Freelancers for Africa - unused and unloved?
[Marion Scher] Well, maybe they're sometimes unused and not all are unloved, but it made you read this, didn't it? I spend a lot of time rewriting other people's work or, worse, trying to decipher press releases and editing reams of paper which make up reports. And then I meet up with other freelancers who complain of how quiet it is right now and I wonder, "Why don't more companies take advantage of these really talented people?"

Martin Lindstrom to kick off African tour in Joburg
The impact of subliminal advertising and the influence of neuroscience in marketing will be the subjects of an Africa-wide tour in 2009 by author and branding expert Martin Lindstrom. The book, Buyology, released last week in New York, is the result of a study on "neuromarketing," which analysed thousands of volunteers.


Showcasing depth and breadth while entertaining
The “Guess Who's Been Watching DStv” campaign theme, which began in 2007, is currently being continued by the “Streaker” and “Idols” TV commercials. While both commercials, conceptualised by Ogilvy Johannesburg and shot by Peter Pohorsky of Plank Films, are meant to showcase the depth and breadth of programming available to DStv subscribers, they're also meant to be entertaining.

Marketing an unknown product in a time of fear
[Gwen Ridsdale] At a time when world financial markets are collapsing and recovering at a rate that makes the nightly news a horror show, when ATMs are getting blown up, credit cards skimmed and Internet banking crime is the fastest growing in the world, how do you react when tasked with launching a new mobile payment system? Pass the anti-anxiety medication, please? Well, that's what you might think.


Maintaining sustainable business: Running marketing like any other business - VWV Productions
[Abey Mokgwatsane] Most executives who run small-to-medium size businesses in the marketing industry will tell you that they always feel as if their business is on a knife's edge, characterised by inconsistent revenue streams, ever-changing client lists and high staff turn over, among other perennial problems. You're never entirely sure that you will be around next year.

Soccer fans to get special visa for Confederations Cup, 2010
[Vivian Warby] Soccer fans wishing to apply for a visa to enter the country for next year's Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup will receive a special "events visa".

Film Indaba to focus on beyond 2010
Hosted by the Gauteng Film Commission, the Film Indaba 2008 will gather together key role players to explore and discuss a sustainable local film industry in order to at propelling the Gauteng audiovisual industry "Beyond 2010". The Indaba takes place 12 November 2008, 9am - 6.30pm, at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

Global economic turmoil should not affect 2010
[Bathandwa Mbola] MOSSEL BAY: The current global financial turmoil should not affect government's guarantees towards hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, says South African Trade and Industry Minister, Mandisi Mpahlwa.

Fourth Brainstorm to highlight winning ways in tough times
The theme of Tony Koenderman's fourth Ad Brainstorm Conference next month is the upbeat Winning Ways. “Our speaker panel, which includes some of our highest-rated speakers from previous brainstorms, will each address the positive aspects of their subject,” says Koenderman. “We want delegates to go away with five or six action steps they can implement immediately to help them profit through the downturn.”

How to make every watt count
A new television, radio and print campaign from The Bryan Slingers Partnership - part of the Bester Burke Slingers group - is urging all South Africans to consider making every watt count, since the prospect of electricity cuts remains a reality.


King James expands into print publishing
[Herman Manson] When Alistair King and James Barty founded their very well-regarded agency King James 10 years ago, they agreed it was going to be an unconventional venture. They set out building King James sideways, expanding into digital, eventing and public relations among others, and now the group is pushing into book and magazine publishing.

TBWA acquires Yellowwood
[Tshepiso Seopa] TBWA\South Africa has acquired 80% worth of shares in Yellowwood Future Architects. The deal, which took a year to negotiate, is said to be part of an international strategy to reinforce the consultancy capabilities of TWBA\Worldwide. The announcement was made yesterday morning, 21 October 2008, by Kay Nash, CEO of Yellowwood Future Architects, in Illovo, Johannesburg. [story updated]

20 seconds of Pure Joy - Wicked Pixels
Wicked Pixels recently combined live action and animation to create a warm and fuzzy spot for agency BBDO on behalf of its client, Pure Joy (Parmalat).


Joe Public wins at OHMSA and Eagles - Joe Public
At last week's OHMSA Awards, Joe Public continued its winning streak, being awarded best campaign in the ‘Ambient Media' section for its ‘Speedkills GP' initiative for Arrive Alive. In addition, and only two weeks ago at the Eagle Awards, the agency walked away with a Bronze Eagle in the Campaign Category for Mahindra ‘Since 1945' and a Silver Eagle in the Product Category for Mahindra's ‘Pink' ad.


Lowe Bull sticks up for trees - Lowe Bull
Shoppers in major hardware stores and garden centres throughout Gauteng recently found more than the usual price sticker on the wooden items they took to the till - creative agency Lowe Bull had come up with a way to deliver a message that would stick in consumers' minds.


Inaugural One Show Entertainment winners
CALIFORNIA: The One Club's first annual One Show Entertainment Awards ceremony has come and gone, with MTV, Frixenet, HBO, Nike, NIN and Unilever the brands that received multiple awards in this 'first-of-its-kind' competition that honours creativity that goes beyond standard product placement. Held at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, Bryan Callen (Mad TV, Entourage) hosted the show, and presenters included Alimi Ballard (NUMB3RS), Brett Ratner (director of X-Men: The Last Stand), and Matthew Weiner (creator and executive producer of Mad Men). View the winners, winners' showcase, list of judges, photos and interviews.

Get your AMASA bash tickets now, soldiers!
2008 is fast slipping through our fingers and AMASA's annual bash is just two weeks away! Hurry and get your tickets now for the party of the year with local favourite Mean Mr Mustard, DJ Lloyd, great food, loads of refreshments and some of our industry's finest specimens. It's war our there - dress up in your definition of military gear - but sometimes you have to let your guard down and party! Guests are reminded to bring along a kiddie's Christmas present to aid the cause of those at the Little Switzerland children's orphanage in the Drakensberg. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Marc du Plessis (marcd@nab.co.za) or Kirsten Randall (kirstyr@campusmedia.co.za). Tickets cost R175 for AMASA members and R225 for non-members, inclusive of VAT. Call the dedicated party response line on cell +27 (0)79 891 1537, email rsvp@gapfactor.co.za or go to www.specialopsparty.co.za for further details. Tickets include two free drinks and dinner.

Springbok emblem is about values, not value
[Anthony Swart] The Springbok emblem is a highly contentious and emotive debate raging across the South African media at present. Some want to ‘vomit on it', some claim to own it and others place a massive monetary value on it. One cannot help but wonder if, in all the flurry, we are missing the point here! This emblem is about values and not value.


Brand-building: 3D vision and Buddhist mantras
[Mike Freedman] Building a business and a brand is like firing a rocket at the moon. You don't aim at the moon, but where it will be by the time the rocket arrives. A brand takes years to grow, while the marketplace is never static and what seems an opportunity now can be an overtraded cul-de-sac within a few years.


Switch CT, Burns merge
The Switch Group, a multi-disciplinary brand consultancy has merged its Cape Town operations with brand and communications strategy consultancy Burns Strategic Planning, it was announced yesterday, Wednesday, 22 October 2008. The intention is to facilitate greater integration of strategy and creative execution across clients.


Icon naming competition deadline extended
The Glass Recycling Company has extended the closing date for its competition to find a name for its new icon. Hopefuls now have until 30 November 2008 to get their creative entry in if they want to stand a chance of winning R5000 in prize money.


Zendome goes black for Thorn Travelling Light - Zendome
Touring 70 cities in 15 European countries from June 2008 to May 2009, a specially built 75 meter² Zendome - featuring a black powder coated frame covered in a black PVC membrane - is housing the Thorn Travelling Light III road show for Thorn lighting, a division of the Zumtobel Group.


‘First of its kind' brand expo launched in South Africa - Brands & Branding
Affinity Publishing, which produces the highly regarded Encyclopaedia of Brands & Branding in South Africa, will in 2009 stage the country's first comprehensive brand exhibition, Brand Xpo.

New appointment at CineMARK - CineMARK
CineMARK has announced the appointment of Gavin Richie as senior account executive.

Will profits prove elusive for on-demand CRM?
LONDON: The on-demand customer relationship management (CRM) model is gaining rapid adoption and will witness double digit growth rates over the medium term. This is according to independent market analyst firm Datamonitor, whose new report, “On-demand CRM: From Top-lines to Bottom-lines”, says that many on-demand vendors - leading ones included - are facing unique competitive pressures and are struggling to find profitability in this high-growth market.

CRM: beyond the buzzwords
[Roger Strain] Customer relationship management (CRM) has been an IT industry buzzword for years - but like most buzzwords, it's used so loosely and in so many different ways that it can be difficult to work out what it actually means. So, for all those who thought they were the only ones feeling the confusion, here is a CRM primer - without the buzzwords.

AAA student solves design challenge

click to enlarge

Third year AAA School of Advertising student, Ntobeko Ximba, was recently chosen as one of three joint winners in this year's Elle Decoration Solve Centre student competition. Briefed to develop a functional and sculptural coffee table, Ximba's entry was inspired by the honeycomb and appropriately named the ‘Nyosi Table' (‘nyosi' is ‘bee' in English). The base of the coffee table is designed to be made from a number of cylindrical hardboard tubes and is complete with recycled glass for the table top. Prototypes were made of the three winners' designs by Weylandts design stores and one design has been chosen to be manufactured for sale in stores next year.


Join Wolda Facebook group, get free copy of inaugural Eulda annual
Wolda, the high-profile graphic design award scheme that rewards the best logos and trademarks designed throughout the world, has recently created an open group on Facebook as a forum to share opinions, suggest new ideas and comment on Wolda, its winning logos, logo design and branding in general and all related matters. The first 1000 registered people will get each get one free book copy (shipping costs excluded) of the 2006 Eulda annual, the inaugural edition of its formerly European logo design annual.

24.com launches SA blog survey
What is intended to be the most comprehensive survey of South Africa's blogger community has been launched today by 24.com, in association with blog aggregators Afrigator.com and Amatomu.com and online DVD rental company PushPlay.co.za. The goal is to demonstrate the diversity and sophistication of South Africa's portion of the global blogosphere.

Submarine cables integrate East Africa into global economy - IDC
PRAGUE: New submarine cables that are being laid along the east coast of Africa will bring connectivity options and related business opportunities to the region.

M&G calls for digerati nominations
The Mail & Guardian is calling for the public to nominate individuals who are the cream of South Africa's information and communication technology crop for its new publication Digerati: everyone you need to know in SA technology, to be launched early in 2009.

SABC chair blooper goes viral
SABCWATCH: Finance Portfolio Committee chair Nhlanhla Nene is fast on his way to becoming an Internet celebrity, thanks to a clip of his chair collapsing under him during a live SABC2 interview earlier this week going viral thanks to social media, reports various media. The SABC has since apologised to Nene, who has been taking his ‘chairlessness' and new found fame with a pinch of salt.

Google Online Marketing Challenge goes annual
The first Google Online Marketing Challenge competition, which took place in 2008 with 1650 different university teams participating across 47 different countries to develop the best online marketing strategy for a local business, was such a success that it has now become an annual competition. Registrations are now open for the 2009 challenge.

Google Chrome: it's not about the browser
[Steve Mabbutt] Chrome, Google's new browser, was barely out of its wrapping before Internet pundits began writing it off. As the first wave of early-adopter enthusiasts lost interest in their experiments and returned to their original browsers, so analysts began to declare Chrome dead. But there is a far more interesting set of dynamics at work. Google is not after Microsoft's share of the browser market: it's after something much bigger.


Hanly quits 24.com to go farming
Russell Hanly yesterday, Tuesday, 21 October 2008, stepped down as CEO of 24.com after eight years with Media24. Handing over the reins to JP Farinha and commenting on his future plans, Hanly said, “I'm looking forward to getting back to my farming roots; something that I've been planning to do for a while."


Brand interaction through online t-shirt designing
Saatchi & Saatchi earlier this month launched a new website for men's fashion retail group Markham, which coincided with the launch of the group's new Summer 2008 fashion range. Briefed to create excitement around the Markham brand and also to convert website visits into online interaction, Saatchi & Saatchi's interactive division AtPlay partnered with local social media/online retail outlet Springleap.com for an interactive experience.


Orijin breaks broadcast design awards record! - Orijin New Media Agency
PROMAX/BDA Awards rewards excellence in broadcast design, animation and on-air promotions. At the recent PROMAX/BDA Africa 2008 awards, Orijin took top honours by winning an unprecedented 19 awards which included 13 Gold and six Silver awards.


Firewater Light brings Nokia N78 billboard to "Light" - Firewater Group
Firewater Light was involved in the bringing to life of a billboard in Nokia's latest N78 “maphotonline” outdoor campaign, a special project together with Media Compete and JWT.


Your daily horoscope delivered direct to your desktop, brought to you by d6 - d6 Media
Fame, fortune, love - what does the future hold for you? Download the d6 Desktop Horoscope and find out. The Desktop Horoscope is the easiest, most entertaining way to get your daily horoscope.


iBurst reaches quarter century mark in base stations
Broadband operator iBurst recently completed the installation of its 250th base station in the East Rand town of Brakpan. The new base station, situated near a mine, brings high-speed broadband Internet access to residents and businesses of Brakpan and Maryvlei Extension, as well as to the local school - the latter part of its social responsibility effort. "This marks a major milestone for iBurst as it continues to expand its national network to bring always-on Internet access to as many consumers and businesses as possible," said Thami Mtshali, CEO of iBurst. The company also recently went live with its first WiMax base station.

WAN releases new, emerging tech primer for print, digital publishing
PARIS: The newly released “A Publishers' Guide to New Technologies”, from the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) Shaping the Future of the Newspaper project, examines a wide variety of technologies for editorial, advertising, blogging, social networking, archiving, mobile publishing, pre-press and press automation, digital inkjet printing, research tools and much more. The report also includes examples and case studies of newspapers implementing new technologies - how VG in Norway handles mobile telephone submissions; Dagen Nyheter's strategy for its mobile website in Sweden; the Arizona Republic's use of electronic tablet readers to speed newspaper home delivery; and the reasons that three companies ­ Tribune Company in the US, Il Sole 24 Ore in Italy and The Daily Herald in suburban Chicago, US - chose their advertising and editorial systems. Read the executive summary of the report here.

AFDA students making waves - AFDA
The Shadow Boy, directed by Justine Puren, has been selected for the competition of the 31st edition of the Recontres Henri Langlois, an international film schools festival which will take place 5 - 13 December 2008 in Poitiers, France. The committee chose 62 films among the 1063 received.

Health and safety performance at Anglo's Moab Khotsong Mine - The Learning Theatre
As the sun warmed the cool breeze on the morning of 6 September 2008, the crowd of 5000 slowly filtered through the gates and covered the stands of the Harry Oppenheimer Stadium. This day was organised to celebrate one million fatality-free shifts at the Moab Khotsong Mine, one of the Mines in the AngloGold Ashanti stable just outside Orkney in the North West province.

Lifestyle SA Festival - Celebrating Black: A tribute to our multi-cultural society - Lifestyle SA Festival
Earlier this month, the Lifestyle SA Festival - Celebrating Black transformed the Kenilworth Race Course in the Mother City into a haven for those who have a strong affinity for and interest in the African identity.


What is experiential marketing and communications? - VWV Productions
[Abey Mokgwatsane] On the face of it, experiential marketing seems to be one of those elusive terms like antidisestablishmentarianism - it sounds great but doesn't have a life in the real world.

LiquidChefs launches in London - LiquidChefs
You would have been forgiven for thinking that you were at a premium event in South Africa, being served by the highly successful mix of Liquidchefs style barmen. But this time it was in UK party hot spot, London!


Philips Nivea for Men hits the youth market - Sound Media
Following on the successes of previous launches for the Philips brand, Sound Media were once again called on to conceptualise and deliver a national campaign which would launch the new Philips Nivea for Men shaver to the consumer market.


Taste of Jo'burg 2008 - Thirst Bar Services
Monte Casino hosted this year's Taste of Jo'burg from 9 October to 12 October where approximately 17 000 people sampled food from 15 of the top restaurants in Gauteng. Thirst and Ciroc Vodka were present to display their ‘unique to South Africa concept' - The Bartenders Market.


Why preserve corporate DNA? The politics of remembering - VWV Productions
[Mark Steinhobel] What constitutes the DNA of a company? Is it the culture? The history? The premises, or products, or people? And what part of it must be preserved, at all costs and for all time?

What's new in experiential marketing? - VWV Productions
[Ricardo Gressel] The dealership just called you to collect your brand new car. You arrive in anticipation of stepping into the vehicle you've longed for since college. Not only had you gawked at it on the road time and time again, you finally managed to take it for a spin at the very same dealership the previous week.

True Colour Events and Avusa Media go shopping - True Colour Events
True Colour Events recently implemented an extensive awareness activation campaign across 32 shopping malls in the Gauteng and Tshwane regions for The Times and Sowetan newspapers, owned by Avusa Media. The campaign took place over a two-month period, kicking off in the Woodlands Shopping Centre in Pretoria and concluded at Trade Route in Lenasia.

Full House Events gives camera brand the right exposure - Full House Events
Full House Events recently dealt up a Casino Royale-themed poker evening for Olympus at The Castle Kyalami. Olympus hosted a group of its top-performing distributers at an event which lacked only the appearance of James Bond.


Versatile MC - Quirky House
Jo-Ann Strauss was the first-ever female conference MC for the annual New Holland dealer conference held at the Vaal Riviera in October 2008.


702's Aki gets the upper hand at Full House Events poker challenge - Full House Events
Joburg's journos, usually jaded by constant invitations to functions, turned up in droves to battle it out at the poker tables for the 2008 Really Big Media Poker Challenge, hosted by Full House Events last week.

Thebe terminates EXSA membership - Thebe Exhibitions and Projects
The Thebe Exhibitions and Projects Group and the Coca-Cola dome have terminated their membership of the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA). Group MD Carol Weaving says the decision was not taken lightly.

Get your B!-Bundle at Baba Indaba Joburg this weekend - Baba Indaba
Babies and mothering is all the rage in Joburg this weekend. The SABC Education Baba Indaba - bigger and better, is back in town! The Sandton Convention Centre will be crawling with thousands of babies and toddlers, experiencing the latest must-haves in parenting.


The Baby Expo - Keeping families active with Baked Simba - The Baby Expo
The Baby Expo™ believes in helping parents make knowledgeable decisions when it comes to their children, which is why visitors can find all the experts from the parenting, baby and pregnancy industry at The Baby Expo Cape Town this November.

New Luxury Life Expo is coming to Cape Town - CADEK Media
CADEK Media recently announced that it will stage its first Luxury Life Expo at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The dates are set for 4 - 7 June 2009.

Energy efficient journalists make eta finals
Two staff members of 25^° in Africa, Africa's independent energy publication, were recently nominated as finalists in the 2008 eta Awards, which promote the more efficient use of energy and aim to improve business competitiveness. Editor Marlene Raubenheimer and journalist Jody Boshoff both received news of making it to the final round in the Women in Industry category.

Property group partners with new property lifestyle mag
The Pam Golding Property (PGP) group has become a founder brand partner in Private Edition, a recently launched high quality, quarterly lifestyle publication from The Publishing Partnership that targets a high net worth audience, it was announced earlier this week.

Digital versions for print stable
Following rising reader requests to make niche publications The Afropolitan and The Wits Business Journal accessible via the Internet, media house ContactMedia and Communications announced yesterday, Monday, 20 October 2008, that they will be made available online in a digital magazine format.

CLASSICFEEL magazine delivers a scorching issue - DeskLink Media
CLASSICFEEL magazine is gathering momentum as we approach the end of the year. The sizzling November issue brings readers the very best in local and international music, arts, culture and lifestyle, with a particular emphasis this month on music as the magazine traverses the realms of three popular genres.


Foodie editors honoured at 2008 Galliova Awards
Abigail Donnelly, Taste food editor, took first place and Barbara Joubert, Sarie and Sarie Kos' food editor, was runner-up in the recent 19th annual Galliova Awards. Sponsored by the South African Egg Industry, the Galliova Awards recognise excellence in food writing, food styling and overall promotion of the South African food culture. The judging process pays special attention to the manner in which the food writers addresses their market and whether the writer is in touch with the lifestyle, needs and tastes of their respective readers. The general appearance of their work, food styling, photography and artwork is also considered. This is Donnelly's fourth Galliova. Download the full list of winners here.

Northern Cape rural areas get access to radio, TV
[Proffesor Ndawonde] Thousands of people from the close-knit rural community of Heuningvlei in the Northern Cape were overwhelmed when they heard they would be able to watch television and listen to the radio for the first time in their lives. The Minister of Communication, Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, made the announcement on Saturday, 25 October 2008, before switching on television and radio transmitters at the Kgalagadi Nodal Point, during an imbizo in the area.

Who are the 100 most influential media people in SA?
So who's on this long list of media powerbrokers? Does the SABC's news chief Snuki Zikalala crack the nod along with Mondli Makanya from the Sunday Times? What about media owners? Who is more influential - Caxton's low profile Terry Moolman or Naspers's dynamic Koos Bekker?

SANEF welcomes withdrawal of controversial bill
The South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) yesterday, Wednesday, 22 October 2008, welcomed the withdrawal by the parliamentary Ad-Hoc Portfolio Committee on Intelligence of the Protection of Information Bill to which the forum had vigorously objected during the committees' public hearings.

Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2008: close-up on Africa
Some African leaders have understood the advantages their countries could derive from press freedom. Others have behaved like despots again this year. The continent's best-placed countries continue by and large to be the same, with Namibia (23rd), Mali (31st), Cape Verde (36th), South Africa (38th) and Mauritius (47th) coming in the top 50 of the annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2008.

Broadcasting Amendment Bill ‘still unworkable'
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The battle to ‘save' the SABC's soul continues unabated and has entered a crucial phase. Towards the end of last week, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) held its deliberations on the Broadcasting Amendment Bill, which could be soon adopted by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Kgalema Motlanthe. Yet the 'Save our SABC' coalition believes that the bill is still unworkable.

PenQuin International expands their offering with interactive department - PenQuin International
With more and more multimedia mediums entering the marketing mix, PenQuin International identified the need to offer their clients complete creative solutions in-house. Hence the creation of the PenQuin International Interactive Department. This is a studio that focuses on delivering cutting-edge multimedia development.

Intranews moves house - again! - Intranews
Intranews has moved into its new premises at 3 Lali Park, Umhlali.

WASPA tackles mobile complaints
The average monthly number of potential contraventions of the Wireless Application Service Providers' Association (WASPA) Code of Conduct is currently 500, down from the July 2008 peak of over 600, the association reports.

More and more SA companies going the mobile work route
[Deon Liebenberg] More than half of South African companies of all sizes have rolled out mobile business solutions to up to 25% of their workforces, but only 20% have mobilised 50% or more of their workforces. This is one of the key findings of a 'Market Opportunity for Mobile Solutions' study recently conducted by IDC on behalf of Research In Motion (RIM).

Exponential growth for African mobile web - report
Use of the mobile web has surged exponentially in Africa, according to the latest State of the Mobile Web report from Opera Software, developers of cross-platform web browsers Opera and Opera Mini. As of September 2008, Egypt has preempted Germany as the world's 10th largest user of the Opera Mini browser for mobile phones. South Africa remains firmly among the top 10 international users, currently ranked sixth.

Creamer Media launches iPhone app
In line with its philosophy of developing traditional news values, over new platforms, using new technology as it becomes available, the 27-year old Creamer Media group has launched what it believes to be the first locally-developed iPhone 3G application, for its Mining Weekly online publication.


Vodacom introduces short voice service
Vodacom today, Wednesday, 22 October 2008, announced the launch of its Short Voice Service (SVS) - a voice-based message service that enables Vodacom customers to send a 30-second voice message to any other Vodacom customer's cellphone without having to talk to them. To use SVS, dial the #digit followed by the number of the recipient (ie #082 123 4567) and leave the SVS. The SVS service will be free until 9 November, when R0.90, anytime of the day, will be charged. For more, click here.

On the road with Ilanga
Ilanga's new regular motoring supplement, Lishay'umgwaqo (“On the Road”) has been inserted into its Thursday and Sunday newspapers for the past few months, targeting the growing category of middle class black readers with significant disposable incomes.

Don't overlook print in multimedia development
AMSTERDAM: When newspaper executives talk about multimedia development, they often mean digital development. But that approach overlooks their biggest asset ­ their newspaper in print, which brings great value to multimedia delivery. That was a key message from the World Digital Publishing and the World Readership conferences recently concluded in Amsterdam.

The best of both - Ananzi
Brabys, a more than 100-year-old directories company, is the first company in Africa to enter into a strategic agreement with Google to become an Authorised Google™ AdWords Reseller.


eMarketing textbook finds its way to Kenya! - Quirk eMarketing
Tourism and online marketing have always been a likely couple. With the 2010 Soccer World Cup happening in South Africa, the need for local tourism agencies and service providers to catch up with eMarketing trends has increased evermore.

BBC.com launches in Cape Town - Habari Media
Specialist online media sales house Habari Media last week hosted the BBC.com media presentation in Cape Town. Local media planners and direct clients were given insight into the world's most trusted news provider by the visiting BBC.com team.


The power of online marketing - AlterSage
Many marketers know they should be including online marketing in their overall marketing strategy, but don't know how to go about designing and implementing such a strategy.

SkillPod Gaming launches even more new game sites - Skillpod Media
SkillPod Media has launched two new free play online game sites. While most of the company's online game sites are dedicated to wide ranges of general skill and fun games, the new sites focus on one game each. And they're two of the most popular online games in existence - poker and bingo.

Gary Nelson new ComutaNet CEO
ComutaNet announced this morning, Monday, 27 October 2008, that it has appointed Gary Nelson as its new CEO. Trevor Ormerod, executive chairman, Cinema and Print Division, Primedia, has been acting CEO since August 2008, following the resignation of Pieter Groenewald.


Jack Daniel's road tour comes to SA
Whiskey brands like going big. Last week it was the launch of the world's largest Johnnie Walker Striding Man building wrap, this week we learn that Jack Daniel's is bringing its JD Mobile Experience, a state-of-the-art truck of epic proportions that will give South Africans a true-to-life taste of the famous distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.


Green energy on billboards - INM Outdoor
INM Outdoor and Nedbank are flying solar! INM Outdoor (formerly Clear Channel Independent) is partnering with Nedbank to provide solar power to numerous advertising signs throughout the country on which Nedbank advertise.


Graffiti takes mobile media to new heights with new taxi top advertising - Graffiti
Vehicle branding specialist, Graffiti, has recently added taxi top media to its portfolio of mobile media offerings - a New York-style taxi top advertising medium that is fitted on top of metered taxi vehicles around South Africa.

Another Evo Media branch in Johannesburg - Evo Media
The evolutionary media house, Evo Media, has been expanding rapidly around the globe, and recently added a new Johannesburg office to its list of international branches. Despite a national economic slump this company is powering forward to meet Johannesburg's growing demand for innovative visual communication.

Refinery Visual Effects plays DJ - The Refinery
Refinery Visual Effects have just completed the post production element on the new Metro FM commercial, shot by Leigh Ogilvie (Frieze Films) for agency Net#work BBDO.


Communication: the new world currency - Audio Arts Africa
There's lots of talk about ‘getting ready for 2010'. We've all got opinions about how well that's going. The politicos will say it's going famously. But then, they would.

New staff at Evo Media Cape Town - Evo Media
Evo Media has appointed five new evolutionists to its existing creative camp in Cape Town. These evolutionary minds possess the mental ammunition to meet increasing media demands, advances in technology and Evo Media's rapid expansion and growing international client base.

What every romance writer needs - win a romance writing workshop - The Write Co.
Writers are falling in love with romance writing. The Write Co's Romancing the Dollar has proved to be a hit in both Johannesburg and Durban. Fun, practical, interactive, the one-day workshop shows new writers the format of category romances, techniques for improving their writing, as well using popular romance themes to create compelling plots.


World-renowned transformational speakers return to South Africa during December 2008 - ChatROOM
South Africans will once again be given the opportunity to experience the Art of Possibility presentation by Benjamin Zander, world-renowned conductor and speaker on transformation and leadership, and his partner and co-author Rosamund Stone Zander, following the huge success of their last visit in August.

Beware the company whistleblower - Crisis Communications Consultancy
One of the most dangerous crises that governments and companies have to deal with are those initiated by whistleblowers. In many cases, the whistleblower's actions are initiated without warning and put the organisation concerned into an immediate and exploding crisis where it often has little time to strategically prepare. Often management end up running around trying to put out the resulting fire storm.

Internal communications critical in times of crisis - Crisis Communications Consultancy
The knee-jerk reaction that many companies take when they are embroiled in a crisis is to start communicating only once the issue has been broken on the public stage. The vast majority of their communication then focuses on external audiences and very little effort is made to communicate with staff prior to or at the same time as the external audiences are receiving their communication.

Winning entries require skills to prepare - Quo Vadis Communications
South Africa has a wealth of talent and the projects that communicators throughout the country implement have been proven to be on par with the rest of the world. This can be seen through the numerous awards won by many South African business communicators down the years - notable amongst them winners of International Gold Quill Awards.

Metro FM revises Music Awards nominations
Metro FM has had to revise its list of nominees for the ninth annual Metro FM Music Awards (MMAs), after discrepancies were picked up on the original list announced at the awards launch in Johannesburg two weeks ago.

KFC Global Express to steam into 5FM
5FM's new interactive Saturday show, launching on 1 November 2008, is intended to plug directly into the nation's youth culture. KFC Global Express with Poppy Ntshongwana debuts end of this week, and, in a first for 5FM, the show will feature live Internet interactivity with the presenter in studio.

Revin John fired from Dubai radio station
NEWSWATCH: Former South African DJ Revin John was fired from Dubai radio station Virgin Radio by Arabian Radio Network earlier this week after he infuriated listeners by making fun of religion and impersonating God on air, according to various media reports.

Tshabalala-Msimang to open R1.2 million community radio building
[Montsho Matlala] The Minister in the Presidency Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is expected to open the R1.2 million Moletsi FM community radio station building in Limpopo. During the opening, the minister is expected to address the community and take questions from listeners and anchors.

Justine Cottrell new 5FM marketing manager
National radio station 5FM has appointed Justine Cottrell as its new marketing manager, effective as of 1 November 2008, it announced earlier this week, replacing Aisha Mohamed, who joined MTV Networks Africa in August. Cottrell's background is in journalism, PR and marketing.


The Good Stuff... on Durban's No 1 - East Coast Radio
It's been a little over a month since the launch of East Coast Radio's brand new feel-good feature, The Good Stuff, and already listeners are responding in a positive and warm way to the show.

More green awards for radio presenters
The annual Johannesburg City Parks Environmental Awards last week honoured three Primedia Broadcasting radio presenters. Talk Radio 702's Jenny Crwys-Williams was named 2008's Woman in Greening for being what Jenny Moodley from City Parks called “the tree champion”. Jeremy Mansfield and the rest of the Rude Awakening (RAW) breakfast team from 94.7 Highveld Stereo were given a Chairperson's Award for the outside broadcast they did from the 24-hour park in Orlando East, Soweto. Graeme Joffe, another RAW team member, was acknowledged with a Chairperson's Award for his work on the Township TV social responsibility project which installs big-screen TVs in strategic City Park's locations within townships.

Five Spectrum Awards for property marketing company
Niche property marketing company Marketing Concepts received three Gold and two Silvers at the recent South African Council Shopping Centres (SACSC) Spectrum Awards.


SAB KickStart East Coast winners announced
The winners of the SAB KickStart East Coast regional awards have been announced. Aimed at 18- to 35-year-olds from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, the KickStart programme launched in 1995 as a poverty alleviation initiative, and has subsequently become a platform to stimulate sustainable enterprise development.


Parliament gives amended Competitions Bill thumbs up
The National Assembly earlier this week stamped its approval on the Competitions Amendment Bill aimed at combating the uncompetitive behaviour of businesses which undermine competition.

SA's GDP expected to slow - Manuel
[Michael Appel] While South Africa was hoping to maintain its 5% economic growth rate in 2008 and 2009, global economic conditions have forced the downward revision of expected growth.

So what are savvy shoppers doing?
A new study released in the US reveals which consumer groups are most likely to spend during challenging economic times, and how behaviour-based segmentation helps retailers improve strategies to connect with consumers. The study applies to US consumers but South African and African marketers and retailers will find parallels with the local market.

Square has never been sew cool! - Clover
Clover's Labour of Love project that was launched in June this year has delivered truly staggering results. More than 2 500 squares were created by Clover personnel and sewn together by the ladies of Bernina SA to form no less than twenty quilts for those in need.


Hertz punks Falkow - Hertz Rent a Car
Hertz Rent a Car recently made sure its “Love Hertz” campaign was felt, well, just a little differently when it pranked one of its regular celeb customers, comedian Cokey Falkow.

Telkom sponsors flagship early morning programme
Telkom will be the headline sponsor of CNBC Africa's flagship early morning programme, Business AM, commencing 1 November 2008. Comments Mulligan Pearce, Telkom's executive for brand management, "Telkom believes [our] exposure on CNBC Africa will enable [us] to entrench [our] brand on the continent. This is in keeping with our strategy of expanding our geographic reach."

MIPCOM reports record participation for 2008
PARIS: This year's MIPCOM, the 24th audiovisual content market, recorded its highest attendance figure of all time, driven notably by an increase in attendance from the ‘METRIC' countries and regions, namely the Middle East, Turkey, Russia, India and China, as well as Ukraine.

Award for SuperSport initiative
SuperSport's Let's Play initiative was last week named as the winner of the Mail & Guardian's Investing in the Future Corporate Award, and was a finalist in the Investing in the Future Sports Development Award. The awards honour individuals and organisations within civil society, business and government from the southern African region that have demonstrated innovation in the development and implementation of effective public policies and strategies to end poverty in the region. Let's Play has a two-pronged approach: creating awareness of the campaign and its aims and organising activations on the ground, with the support of many activation partners. About 250 000 children a week are “activated” and are coached in a variety of sports.

Gambian cinema on the African Movie Channel
The African Movie Channel features its first ever Gambian film this October, "Arrou" (Prevention), an award-winning film from the stables of Vinasha Productions of The Gambia. Directed by Segun Oguntola, and starring Modou Musa Ceesay, Awa Gassama, Alagie Saihou Saar, Habibatou Jallow, "Arrou" won Best Contribution to African Film and TV Development at the African Movie Academy Awards (AMA Awards) in 2006, and screened at the 2007 Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Companies struggling to attract, serve Millennials
Most companies are struggling with how to adapt their businesses to serve a new wave of consumers from the Millennial Generation (Generation Y). This is according to a new global survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit and Genesys, an Alcatel-Lucent company.