IPL win is a compliment for SA

South Africa's choice on Wednesday 25 March 2009 as the host country for the Indian Premier League cricket competition, because of security fears in Pakistan, has been welcomed by the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee. The OC has also pointed out that, contrary to media reports, it was not the organiser of the aborted Peace Conference. Read more >>

Senior resignations at Nedbank

Nombulelo “Pinky” Moholi, Nedbank's group executive: strategy, marketing and corporate affairs, and Rob Shuter, managing executive of Nedbank Retail, have resigned from the group, it was announced this morning, Thursday, 26 March 2009. Read more >>

Nominate your “Boss of the Year 2009”

It's that time of the year again, time to look long and hard at your boss and ask yourself: Is he the Boss of the Year? Now in its 20th year, the award is organised by Dictum Publishers, with MTN SA Foundation as patron and main sponsor for the second year. Read more >>

The Marketing Show returns to SA

The Marketing Show returns for a second time to South Africa at Microsoft's Bryanston offices in Johannesburg, 4 and 5 May 2009. Once again, an array of international speakers will address varied aspects of marketing in today's economy. Read more >>

Phase one 2010 ticket sales ends tomorrow

The first phase of the sale of 2010 FIFA World Cup tickets ends at midnight tomorrow, 31 March 2009 and a last-minute scramble is expected by FIFA. Read more >>

Can SA's brand image recover in time for Confed Cup?

[Dr Nikolaus Eberl] Commenting on South Africa's decision to ban the Dalai Lama from attending the now-postponed 2010 Peace Conference, CNN correspondent Nkepile Mabuse concluded that “organisers wanted to use this conference to showcase the nation as a champion of human rights” and that “this decision by the South African government has tainted the country's image”. This begs the question: how severe a tainting has Brand South Africa suffered from this incident? Read more >>

High praise from UEFA for South Africa's 2010 progress

The CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa, Dr Danny Jordaan, on Thursday, 25 March 2009, gave the Union of European Football (UEFA) Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark, a comprehensive update on the country's preparedness to host the soccer showpiece. Following Jordaan's presentation, a number of senior FIFA and UEFA officials praised South Africa's 2010 preparations. Read more >>

Public viewing areas a solution for 2010?

With the Confederations Cup almost upon us and the 2010 FIFA World Cup around the corner, an unanswered question has been how to satisfy the local demand to view expensive matches. Public viewing areas (PVAs) could provide a solution... Read more >>

Saatchi installs HD technology

On Wednesday 25 March 2009, Saatchi & Saatchi announced it has installed a high definition Polycom videoconferencing system, which is intended to increase creative collaboration between offices, both locally and globally, and improve client turnaround times. Read more >>

Joe Public to launch Pendoring campaign

The Pendoring competition, recently registered as a not-for-gain Article 21-company, has appointed award-winning agency Joe Public to run its advertising campaign - and heavyweight sponsors are already lining up. Read more >>

SABC assures ad industry of transparency

Earlier this week, Gab Mampone, acting GCEO of the SABC, told the advertising industry, which currently contributes 80% of the broadcaster's revenue, that transparency and the sharing of its plans with the advertising industry, to take the business forward, was of critical importance. Read more >>

Ogilvy Interactive, Isobar lead RECMA global rankings

Research Company Evaluating the Media Agency Industry (RECMA), which has been evaluating media agencies in 50 countries, released a ranking of the interactive agencies 2008 worldwide earlier this week. Read more >>

2009 Dubai Lynx winners announced

The winners of the 2009 Dubai Lynx Awards were revealed at the recent awards ceremony held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The competition awards creativity in the Middle East and North Africa. After judging 2079 entries, the jury awarded a total of 135 Dubai Lynx trophies. Read more >>

2008 Creative Circle Ad of Year results

So which 2008 ad campaigns were crowned Ads of the Year by the Creative Circle? The results, decided upon last night, Tuesday, 24 March 2009 in Johannesburg, are not without controversy. Read more >>

AMASA AGM for Joburg, Cape Town meeting on eMarketing

The Advertising Media Association of South Africa (AMASA) AGM will be held at the JSE in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 1 April 2009, and Rob Stokes, founder and group CEO of Quirk eMarketing, will speak on “eMarketing tactics in 2009” at the Cape Town meeting tomorrow, Wednesday 25 March. Read more >>

DDB SA flies off with Mango

Low cost airline Mango appointed DDB South Africa as its advertising agency of record end of last week, stating that it was particularly impressed by the creative and strategic thinking, the agency announced yesterday, Monday, 23 March 2009. Read more >>

MWeb rebrands this week

South African Internet service provider MWeb relaunches its 11-year old brand this week as part of a marketing strategy to broaden the company's reach into new markets, including mobile. The new pay-off line will be "Connect & you can", conceptualised by FoxP2 which won the MWeb account in a four-way pitch. Read more >>

CapeGate goes for hot cross bun record

On Saturday, 11 April 2009, there will be an attempt to bake the biggest hot cross bun in the world at the CapeGate Shopping Centre. The record-breaking attempt starts on Friday evening with Wynand du Plessis of Extreem Kwizeen Catering taking up the challenge. All ingredients are sponsored by Trade Centre CapeGate. The giant hot cross bun should be ready by about 3pm on Saturday 11 April and chunks will be sold to the public at R2 each, with all monies going to the Animal Anti-Cruelty League. For more, go to www.capegatecentre.co.za/happening_current.htm. The current Guinness World Record holder is a baker from Littlehampton, West Sussex, England, whose hot cross bun weighed 42.8kg.

Exploring technology at BarCamp Nigeria 2009

BarCamp Nigeria 2009 will be held at Tom Associates Training Centre and Conference Hall in Lagos, Nigeria on 25 April 2009. The one-day event, themed “Web 2.0 opportunities and its role in driving innovation”, aims to gather people interested in technology on various levels and topics to share, learn, network and brainstorm ideas. Read more >>

morrisjones&co creates digital division

morrisjones&co has launched a digital arm, mojo interactive, headed by a team with 24 years' combined experience in advertising and online. The new company is headed up by Neshika Chiba, Kim Bell and Warren Dawson. Read more >>

SA digital is boring, says Bull

[Albert Buhr] Matthew Bull, chairman of the Lowe Bull Group, took aim at the South African advertising industry and told delegates at the Digital Symposium, hosted by Habari Media at Spier, that when it comes to the SA ad industry's use of digital, it can be summed up in 20 letters: "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz… Boring!" Read more >>

Twitter to try money-making methods

Twitter plans to begin dabbling this year with ways to pump cash from the fast-growing free service. Read more >>

It's politics and the economy: Google search results

Considerable interest in the political and economic areas, both local and international, are highlighted by search engine Google South Africa's recently released Zeitgeist trends for the first quarter of 2009. With SA's general election looming and the recent US Presidential election, this is, perhaps, not surprising. Read more >>

O'Connor Cam turns listeners into viewers

click to enlarge

Ryan O'Connor, 94.5 Kfm breakfast show host, turns listeners into viewers when they browse www.kfm.co.za and click through to the O'Connor Cam. Through these videos, he takes them with him on his adventures and experiments in and outside the studio. "There are lots of things that we talk about on air that are actually quite visual, so I can describe them to listeners, but it's great to be able to show them what I've been talking about, too," comments O Connor. The O'Connor Cam fits in with Kfm's digital strategy, which, according to digital manager Colin Cullis, is to "extend, enrich and interact".

SA's Internet to skyrocket - report

Four factors will drive the growth of South Africa's Internet population in the next five years, predicts a report released today, Thursday, 24 March 2009, by World Wide Worx. It's expected to expand by as much in that time as in the preceeding 15 years. Read more >>

Kenya to join the high speed internet world

[Titus Kaloki] With bated breath many in this tech-savvy East African country have been waiting to join the world of high speed internet connection. The digital divide is about to be reduced, thanks to the imminent arrival of fibre-optic cables on Kenyan shores this June. Read more >>

DA bulks up for election

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is spreading its election message by using bulk email service MailFire. Developed by ISP Web Africa, the service is currently being used to send over 500 000 campaign emails every month to the party's email lists. Read more >>

New Joburg, CT venues for Coca-Cola Zero Fest

Thanks to the recent heavy rains in Johannesburg and incomplete road works at Ostrich Farm in Cape Town, the venues for the Coca-Cola Zero Fest 2009 have changed. In Joburg the new venue will be Riversands Farm on 10 April 2009, which is on your right-hand side about 2km after you pass Dainfern on the R511 (William Nicol). The new venue for Cape Town on 13 April is the Lourensford Wine Estate, which is off the Somerset West Main Road and just past the Erinvale Golf Club.

Nobel Peace Prize winners to meet in SA without Dalai Lama

South Africa's three living Nobel laureates are supposed to join other Nobel Peace Prize winners from around the world for the first-ever Peace Conference in Johannesburg on Friday, 27 March 2009. However, President Motlanthe has denied the Dalai Lama a visa to attend, reports IOL, which is raising much controversy. Read more >>

Sports Illustrated's bikini babes 2009

The international Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2009 issue is on store shelves now. The 2009 issue features 33 models in seven countries. Featured models will include: supermodels, rookies, WTA tennis stars, NBS dancers and the world's fastest women driver, Danica Patrick. Bar Refaeli, who also appeared in the South African Swimsuit issue in 2004 and 2005, will be the issue's cover girl. To see more images of the models, go to the magazine's website www.simag.co.za.

Business In Africa titles relaunched

Business In Africa magazine, published by the Business In Africa Group, is now under new ownership. According to a release submitted by the group, the myriad new business opportunities Africa presents, both from a traditional commercial perspective and within the new entrepreneurial context, prompted the relaunch of the titles, and is a key component of the new editorial vision. Read more >>

Getaway turns 20

Getaway's April 2009 issue marks the magazine's 20th birthday and it offers readers top holiday locations - 10 in Africa and 10 beyond the continent - in celebration of its landmark birthday. The best photographic locations in the world add to the package. Read more >>

Food & Home Entertaining editor announced

Rosanne Buchanan is the new editor of Food & Home Entertaining magazine, Caxton Magazines announced yesterday, Monday, 23 March 2009. She replaces Naomi Larkin, who left end of January 2009 to go to House and Leisure. Read more >>

So is or isn't Snuki leaving?

NEWSWATCH: SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago has denied reports attributed to him on the weekend that the contract of controversial head of news Snuki Zikalala will not be renewed after the end of April 2009, and is threatening to take the issue to the press ombudsman if necessary, according to various media reports. Meanwhile, the national broadcaster's financial woes continue to makes the news. Read more >>

Zuma on the Dalai Lama visa issue

NEWSWATCH: Zuma disputes claims that the decision to not grant a visa to the Dalai Lama undermines human rights, reports IOL, and Health minister Barbara Hogan could face disciplinary action over her response to the issue, reports Mail & Guardian Online. On the subject of the SABC, the DA blames the ANC's divisions for the resignations from the board, reports IOL. Meanwhile, the SACP says ‘good riddance' to Qunta, reports Politicsweb. Read more >>

Christian Science Monitor site to be simple

Today, 27 March 2009, will see the last printed version of theChristian Science Monitor as it takes a web-based approach. And the web site won't rely on video, fancy info graphics and other technical tools. Instead, it will rely on the journalism that has served it well for 100 years, says editor-in-chief John Yemma. Read more >>

Dalai Lama saga continues

NEWSWATCH: There's a new development in the saga of the Dali Lama and his visa, reports IOL, and the SABC is still hogging headlines as it tries to identify a whistleblower in its ranks, according to The Times Online. Read more >>

Brave decision by Primedia to cancel ANC press conference

[Chris Moerdyk] Full marks to Primedia for cancelling the ANC press conference at the last minute. I wonder just how many other media organisations would have had the guts to do that literally within minutes of the conference about to kick off, with Minister Jeff Radebe already in the building and about 40 other media representatives waiting for things to roll. Read more >>

Presidency launches web media database, kids' site

[Bathandwa Mbola] In an effort to better communicate with the media, the Presidency has developed a new web-based media database which will allow members of the media to personally update their contact details. The Presidency also earlier this week launched a section on its site aimed specifically at children. Read more >>

Qunta's SABC resignation much deeper than that - coalition

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The resignation of director and deputy chairperson Christine Qunta from the SABC board is much deeper than thought and is an indication that the public broadcaster is in deep crisis, Save our SABC Coalition spokesperson Kate Skinner told Bizcommunity.com last night, Wednesday, 25 March 2009. Skinner's statement follows one released by the SABC earlier the same day, saying that it had received a letter of resignation from Qunta, who gave no reasons for her sudden departure. Read more >>

Qunta resigns from SABC board

BREAKING NEWS: Christine Qunta has resigned from the position of director and deputy chairperson of the board and all other structures at the SABC, the national broadcaster announced in a brief statement this afternoon, Wednesday, 25 March 2009. The resignation will be effective 1 April. Read more >>

ANC puts media tribunal on backburner

NEWSWATCH: The M&G Online reports the ANC has backed down - for now - on its controversial media tribunal proposal, and the closing of Telkom Media, as reported by Moneyweb, leaves just one potential competitor for Multichoice, according to Business Report. Read more >>

New SABC election results system

The SABC launched its new Elections Results System (ERS), yesterday, Tuesday, 24 March 2009, which the public broadcaster hopes will give it a strategic editorial edge during the 22 April general election. The technology links with the Independent Electoral Commission's results system at voting districts, allowing the SABC to access incoming results. Read more >>

SABC responds to Sunday Times

The SABC yesterday, Monday, 23 March 2009, issued a statement in response to theSunday Times front page story on Sunday 22 March, saying that the report mentioned in the newspaper was only preliminary, regretting the 'splashing' of names and calling the leakage irresponsible. Read more >>

Mobile is driving behaviour change, says Bowman

[Albert Buhr] New technology will allow for tremendous new accuracy in ad targeting and, most important for digital advertisers, mobile is driving behaviour change. So said Tom Bowman, BBC.com's VP international ad sales, at the Digital Symposium hosted by Habari Media last week in the Western Cape. Read more >>

Haffajee to helm City Press

BREAKING NEWS: Ferial Haffajee will take the helm of Sunday newspaper City Press at the end of June 2009, it was announced by Media24 and the Mail & Guardian Online at midday today, Monday, 30 March 2009. Haffajee is currently editor-in-chief of the independent Mail & Guardian. Read more >>

Mobile strategies for newspapers for WAN conference

Christopher Billich of the Tokyo-based Infinita has joined the programme of the World Newspaper Advertising Conference and Expo, to be held in Barcelona, Spain, 28 - 29 May 2009. He'll provide an overview of the Japanese mobile advertising market, its usage and revenue levels, and show how its advanced mobile marketing practices have the potential for other local markets. Read more >>

Sunday Times publishes education supplement

In a bid to help counteract the “extremely poor” language skills of SA's children and encourage reading, the Sunday Times will be publishing the second of two series of learning supplements to support the National Department of Education's (DoE) Foundations for Learning campaign this Sunday, 29 March. Both the teaching and learning of literacy and numeracy for children in Grades R to Grades 6 will be addressed through the Foundations for Learning supplements sponsored by the DoE. This project will see seven supplements - one for each grade - being published in the centre of the Sunday Times Magazine. The eight-pagers, targeted at children, teachers and parents, contain information and tips and include at least two posters per supplement, which can be pulled out and put on the walls of bedrooms or classrooms. More than 3.5 million copies will be published between the end of March and mid-August.

Press freedom category added to WAN Young Reader Prize

The World Young Reader Prize, an annual award from the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) to recognise newspapers that do the most to develop young readership, has added a press freedom category. This will honour newspapers that teach effectively about the fragility and importance of press freedom in a democratic society. Read more >>

Sony campaign to support “Leverage”

Sony Entertainment Television (SET) has kicked off the channel's most comprehensive series launch campaign to date in support of the South African premiere of the channel's new 13-part drama series Leverage, beginning on Thursday, 26 March 2009, at 8.30pm. SET is kicking off the campaign with the distribution of 35 000 themed newspapers in Joburg and Pretoria at a mock Leverage crime scene in both cities, with a further 15 000 being distributed in Cape Town. Additionally, there'll be a Pizza Perfect promotion and street pole and illuminated bus shelter ads, print ads, web banners and extensive on-air cross promotion. Grapevine will also distribute 150 000 promotional Leverage postcards in bars and clubs nationwide.

Govt ministers not listening to their comms specialists

[Chris Moerdyk] Taking an objective and dispassionate look at the communications process that has taken place between Government and its detractors over the Dalai Lama controversy, it has become abundantly clear that cabinet ministers very rarely, if ever, take advice from their media and communications staff. Read more >>

South Africa engineers PR disaster

[Rod Baker] NEWSWATCH: The South African government's decision to deny the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, a visa to visit the country for a peace conference on Friday, 27 March 2009, has backfired. According to various media reports, Government maintained his presence would draw attention away from SA, and our hosting of 2010. Its decision has instead drawn international attention to SA for all the wrong reasons and the conference has been cancelled. Read more >>

Dalai Lama ban has backfired on Government

[Chris Moerdyk] From a pure PR perspective, the Government's refusal to issue a visa to the Dalai Lama has backfired quite spectacularly. But, from a marketing point of view, it is a completely different story. Read more >>

Mabena to manage iGagasi, Heart

Makana Radio Communications has appointed broadcast veteran Bob Mabena as its MD, with iGagasi 99.5 and Heart 104.9 FM under his supervision, it was announced on Friday, 27 March 2009. Mabena last month quit as SABC head of commercial radio stations under a cloud of controversy. Read more >>

Few major changes to 5FM lineup

DJ Rob Vember is riding into a new timeslot on 5FM, taking over the sundowner show weekday evenings 7pm - 10pm from 1 April 2009. Vember, who just cycled the Argus for charity, will also take over the reins of the 5FM Top 40 on Sundays between 10am and 2pm, while Koula will move into the 2pm - 5pm slot on Saturdays and Sundays. Read more >>

Bad Boy T not a Mkhaya

[Tshepiso Seopa] Thomas Msengana aka Bad Boy T will not be joining abo Mkhaya in Newtown, when the new radio season begins next week Wednesday 1 April. Instead... Read more >>

YFM turns up the heat this April...

The countdown to the radio New Year is officially on and YFM - as always - is ringing in the changes with new bold additions to their DJ line up and developments in the programming department. Read more >>

RAB launches new site

The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) South Africa recently launched its new website with the twin aims of engaging the industry interactively and marketing radio in South Africa. The organisation's GM Norman Gibson says the site is a reflection of its previously stated aim of collaborating with the industry across the media, creative and client spheres. Read more >>

Sidney Baloyi to replace Eric Myeni on SAfm?

[Tshepiso Seopa] This week of 23 March 2009 marks the last week of the much-anticipated radio reshuffling period, when programme managers are finalising their lineups of the players who will be taking them into the period ahead. As it is to be expected, most have been very discreet and have played their cards close to their chest. Read more >>

International radio playwriting competition deadline looms

The closing date for the BBC World Service and British Council International Radio Playwriting Competition 2009 is on 31 March 2009. Entries must consist of one-hour radio plays written by anyone living outside the UK. There are two first prizes: for the best play by a writer with English as their first language and for the best play by a writer with English as their second language. The winners will each receive £2500 sterling and a trip to London to see their play being recorded for broadcast on BBC World Service in the World Drama slot. For more, go to www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/indepth/radioplay2008.shtml.

Student Radio Network launches new website

Student Radio Network, a commercial venture aimed at developing campus radio in South Africa, has launched a new website. The website incorporates live audio streaming from 14 local radio stations and student-orientated content. Read more >>

Recruitment agencies should embrace the Internet

Jobs.co.za recently hosted presentations in Cape Town and Johannesburg to share some of the challenges that recruitment companies and recruitment advertising agencies will face in the online space in 2009 and beyond. Read more >>

Profiling casino marketers

Psychometric profiling has received popularity in some television shows in recent years, but Tsogo Sun Gaming has shown how it can be put to practical business effect in the selection of its marketing staff. Read more >>

Rhodes seeks research consultants on media-related issues

The Sol Plaatjie Institute for Media Leadership (SPI) at Rhodes University's School of Journalism and Media Studies is looking for research consultants with an interest in media-related issues in order to expand the impact of its research conducted into media management and leadership. Consultants will undertake research projects independently but under employ of the SPI and will be required to research, design, conduct analysis and, using excellent writing skills, complete reports and proposals - qualitative and quantitative research methods and analysis software experience an added advantage. Send CVs and profiles to Johanna Mavhungu at j.mavhungu@ru.ac.za, as well as any articles written, published and presented.

Big Bay's retail Eden opens

The retail component of Eden on the Bay, a new mixed-use development situated right on Bloubergstrand's Big Bay Beach, opened its doors for the very first time yesterday morning, 26 March 2009. Read more >>

Deadline extended for BASA Awards

The 2009 Business Day-BASA Awards deadline has been extended to 30 April 2009. Entry is open to businesses, and arts organisations that have benefited from relationships with businesses over the past year. For more, go to www.basa.co.za, call the BASA offices on +27 (0)11 832 3042/39 or email info@basa.co.za.

World Cup qualifiers on SuperSport

There's a host of top-class international football currently being shown on SuperSport, as the race to win a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa resumes. There are 25 different qualifiers within a space of six days, including Spain, England, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Germany, Portugal and France. Matches started on Saturday, 28 March 2009, and will continue until Thursday 2 April. Go to www.supersport.co.za/football/channel.aspx?cat=552 for details.

SuperSport will broadcast IPL matches live

SuperSport announced last night, Tuesday 24 March 2009, that it will broadcast all 59 matches of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament live. Read more >>

Launch of site for understanding kids' culture, especially mobile tech

The understanding of their children's culture, and especially technology, is a concern to many parents. BulkSMS.com has launched the Parents Corner website to take away some of the mystery. Read more >>

Jamie McTavish to star in Nigeria's creative powerhouse - Insight Communications

Insight Communications in Nigeria has handed the reins of its creative department to Jamie McTavish, the former creative director of BBDO, Publicis and 303, described as Australia's most successful independent creative agency. Read more >>

King James tops Creative Circle Ad of the Year Awards - King James

King James has emerged as South Africa's most awarded agency at the Creative Circle Ad of the Year awards, winning in both the television and newspaper categories; making it the only agency to win more than one award. Read more >>

Flickr community's photos now distributed by Gallo Images - Gallo Images

The popular user-generated content, online photo site, Flickr, has joined forces with Getty Images in a recent deal with Yahoo! giving creative professionals access to original, authentic and uniquely personal images for commercial use. Read more >>

Annie Leibovitz teams up with Getty Images - Gallo Images

Getty Images has just announced a special multi-assignment collaboration with the internationally renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. Read more >>

Less and more are relative - Rex Creative

[Olivier Schildt] Differentiating your brand against a background of sameness is as much about understanding what's out there as it is about looking inward. Read more >>

Brand Alive lands Group Five - Brand Alive

Brand Alive has been appointed to handle the executive brand leadership and brand champion programmes for top international building, infrastructure and engineering firm, Group Five. Read more >>

Giles Shepherd elected President of the ABF - Brand Alive

Giles Shepherd, managing director of Brand Alive, was inaugurated as President of the ABF at its 40th annual AGM at the Inanda Club in Sandton on 18 March. Read more >>

SA's national branding "a mess, confused" - HKLM

Neither South Africa's government nor its provinces are getting it right when it comes to branding, says expert Gary Harwood of multi-disciplinary marketing services company HKLM. Read more >>

Brand Alive gets a people business ready - Brand Alive

When Requisite Business Solutions - a specialist in operational readiness solutions for the mining industry - approached Brand Alive for a brand analysis and recommendations on its development and expression, a few things soon became apparent. Read more >>

A new state enterprise invests R25 billion to transform the country's public transport system - Brand Leadership

The Department of Transport has expanded the mandate of the South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) to launch a new business that will invest R25 billion in the transformation of the country's public transport system over the next three years. Read more >>

Janko Kotze joins the thinking ahead... team - HKLM

Janko Kotze has been appointed as GM of the HKLM Ignite division at HKLM. Read more >>

Nampak sponsors first Annual National IPSA Packaging Congress - Nampak Products Ltd

The recently held first Annual National IPSA (Institute of Packaging SA) Packaging Congress, held at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg and sponsored by Nampak, attracted a diverse range of industry players. Read more >>

Growth of search engine marketing rises above recessionary market - Acceleration

[Richard Mullins] The growth of search engine marketing is defying an economic slump that has seen marketers cut budgets across the board, writes Richard Mullins, director at Acceleration. Read more >>

SynthaSite announces company rebranding as Yola, Inc. - Yola

SynthaSite has rebranded the company as Yola. The new name, new logo and new company homepage have been unveiled and will be highlighted at the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco. Read more >>

Wunderman SA wins Superbike World Championship pitch - Wunderman

Gauteng Motorsport recently appointed direct, data and digital marketing agency, Wunderman South Africa, to handle the overall communication around the 2009 Superbike World Championship (SBK) event. Read more >>

KREW launches two new sites for Kellogg's! - KREW Interactive

KREW's creative ingenuity is evident yet again with the launch of two new promotional sites for Kellogg's Coco Pops. Read more >>

Zoopy supports Earth Hour 2009 by dimming its website - Zoopy

As people around the globe prepare to switch off their lights during Earth Hour (8:30pm - 9:30pm) on Saturday 28 March 2009, social media community Zoopy has supported the initiative by spreading the message to their users in a novel way. Read more >>

Digital homes soon a SA reality - DigitalLife

The DigitalLife Expo, taking place 27-29 March 09 at the Sandton Convention Centre, will once again feature its fully-integrated Digital Home! One lucky visitor can walk away with the digital contents of the home valued at R250 000! Read more >>

FLUX launches new-look website for GroFin Capital - FLUX

FLUX has designed and delivered a dynamic on-trend website for client GroFin, an international company offering tailored finance and business development assistance to SMEs in emerging markets. Read more >>

South Africa's internet community called to solve Perdeberg Winery's zebra-kidnapping case - World Wide Creative

When Merlot, the famed zebra on every bottle of sumptuous Perdeberg wine, was kidnapped, Riaan Moller, Perdeberg's award-winning winemaker, went to the web for help. This week, there is a new twist in the story, involving new clues and a missing BlackBerry. Read more >>

Clickatell named "Cool Vendor in 2009 " by by leading analyst firm - Clickatell

Clickatell has been included in the list of "Cool Vendors in Mobile and Wireless, 2009” report by Gartner. The listing is designed to highlight interesting, new and innovative vendors, products and services. Read more >>

Unleash the power of your website with Google AdWords - Spirit Interactive

Most individuals, including those working in the web industry, believe Google AdWords to be a sales tool that can be ‘remarkably' easily applied by means of choosing a random number of keywords and hoping for the best! Although this strategy may yield ‘moderately' favourable results, the Google AdWords application offers so much more ‘value' to advertisers in the know. Read more >>

KREW launches a social networking business tool! - KREW Interactive

KREW Interactive is flexing its muscles once again and has launched a fully customisable social networking application a la Facebook! It's packaged and ready for launch internally within your organisation and provides a social networking platform for small to large businesses. Read more >>

It's all in the brief - Greymatter

Speaking at a recent Knowledge Resources Conference on direct marketing in Johannesburg, Craig Townsend, founder and CEO of Greymatter emphasised the importance of understanding a direct brief from clients and to ‘push back', if necessary, to ensure that all building blocks for sound direct strategy planning is in place. Read more >>

Reputation repair - Janine Lazarus Media Consultancy

Janine Lazarus Media Consultancy is offering clients a customised Crisis Communications Training and Reputation Management Plan tailored to your organisation's needs. Read more >>

HeadSpark launches one-on-one writing workshops: pick your date and time - HeadSpark

Inspirational think-tank, HeadSpark, has introduced a learning solution for creative and corporate writers alike that is unmatched in South Africa in terms of choice, flexibility and value for money: one-on-one workshops on the student's choice of date and time, at no extra cost. Read more >>

Toyota Tsusho Centre of Excellence celebrates tomorrow's leaders... - Toyota Tsusho Centre of Excellence (COE)

Toyota Tsusho Centre of Excellence recently participated in the Tomorrow Leaders Convention held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The top performing delegates from our Leadership Development Program in South Africa were selected to attend the convention. Read more >>

New stars at DFG - Don't Forget George

Everyone knows the people with the best people win. But trying to find the best people is never as easy as it sounds. So when you do find a gem, it's time for hardcore celebrations. And that's how DFG feels right now - with the recent arrival of Devlin Brown and Natasha Rademan. Read more >>

Blend proudly assists Red Cross Hospital - Blend Eventlife

Bar and staffing company, Blend Eventlife, is proud to have been chosen to facilitate the Red Cross Children's Hospital's annual art benefit in Cape Town in aid of raising much needed funds for the construction of a new family resource centre. Read more >>

Coca-Cola dome ever popular in 2009 - Coca-Cola dome

Johannesburg's Coca-Cola dome is doing good business despite the economic downswing. Sales and Marketing Manager Grant Medcalf says the dome is proving to be ever popular so far this year, with major events and exhibitions drawing the crowds. Read more >>

New epic stage design from 3D Deco - 3D Deco

Playing with a whole new palette of colours and a completely fresh outlook on design, 3D Deco has manifested a truly unique stage concept and materialised it in the form of Christ Embassy's new permanent setup at their church in Kramerville. Read more >>

Collyer Lessick achieves BBBEE rating - Collyer Lessick & Associates

Collyer Lessick & Associates has achieved a BBBEE rating of Level 2 Contributor after a BEE audit conducted by the National Empowerment Rating Agency of South Africa. Read more >>

Techrig leaves its mark on Profile Awards - Techrig Lighting

For the socially responsible and environmentally aware, the Siemens Profile Awards was recently held at the Monte Casino ballroom to celebrate journalistic excellence in the fields of science and technology. Techrig and its client Collyer Lessick were tasked supplying, coordinating and managing all the technical requirements. Read more >>

"Romance Realised" with Ponds - Collyer Lessick & Associates

Strolling down the pink carpet into the elegance and glamour reminiscent of the heady days of breathless romance, swathed in the delicate touch of pink tulips. This was the setting on arrival at the Four Seasons Golf Club, Festival City, Dubai, for the Ponds “Romance Realised” new face skin care range in the GCC. Read more >>

LiquidChefs turns VI! - LiquidChefs

From humble beginnings in South Africa to a growing franchise in the UK, LiquidChefs has moved from strength to strength. Recently it celebrated six years of operation. Read more >>

Rennie Property Group launches renovated Absa building - ECHO Events and Conferences

The launch of the renovated Absa building was held last month to showcase to invited guests retail space designed and developed by the Patrick Partnership and the Rennie Property Group. Read more >>

2010 ‘own-goal' looms for nervy marketers - Kadoro Events & Communications

Marketing strategists fretful about the downturn are in danger of scoring an ‘own-goal' ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup by putting planning on hold and assuming that specialist service providers will have enough spare capacity to make up for lost time as the big event draws near. The assumption may be flawed, warns Amanda Rogaly, MD of Kadoro Events & Communications. Read more >>

Unashamedly Ethical launch - Imagine Events

Unashamedly Ethical is a campaign promoting values, ethics and clean living amongst all South Africans, including those in business and government. The launch was recently held at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West, and was a gathering of about 350 of the country's leaders in business and politics. Read more >>

Khensy gets nominated for Best Song in Portugal - PURE Communications

Bright new star Khensy has been nominated for Best Song Award for her track, Hiya Kaya, at the upcoming Radio Nova Era Music Awards in Portugal, the equivalent of the Metro FM Awards. Read more >>

Purity - the movie - Don't Forget George

Don't Forget George Events and Productions has never been satisfied with the status quo, with falling into comfort zones. With this in mind they have taken on four new interns and unashamedly dived headfirst into the magical world of animated movies. Read more >>

Impressive success for business matchmaking at Tomorrow's Leaders and the Gauteng Nepad Summit 2009 - Outsmart Marketing

The Opportunity Business Matchmaking Program at the Gauteng Nepad Summit, as well as the Leadership Business Matchmaking Program at Tomorrow's Leaders, has reportedly resulted in highly successful business interactions across both exhibitions. Read more >>

LiquidChefs at the Design Indaba 2009: Yet again, LiquidChefs keeps the creative juices flowing - LiquidChefs

This year's Design Indaba was arguably the best yet - with international design gurus and incredible local talent, the show was sure to not disappoint. LiquidChefs contributed to the show's incredible success in no small measure; in fact, it was a triple! Read more >>

Tony Leon has joined the CSI team! - Conference Speakers International

Tony Leon is now available to give talks on the political situation in South Africa before the elections and after the elections. He is also available for leadership talks. Read more >>

The Siemens Business Matchmaking Program confirmed for Petro.tex 2009 - Outsmart Marketing

Siemens has just confirmed its naming sponsorship of the Business Matchmaking Program at Petro.tex, Watertec & Pumps, Valves and Pipes Africa 2009 exhibition and conference, 9 - 11 June 2009, at Gallagher Convention Centre. Read more >>

Pretoria HOMEMAKERS Expo offers Green Schools project initiative - HOMEMAKERS

The Pretoria HOMEMAKERS Expo, taking place from 4 to 7 June 2009 at the Tshwane Events Centre, offers schools the opportunity to participate in the brand new HOMEMAKERS Green Schools project - an initiative aimed at primary and high schools in Pretoria with its main focus on protecting the environment. Read more >>

TSHWABAC shows good citizenship - Oasys Innovations

In a recent demonstration of good corporate citizenship, TSHWABAC, hosts for the Pretoria Show and many other exhibitions, events and conferences, facilitated the sponsorship of financial support for one of its disabled employees. Read more >>

Brand new website for seventeen's UrbanScouts! - 8 Ink Media

seventeen magazine has relaunched its exclusive website for the title's loyalty programme - UrbanScouts. Read more >>

Green Innovation Award winners announced - 8 Ink Media

Real Simple magazine, in association with Fleur du Cap Wines, has announced the winners of the Real Simple Green Innovation Awards in its April 2009 issue, which went on sale yesterday, Wednesday 25 March. The aim of this initiative is to offer readers achievable solutions to going green in their everyday lives and to applaud green pioneers. Read more >>

MDDA convenes first Media Literacy and Culture of Reading Summit at Alfred Nzo District Municipality - MDDA

The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) is convening a Media Literacy and Culture of Reading Summit on the weekend of Saturday 28 - 29 March 2009 at the Council Chambers, Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Mt Ayliff, in the Eastern Cape. The theme for the summit is “Basic media literacy education - ‘Constructing Views of Reality'”. Read more >>

Traffic news update - Traffic Corporate Media Communications

Traffic has upgraded its transmission services with OmniBus iTX. Working in partnership with Questek Broadcast Technologies, the installation of this unique software-based production, automation and playout system has allowed Traffic to install an initial two-channel configuration of iTX providing its clients with a world-class direct transmission solution. Read more >>

The winners of the 8th annual Metropolitan Oliver Empowerment Awards are... - Top Companies Publishing

The eighth annual Metropolitan Oliver Empowerment Awards (MOEA) ceremony, South Africa's foremost Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) awards initiative, was held recently at Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. Read more >>

The Year of Mobile - mobile marketing comes of age - Multimedia Solutions

The use of mobile technology in marketing and communications has moved from being experimental to mainstream as companies realise the benefits and cost savings provided by using the mobile channel. Read more >>

A look at the finer points of compiling an emarketing strategy - Quirk eMarketing

There is often much debate around what constitutes a solid emarketing strategy. However you go about it, ensuring that your strategy is versatile, consumer orientated and most importantly rewarding is essential to success. Read more >>

Freelancing bucks the economic downturn - Freelancentral

Popular industry freelancer directory Freelancentral has signed up its 4000th member. The site also reports a noticeable increase in interest from clients who are keen to outsource rather than take on permanent staff in a contracting economy. Read more >>

Brandgrow launches new multivariate optimisation/split testing service - Kwantam

Brandgrow Search Marketing, an innovative search marketing agency, has announced the launch of its first-generation conversion optimisation platform called Optim8, which helps online marketers maximise campaign performance by testing and optimising landing pages and other web content for higher conversion rates. Read more >>

Ancestry24 takes St George's Cathedral records online - 24.com

Ancrestry24.co.za, a genealogy and ancestral website, has partnered with the Anglican Church in making the marriage and baptism records of St George's Cathedral in Cape Town accessible online. St George's is reportedly the oldest cathedral in southern Africa and is the mother church of the Anglican diocese of Cape Town. Read more >>

Airport Media's six-pack - Airport Media

Innovatie airport media owner Airport Media has launched The Six Pack located in the new Central Terminal Building at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Read more >>

Foozi Gaming launches unique, interactive advertising platform - Foozi Gaming

Foozi Gaming has launched a fun, exciting, interactive and low-cost advertising solution, Foozi Branded Soccer Tables, to enable marketers and advertisers to garner the attention of the mass youth market ahead of the FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Read more >>

Magnetic Car Roof Pop Right Open or Pop-Up Banner - Right Stuff

Showroom advertising just got a whole lot easier with the introduction of the super-steamlined Magnetic Car Roof Pop Right Open (or Pop-Up). The vehicle price board has finally graduated, and what a fine specimen it has evolved into! Read more >>

Need print quotes instantly? And we mean instantly! - CG Print

What is one of the biggest frustrations the marketing and advertising industries experience when it comes to producing print jobs for their clients? Read more >>

Leigh Ogilvie joins Terraplane - Terraplane

Terraplane is now representing director Leigh Ogilvie. Read more >>

Not just another corporate gift - Clearwater

In breaking with the generally accepted social norms and expectations of corporate gift giving, Clearwater has said no to branded techno-junk. How does a baby elephant sound instead? Read more >>

When the shirt hits the fans - Egg Films

South Africa's not just ready for 2010, we're bloody amped. This is the basic takeout of MetropolitanRepublic's latest commercial for 2010 sponsor MTN. Read more >>

Giant Films' Richard Wall fights fires for Volunteer Wildfire Services - Giant Films

Tired of getting burnt? Giant Films director Richard Wall stepped up to the plate to fight the fires that habitually ravage the Mother City Mountain in his latest spot, ‘Love Story', for Volunteer Wildfire Services. Read more >>

Brendan's School of Jack - Clearwater

Comedy aficionados, it's time to get educated! Comedian, actor and writer Brendan Jack is back in action with his new project, School Of Jack, which came about when Clearwater was tirelessly harassed by Brendan to take a chance on him sharing his ideas and theories with the world. Read more >>

Giant Films' Bruno Bossi shoots new Polo campaign - Giant Films

Bruno Bossi teamed up with Ogilvy Cape Town to produce two quirky spots for Volkswagen Polo. Taking its ridiculously low prices to the streets meant employing some unusual advertising methods. Read more >>

CRF SA showcases SA's BEST Employers 2008/9 at The Star Workplace Expo - CRF South Africa

Branded “Joburg's biggest career drive”, CRF showcased 50 BEST Employers for 2008/9 to the visitors who attended The Star Workplace Expo held last week at the Coca-Cola dome in Johannesburg. Read more >>

Drug addiction, alcoholism, cyberdependence? ...WoW! - Sparkplugs Placement Agency

With SEACOM (a full service provider of international fibre bandwidth along the East Coast of Africa to southern Africa, Europe and Asia) just months away from fruition, we can now look forward to the positive impact it will have on companies and individuals both locally and worldwide. Read more >>

CRF SA launches the BEST Employers online network for HR leaders - CRF South Africa

The objective of the BEST Employers online network is to bridge the gap between human resources (HR) and marketing through inspiring conversations, best practice understanding and knowledge sharing, which promotes and develops the communities of HR best practice. Read more >>

Web audiences ignore adverts - Prompt Research Insights

[Lindiwe Matlali] Internet users do not see the majority of ads on a web page, particularly if they're below the fold - whether the site is a highly trafficked website or a niche blog. Using eye tracking enables advertisers to understand the true value of their ad impressions, which in turn, allows branding campaigns to become more efficient and improve ROI. Read more >>

Todwil launches new point-of-sale technology into South African market - The Todwil Group

Todwil Retail Solutions has launched a new product offering, ENT'ICE, that can incorporate simulated shards of glass and liquid into point-of-sale display material. Brands looking for a point of differentiation can now exhibit their products on a display with the appearance of liquid. Read more >>