morally corrupt?”.

Has South Africa's infrastructure taken shape? - African Response
Half (49%) of South Africans agreed that they have seen dramatic improvements in our country's infrastructure ahead of 2010, according to market research company African Response.

RAC Lite confirms speakers
[ActivRetail] Caxton and CTP Publishers & Printers have confirmed a host of top international speakers for South Africa's first RAC Lite - a one day version of the American Retail Advertising Conference. They will provide global viewpoints on the challenges that retail, advertising and marketing professionals manage around the world on a daily basis.

Sportingweb launches the Business of Sport - SAIL
Sportingweb, recently launched a new section called the Business of Sport, focusing on sports-related business news, from brand management, advertising and sponsorship to running a large sports company profitably, and from player management to the economic effects of large sporting events. The SAIL Group is the first sports and entertainment company to associate itself with this initiative.

The Indian Premier League bowls SuperSport audiences over - Kaelo Worldwide Media
The Indian Premier League (IPL) blew SuperSport audiences away in its inaugural season with over 203 hours of action-packed cricket fetching on average 91 531 viewers across SuperSport's bouquet of channels, according to figures released by Sports Marketing Surveys, a global sponsorship research agency.

DStv launches HD TV with free advertising
Oracle Airtime Sales (OATS) is joining the High Definition (HD) craze sweeping the country by offering free advertising on DStv's first HD channel, which is set to launch on 8 August 2008 with the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. HD PVR recorders will also become available from end-July to ensure the HD experience is complete.

Revamped 50/50 takes ‘green' issues to the next level
From Monday, 7 July 2008 at 7.30pm, viewers will be able to tune in to a refocused 50/50 that blends familiar elements of the old with an invigorating injection of the new. The popular magazine show has been going strong for 24 years, making it the longest ongoing environmental programme in the world, SABC claims.

Kiwi spotlight on SA music
The New Zealand television channel C4 TV put the spotlight on South Africa this week with the broadcast of the South African episode of its new music show ‘Making Tracks'. The show is about taking popular New Zealand music of the times and having different musicians from all over the world reinterpret it in their own unique way.


Discovery Channel gets hot and more enigmatic
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] DStv viewers tuning into Discovery Channel will have much to savour in the next 12 months, with a series of exciting and enigmatic programmes set to hit the small screen. A preview of what is coming ahead was screened last night, Wednesday 25 June 2008, at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg. It is an endless combination of enigma, suspense, methodical madness and heat. And it is ‘magnifique'.

BBC Worldwide announces UK.TV acquisition
BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, announced yesterday, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, it will acquire Australia's subscription-television channel, UK.TV, taking 100% ownership of the channel from 1 July. The move forms part of BBC Worldwide Channels strategy to bring the very best of British programming from the BBC and other production houses to a global audience.

New cycling television show to air on Kyknet - Ride Magazine
Trapsuutjies is a new show that's due to air on 7th July on Kyknet at 18h00. Presented by Philicity Reeken and Natalie Wood, the show is about two girls on bikes, pedaling slowly whilst exploring South Africa.


New production company for e.tv's Let's Fix It - e.tv
e.tv's popular social upliftment programme Let's Fix It is back on air on 29 July 2008. Now in its fourth season, Let's Fix It is once again looking to lend a helping hand to those in need. Kaelo Worldwide Media has been appointed as the production company to produce the new series and the show is being refreshed with a brand new look.


M-Net closes temporary ‘load-shedding channel'
M-Net Extra, the temporary channel introduced by M-Net as a solution to load-shedding problems, will not be available on DStv any more from the end of this month. Since March this year, this channel has given DStv subscribers the weekly opportunity to catch up on M-Net shows of the past seven days every Saturday and Sunday, but with Eskom announcing that there will be no planned power outages in the foreseeable future, these repeats are no longer necessary.

SABC2 official public broadcaster of Beijing Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, will see more than 10 000 athletes compete in 302 events in 28 sports. SABC2 announced yesterday, Wednesday, 25 June 2008, that it is the official public television broadcaster for the 29th Olympic Games taking place in Beijing, China, 8 - 24 August 2008. The official opening ceremony on Friday 8 August at the Beijing National Stadium will be broadcast live on SABC2 from 1pm - 5pm.