When objectives are useless: the role of appreciative inquiry

[Sid Peimer] I was always under the impression that setting objectives (subsequent to discovering them), played a crucial role in the success of the strategic planning process. Once we had the objective, we could then plan to meet it. However, if there was a black mark against our name as planners, it would be this: implementation. Read more >>

New UCT/Unilever study aid to inspire a new generation of marketers

Several thousand business and marketing students studying in South Africa are soon to be inspired and empowered by a new training DVD released by the UCT/Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing. Read more >>

Community radio takes on gender, world cup

[Deborah Walter] The world's media eyes will soon squarely focus on South Africa, with millions from across the globe tuning in via multimillion-dollar broadcasts. Yet even as the international media and big broadcasters move in and journalists descend from all over the world, in SA, like much of Africa, community radio is still a key source of information and news for many communities, linking local activities and issues with international perspectives. Read more >>

Rising entrepreneur scoops lucrative FIFA deal

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The sky is not the limit for emerging black entrepreneur Mandla Sibeko (31), whose lucky star shone at the right time, helping him scoop a multimillion rand FIFA deal to handle the entire look and feel of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Read more >>

Get stuck on World Cup, buy more tickets

This week's edition of Sunday Times (9 May 2010) will carry a free Panini FIFA World Cup sticker album and six free stickers, plus FIFA has released more tickets for matches other than the opening match, first round match of Brazil versus Portugal and the two semi-finals. Read more >>

Cameras keep rolling during Cup

"There was some concern amongst agencies and their clients that it would not be possible to shoot for the duration of the World Cup,” states Commercial Producers Association (CPA) executive officer, Bobby Amm. “However following research into the matter by the CPA we can now confirm that it's business as usual for the commercial production sector and we certainly hope to continue to make commercials during June and July 2010.” Read more >>

Business opportunities at Mary Fitzgerald Square PVA

The Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown will host the City of Johannesburg's Public Viewing Area (PVA) for the World Cup from 11 June to 11 July 2010. The PVA will hire exhibition, retail and food stalls at the event, in varying budget categories, to entertain the anticipated 200 000 visitors who will watch the soccer matches on big screens. Read more >>

South African company wins TCNE area award

Turner Cartoon Network Enterprises (TCNE) has awarded its ‘Agent of the Year' for Europe, Middle East and Africa to its South African representative, Revolution Licensing and Advertising at a recent international conference in London. Read more >>

International M&M Awards calls for entries

LONDON: The M&M Awards 2010 is now open for entry submissions with two new categories, Best Nation / Place Branding Campaign and Best International Communications Strategy added for this year's event. The entry site for awards will open on 26 May; the deadline for submitting all entries is 16 June. Read more >>

Local affiliate of Weber Shandwick wins award

GGi Communications, a local affiliate of Weber Shandwick was recently placed third in the AdReview rankings, adding to the global agency's 144 national and international industry awards, across 12 markets, for work carried out for a range of clients including MasterCard, Microsoft, Unilever, Opel (GM Europe), Pfizer, Yum! Brands (KFC), Goodyear, IKEA, Zain and Royal Bank of Scotland.

AMASA learnership programme invites entries

The 2010 AMASA Learnership Programme (ALP) is open to three talented post-grads to receive a hands-on experience to kick-start their career in media. A key objective of the ALP is to recruit youngsters who might not necessarily have considered a career in media but have the aptitude and potential to become leaders in the industry. Read more >>

Ogilvy & Mather, Scangroup partner in Africa

Ogilvy & Mather and Scangroup have partnered in creating the sub-Saharan African venture, Ogilvy Africa. The partnership is via a share swap transaction, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval. Ogilvy & Mather will exchange its shareholdings in its operations outside South Africa for a combination of Scangroup shares and cash consideration. Read more >>

Y&R MENA CCO appointed Loeries judge

Shahir Zag, chief creative officer at Y&R Middle East & North Africa (MENA) will join the Advertising and Integrated Campaign judging panels for the 2010 Loerie Awards. Read more >>

Graham Warsop to receive NYF lifetime award

On Saturday 12 June 2010, at the New York Festivals 2010 International Advertising Awards in Shanghai, China, Graham Warsop, founder and chief creative officer of the Jupiter Drawing Room will receive the NYF Lifetime Achievement Award, together with Akira Kagami, global executive creative director of Dentsu, Japan. The award recognises prominent industry leaders whose accomplishments and contributions have advanced the field of advertising and made a lasting impression in the advertising world. Read more >>

Godfrey Morley to return to Draftfcb CT

Draftfcb Cape Town announced this morning, Tuesday, 4 May 2010, that it has merged its creative departments to form one multi-disciplinary studio with through-the-line capabilities and that Godfrey Morley is returning as the newly restructured agency's MD on 1 June. Read more >>

kulula.com shakes Daily Star readers

This past weekend, the UK tabloid Daily Star was treated to a visit from Zumo, the white Zulu, an emissary from kulula.com who attempted to enlighten its editorial team as to the country's dangers other than earthquakes. This was complemented by the placement of a public service advertisement in the same 'news' paper, as a direct response to one of its reporters for inciting fear in the minds of its readers, who are soccer fans. Read more >>

Brand museum needs more input

The fledgling Museum of Branding, Advertising and Packaging in South Africa is requesting more donations of old products, adverts and photographs to add to its growing collection. Read more >>

International speaker for Brands & Branding conference

The second Brands & Branding for Good conference takes place on 5-6 October 2010 at Gallagher Estate in Midrand and responsible marketing practice guru, Leslie Pascaud, will return to further inspire the country's brand owners and marketers to ‘buy into' sustainable branding. Read more >>

Opium ads in Museum of Branding, Advertising and Packaging

Affinity Publishing has undertaken to establish the Museum of Branding, Advertising and Packaging and get it functioning on a commercial basis before converting it to not-for-profit organisation. Currently it is showing on the free-to-view website, advertising examples of pharmaceutical products from the late 1800s and early 1900s, which extol the virtues of opium and cocaine. Read more >>

Recession-proof top brands

The 5th Millward Brown Optimor BrandZ Top 100 Most valuable brands, released late last week, indicates that strong brands have proved their resilience to recession, as they are worth over US$2 trillion, showing a 40% growth over five years, 4% over last year and outperforming the stock. Read more >>

Cannes - South African treaty, promotion, business

Minister of Arts and Culture Lulu Xingwana is scheduled to lead a delegation formed by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), in association with the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) and the International Marketing Council (IMC) of South Africa, to the Cannes International Film Festival, 12-23 May 2010. Read more >>

Free ad space for charity

The monthly digimag, Ed., produced for the advertising and marketing industry by New Media Publishing on behalf of Media24 Magazines, is giving ad agencies the chance to get creative while giving back by entering a competition to create a campaign for a pro bono client using R100 000's worth of free advertising space in any Media24 magazine. Entries have already been received from agencies such as Draftfcb. To enter, go to the latest edition of Ed. The winner will be notified directly and announced in the July 2010 issue.

Loeries Communication Design chair appointed

“Greg Quinton's creative wisdom, years of design and judging experience on numerous global juries, and Black D&AD Pencil says it all. We are very privileged to have someone of Greg's calibre on board,” says Gaby de Abreu, founding member of both Switch Design Group and the Brand Design Council, commenting of the confirmation of Quinton as jury chairman of the communication design judging panel for The 2010 Loerie Awards. Read more >>

Pxl_shft kicks off with high demand

Creatives vote through their active participation in inaugural Photoshop series. Read more >>

Tips on choosing digital partners

[Graeme Lipschitz] The South African Internet user base grew by 15% last year, from 4.6 million to 5.3 million, and is expected to grow at a similar rate in 2010. With this in mind, having a successful online presence is essential to your business's continued growth and for this to happen, your business should partner with a digital marketing specialist. But which one? Read more >>

Neo@Ogilvy launches SA operations

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Neo@Ogilvy, a division of Ogilvy Worldwide providing clients with a range of digital and direct marketing planning and buying, is launching operations in South Africa next week in Cape Town, Bizcommunity.com was told yesterday, Thursday, 6 May 2010. Matias Alpert, CEO of Neo@Ogilvy in charge of Europe, Africa and Middle East operations, is in the country to initiate and oversee the launch. Read more >>

News sites go after critical mass, ad model still elusive

[Gill Moodie: @grubstreetZA] The announcement last week by News24 that in April it hit the two million mark for South African unique users is no small potatoes. When you consider that the South African internet audience is estimated to be between five and 6.5 million, it means that Naspers's News24 has certainly got the recipe right for general news websites in this country. Read more >>

Interactive touch screen kiosks: what lies beneath

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Using an interactive touch screen kiosk can be a fast, helpful, integrated and informative experience, Frank Nunan of the Kiosk Shop, told delegates currently attending the JusTTouchIT two-day conference in Midrand, Johannesburg. Read more >>

LSM introductory seminar offers free CD

SAARF will present an introductory three-hour Living Standards Measure (LSM) workshop in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban that will introduce participants to the history, development, updating of segmentation and its LSM tools, including SAARF MGMs, Lifestyles, Lifestages and Attitude Groups. Read more >>

Communication is not a ‘soft issue'

[Daniel Munslow] Communication has long been seen as ‘the nice to have', something that can be done irrespective of experience and strategic insight. But times are changing fast, and companies the world over have realised the significant power of the intangible asset - namely, your brand; as well as the importance of aligning stakeholder engagement to the code of good corporate governance - the new King Report III. Read more >>

PR-Net features Dan Pinch at Cape Town meeting

The May meeting of the Cape Town PR-Net Peer Network will be held on 25 May 2010 from 5.30-7.30pm at the Cullinan Hotel at the Waterfront and will feature Dan Pinch, creative director at Atmosphere, on social media learning from the agency's campaigns for kulula, Steri Stumpie, KWV and ghd amongst others. This will include using Facebook and Twitter as a PR and storytelling tool, engaging bloggers, integrating social media with other marketing/PR activity and how to develop creative ideas for social media. Cost is R100 per person.

Citizen journalism in Alexandra, Khayelitsha

As part of the Siyakhona project, Hillside Digital - a South African public benefit media development organisation - has created two community production units for citizen journalism in Alexandra and Khayelitsha. Read more >>

SA to wow world at Shanghai expo

South Africa has opened its pavilion at the World Expo in the Chinese city of Shanghai - which offers an opportunity for the country to showcase its technologies, products and companies internationally. Read more >>

Loeries Travelling Exhibition visits Botswana

The Loeries Travelling Exhibition, sponsored by Adobe, is taking a detour from its journey around South Africa to make a stop in Gabarone, Botswana from 10 - 14 May 2010, at the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. Both Adobe and the Loeries will be offering complimentary Adobe workshops at the various destinations around the region. Read more >>

Health journalism award winners

The second Discovery Health Journalism Awards, held on Thursday 6 May 2010 in Johannesburg, announced that Anna-Maria Lombard of Health-e News Service was the Health Journalist of the Year, for her stories ‘Dora Nginza and Price of Denial' produced for Carte Blanche, M-NET and Third Degree, e-TV respectively. She received a prize of R75 000. Read more >>

Has SABC's Kwele helped 'Cooke' up OTT rental deal?

NEWSWATCH: Only months ago the national broadcaster had its hands out for a handout, but now it appears that their head of Project 2010, Peter Kwele, could have facilitated a deal to pay World Travel Awards, whose president is Graham Cooke, an exorbitant rent for some studio space during the World Cup, reports Mail & Guardian. Meanwhile, not playing adverts during their shows seems to be costing Jozi FM DJs dearly, reports IOL. Read more >>

Special Investigative Unit at SABC

Following on the report of the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) to Parliament in 2009 on alleged governance transgressions and weaknesses at the SABC, of a team of specialists from the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) arrived at the SABC yesterday, stated SABC Board chairperson, Dr Ben Ngubane who said the unit's involvement is at the invitation of the board. Read more >>

Public hearings on media ownership

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) three-day public discussions on ‘Ownership and Control for Broadcasting services, Electronic Communications Services and Electronic Communications Network Services' will be held at on 5-7 May 2010 at Block C Presentation Room, Pinmill Farm, 164 Katherine Street, Sandown, Sandton, Johannesburg, from 8.30am to 5pm daily. All interested parties may attend. Read more >>

Highway Africa 2010 registration open

Registration has officially opened for the 14th annual Highway Africa Conference. Taking place at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, 5 - 7 July 2010, the conference is the world's largest gathering of African journalists. This year's theme is 'African voices in the global media space'. Read more >>

MXit has football content supplier

US-based Cole Solutions has given MXit users seamless access to football content through its SMSStreamer.mobi service, which generated more than 300 000 hits in the first month after it went live. It covers real-time major football events from around the world, including the English, French, Spanish and Italian Premier Leagues and will offer full coverage of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. The company has committed itself to responsible mobile practices in the South African market and recently became an affiliate member of the Wireless Application Service Provider Association of SA (WASPA).

Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards recognise country's skills

The ninth annual awards ceremony of Mondi Shanduka Newsprint and the Newspaper Association of South Africa held at Soccer City in Johannesburg earlier this week demonstrated that the power of the printed media is still excellent in South Africa. Read more >>

WAN-IFRA congress offers digital perspective

The WAN-IFRA congress, taking place in Beirut, Lebanon, from 7-10 June 2010, will review the impact of the digital revolution on the long-standing media business model in the US over the last few years. It takes place alongside the World Editors Forum and Info Services Expo 2010. Read more >>

Correction: Peter Ong's previous newspaper redesign credits

The “New-look City Press on the streets” story, which we lifted on Monday, 3 May 2010, from The Daily Maverick, incorrectly stated that Peter Ong was involved with the overhauling of the New Strait Times and the Sydney Morning Herald. For more on the City Press's "new technicolour dreamcoat", read the newspaper's editorial A fresh new look for old City Press values, which includes a gallery; Peter Ong's blog post City Press redesign launches today; and The Daily Maverick's followup story, Cautious thumbs up for the new-look City Press.

Idea withstands weathering

click to enlarge

The new Allan Gray billboard, flighted on a Continental Outdoor Super Sign in Cape Town, has an untreated sheet metal for the background, paired with a brushed, stainless steel for the lettering promoting the client's philosophy of long-term thinking. Conceptualized by King James, the back of the board rusts in the Cape Town weather while the lettering remains rustproof, shiny and pristine, illustrating the point that if you think long term, you can be prepared for it.

Mall advertising promotes giant jersey signing campaign

To promote the bringing of the adidas sponsored giant Bafana Bafana World Cup jersey for the public to sign, Primall Media will raise awareness of the Unite Mzansi Unite campaign until the end of May 2010 throughout the relevant shopping malls. Read more >>

Mirroring the movies

TLC's Mirror Media will be used to advertise four of Ster-Kinekor's latest releases for Cinema Nouveau in a washroom campaign to generate excitement and demand for the upcoming titles of Away We Go, The Cove, Bright Star and Last Station. Read more >>

Film studio uses environmental consultants

Cape Town Film Studios, currently being built outside Cape Town, is implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS), which will be aligned with ISO 14000 standards and be fully functional when the studio opens in October 2010. It has brought Chand Environmental Consultants on board to assist in ensuring the long-term sustainability of its facility. To assist in its efficiency, it uses an Environmental Operating System, software developed by Chand, Mega and Intelligent Artefacts.

Standard Bank tops reputation stakes among listed companies

Banking giant Standard Bank has emerged with the best reputation among South Africa's ten largest listed companies in 2010, according to the 2010 Reputation Pulse survey conducted by the internationally respected Reputation Institute. Read more >>

Interview with Lolly Jackson

This Sunday, 9 May 2010, The Grill with the late Lolly Jackson, King of Tease will be aired on Point of View on OFM between 11am and 1pm. Randall Abrahams and Angela Guastella interviewed Jackson two weeks ago and this interview, reportedly the last one he did, will also be accessible directly after the show on Point of View's new interactive platform www.pov.fm, which launches this Friday 7 May 2010.

Sex therapist on the air

Dr. Eve, an internationally accredited couple and sex therapist will feature on Gagasi 99.5 in KwaZulu-Natal every Wednesday on Trevor Phillips' show from 8-9pm, starting from 5 May 2010 and run jointly on-air with Gagasi 99.5's sister station based in Cape Town, Heart 104.9FM. She has been involved with radio for the past 15 years and listeners from both stations will get the chance to call in and raise issues that they face daily in their relationships.

SABC confirms Lotus fm station manager

Alvin Pillay, who has been the acting station manager for Lotus fm, has been appointed in his position as station manager for Lotus fm with effect from 1 May 2010 by the Public Broadcast Service (PBS) Radio management, which commits its support to Pillay. Read more >>

Clever intern turns to Hitler

[Nur Bremmen] An enterprising would-be intern has created (yet another) hilarious parody of the popular Adolf Hitler video clip to boost his chances of securing an internship at a well-known local Cape Town-based web agency. [video] Read more >>

Packaging to feature at Africa's Big Seven

Africa's Big Seven (AB7), reportedly the biggest dedicated food and beverage trade expo in Africa, will feature eco-trendy packaging at FoodTech Africa, the production, processing and packaging component of the show, taking place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, 25-27 July 2010. Read more >>

Retail under pressure, self-service to the rescue?

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] As the global economy recovers from a severe crisis since the 1930's US Great Depression, it is forecast that retail sales worldwide will grow from US$63.28 billion (about R482 billion) in 2009 to about US$101.50 billion (about R775 billion) in 2014. And South Africa's spending has in the past year or so increased by 23%, partly buoyed by the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Read more >>

Interactive kiosks enhance in-store shopping experience

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Interactive kiosks improve customer satisfaction, promote green, reinforce brand image, minimise customer interaction with personnel and therefore avoid queues and extended waiting time, Norma Wolcott, IBM business line executive of self-service products, said yesterday, Tuesday 4 May 2010, from Virginia, US. Read more >>

Neuroeconomics to improve sales performance

Neuroeconomics, which combines neuroscience, psychology, economics and coaching to develop a unique approach to sales and sales team management, will form the core of a new Proactive Selling course to be launched in August this year, by the UCT Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB). Read more >>

Deadline looms for Business Day BASA Awards

The deadline for entries into the 13th Annual Business Day BASA Awards, supported by Anglo American, is 21 May 2010. This year's awards, which honour sponsors of the arts, have 12 categories with nine of these open for general entry. Read more >>

Digital TV distress

[Duncan McLeod] Communications department director-general Mamodupi Mohlala has made it clear: South Africa may reverse an agreement with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to adopt the digital video broadcasting (DVB-T) standard for terrestrial television. SA and other countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) agreed in 2006 that they would implement DVB-T as they switched away from analogue terrestrial broadcasts. Read more >>

Great leap ahead for TV on demand

[Chris Moerdyk] Multichoice has given subscribers to its HD-PVR service something that all of them having praying for ever since the launch of personal video recording in this country. New software downloaded to HD-PVR owners this week has made it possible for the first time for viewers to record an entire TV series at the push of a single button. Read more >>

3rd Degree reviews past decade

This Tuesday, 11 May 2010, the multi-award winning show 3rd Degree looks back at ten years of chasing con artists down narrow passageways, catching scam artists and crooks red-handed and holding the powerful to account. Read more >>

NakedNews outrages FPB

The film and Publication Board (FPB) is ‘outraged' over plans by NakedNews to charge a weekly subscription fee of only R10; the board says it widens the risk of premature exposure of children to adult content. Read more >>

Super 5 Media to launch pay-TV service on 1 June

[Duncan McLeod] Amid all the noise and fanfare surrounding On Digital Media's launch last week of TopTV, another new pay-TV licensee, Super 5 Media, is quietly gearing up to launch services to South African consumers on 1 June 2010. Read more >>

SA sells series at MIPTV

Ben Silverman, executive producer of Ugly Betty, The Office and The Biggest Loser, purchased the rights to the South African reality TV format Thumb Wars for the US from SA brands agency Stimulii at MIPTV in Cannes recently. It will be co-produced in the US by Silverman's new company Electus and Engine Entertainment. Read more >>

"Our customers are too lazy to read" and other misconceptions about plain language - Simplified

[Frances Gordon] Here are three objections to plain language that I've come across in marketing departments. I'll give a response to each one. Read more >>

The potency of the perfect brew - Blue Moon

A tall, double espresso with wings. Sounds a lot like a Starbucks' coffee call. With a little imagination it could also be the order of the day for managerial skills, although not exactly the job description one would expect to find in the classifieds. Read more >>

Using corporate gifts as part of your marketing strategy - Blue Lemon

The value of branded gifts goes deeper than just communicating with clients. Corporate gifts are an important part of cementing the relationship between a brand, the company and the team of people that come together to make a brand a success. Read more >>

Lexus punches hole into high-performance market with Draftfcb TVC - Draftfcb (South Africa)

In a moment reminiscent of the movie, The Right Stuff, the Lexus IS-F has ‘punched a hole' into the high-performance sedan market with the launch of a television commercial developed by Draftfcb Johannesburg and produced by Velocity Films. Read more >>

Ads24 lead with campaign to encourage advertising in Afrikaans - Mortimer Harvey

Ads24 has launched a national advertising campaign to encourage marketers in South Africa to use Afrikaans as a medium to speak to the hearts and minds of a market that has a healthy disposable income and therefore boasts great spending power. Read more >>

Marketing food? Top six tips on how to do this right - Artifact Advertising

[Sandy Smith] Artifact has been specialising in a wide variety of designs involving food for over 14 years. Working with Maxi's, Scooters Pizza Hot Dog Café, Dulce Cafe and Wimpy, they have developed some golden rules for anybody looking to do food and menu design. Read more >>

Globecreative brands The Men Show - Globecreative Advertising & Design

Globecreative has been appointed by xCo Events & Exhibitions to manage the advertising and brand design portfolio for The Men Show. Planned for both Cape Town and Johannesburg in 2010 and 2011 respectively, The Men Show will be the first male-orientated expo in South Africa showcasing a wide range of products and services. Read more >>

Gullan&Gullan ad war - Gullan&Gullan

Gullan&Gullan Advertising ruffled a few feathers with a recent print campaign for Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel. Read more >>

Another Clio for Egg in Cinematography... - Egg Films

Audi ‘Flipbook', directed by Kim Geldenhys and conceptualised by Ogilvy Johannesburg, has been shortlisted in Cinematography for the 2010 Clio Awards. With Paul Gilpen as the Director of Photography, the commercial is one of only three South African commercials to make the technique shortlist. Read more >>

Africa's first Brand Investment Index launched: Who's hot, who's not, and why not - Interbrand Sampson

Africa investor (Ai) and Interbrand-Sampson's first African Brand Investment Index provides invaluable evidence about how countries are perceived as investment destinations by the global investment community. Read more >>

Innovative branding mirrors organisational innovation from leading multi-manager - HKLM

Defying convention, Investment Solution's new identity and brand positioning which was developed by brand specialists, HKLM, includes a distinctive new logo and new livery but omits a tag-line. That's been left up to the investment company's stakeholders to develop. Read more >>

Hawk pull-up banner special (while stocks last) - Display Mania

In a joint venture with Hawk Displays, Display Mania has recently launched the new HawkMania pull-up banner system. Read more >>

Politics or branding - character wins the vote - Added Value

In the UK, political leaders are battling to establish their brand characters to win the people's vote as the British public go to the polls today. This is one of the most hotly contested elections as the usual Labour vs. Conservative Party fight is being challenged by the rising star of Nick Clegg and his Liberal Democrats party. Read more >>

Beyond the brand - Interbrand Sampson

A new lease of life for long established thought leader Jeremy Sampson's thinking characteristically extends beyond expectations. In 1973 - when he first started his company, Jeremy Sampson Associates - it was known as the “thinking man's design company”. Read more >>

Come on, Cape Town! - The Brand Union

[Gary Bryant] Just as I was basking in the glow of what the country can achieve, I ran into some of the Cape Town tourism wall posters and was floored by the total lack of thought and due diligence that went into the campaign! Read more >>

Brand Alive launches Brandfootprint - Brand Alive

[Craig Rode] As much as brands shout about how environmentally responsible they are, what about the other critical pillars of good brand behaviour? What about their impacts on societies, communities and economies? Carbon footprint is but one aspect - Brandfootprint is the whole dimension. Read more >>

Joe Public and Tracker improve Forte High School in Soweto - Joe Public

Rock4AIDS, Joe Public's CSI initiative, is making inroads in providing its adopted school, Forte High, with improved facilities and infrastructure. The organisation's most recent project is to provide the school with much-needed basketball and tennis courts. Read more >>

PSFA launches new menus - Peninsula School Feeding Association

More than 233 000 children across the Western Cape receive their main meal of the day at school, thanks to Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) and the Department of Education. Now the menus will be changing from a mostly soya content to a cooked meal five days a week that includes lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Read more >>

Design and animation scholarships up for grabs - The Open Window

Are you young, creative and ambitious and want to make your mark as a designer, multimedia artist, illustrator, animator, photographer, filmmaker or game designer? The Open Window awards several scholarships to artistic learners who want to pursue a career in the creative fields. Read more >>

Coricraft expands with online store and more - Virtuosa

One of Virtuosa's long-standing clients, Coricraft, has recently extended their website to include a brand-new Careers Portal. Read more >>

Social media needs a business focus - Popimedia

With social media network Facebook out-pacing Google statistically in March this year, the need for solid social media strategy development couldn't be more in demand. Popimedia Innovations now provides social media strategy development to brands and companies trying to optimise their business for social media. Read more >>

How do you manage your social media marketing? - Gullan&Gullan

[Desirée Gullan] The argument for social media as a highly effective marketing tool is not new and I'm certain I don't need to waste energy or bandwidth defending it. The prediction that Facebook will be the most dominant online property of the 20-teens - even more pervasive than Google - should tip you over the edge, if you're still pessimistic. Read more >>

HelloComputer is king of digital game build - HelloComputer

Digital marketing agency, HelloComputer (in collaboration with Metropolitan Republic), has been awarded an Official Honoree in the games category at the 14th Annual Webby Awards, for its work on the 2009 Loeries Feed Your Ego campaign. Read more >>

Opsview sees growing demand from managed application, hosting and cloud service providers - ReportStar

ReportStar will be using Opsview Enterprise edition to offer enhanced network and application performance solutions to its customers and monitor its internal IT infrastructures. Read more >>

Facebook's Like button ages Google overnight - Britefire

Facebook's decision to change the “Fan” button to a “Like” button, and to roll out the capability of placing these buttons on ordinary non-Facebook web pages, has instantly transformed the web. In the process, it has left Google's search looking very vulnerable. Read more >>

On the Dot is awarded GCIS tender - On the Dot

On the Dot, a media logistics company, has been appointed as the service provider for the distribution of Government Communication and Information System products. Read more >>

Last-minute special for Simplified plain language workshop - Simplified

A two-day workshop on 12 and 13 May will give you the skills you need to write documents in plain language, according to the requirements of the Consumer Protection Act and other relevant legislation. Read more >>

New UCT/Unilever study aid to inspire a new generation of marketers - UCT Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing

Several thousand business and marketing students are soon to be inspired and empowered by a new training DVD released by the UCT/Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing. Thirty well-known marketers are interviewed on the DVD which unpacks central marketing concepts such as brand equity, brand loyalty and brand building. Read more >>

CPMD hosts open day - CPMD

CPMD, with over 20 years experience in education and training, will be hosting an open day on Saturday, 29 May 2010, from 9am to 2pm. Join them for tea or coffee throughout the day and find out more about what they can recommend specifically for you. Read more >>

Bookings open for exciting new CPMD programme - CPMD

Booking has opened for the five-day programme: ‘Managing Stress in the Workplace to Achieve Personal Mastery', commencing on 24 and 25 May 2010. Read more >>

Oasys favourite again - Oasys Innovations

Oasys Innovations has been presented with the Technical Production Services Association's (TPSA) “Favourite Marquee Rental Company” award for 2009. This is the second consecutive year that Oasys has won this title. Read more >>

Tips for holiday makers at World Holiday and Travel Fair - Oasys Innovations

With growing travel costs and a constant increase in tourists it is becoming more and more important to do comprehensive research and planning before undertaking an excursion. This was the focus of the recent World Holiday and Travel Fair (WHTF), held at the Coca-Cola dome, 16-18 April 2010. Read more >>

Eventworx hosts third annual sales conference for MWEB - Eventworx

Recently, event architects Eventworx hosted MWEB's annual sales conference for the third consecutive year. Held at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel, the programme produced hardworking sessions and moments of great comedy and camaraderie leaving the MWEB team refreshed and ready for a busy year. Read more >>

Strike Productions named technical supply company for 60th FIFA Congress 2010 - Strike Productions

Strike Productions has been appointed as the technical supply company for the 60th annual FIFA Congress. The high profile event will take place on 9 and 10 June at the Sandton Convention Centre and Gallagher Estate, and will be attended by leading delegates from FIFA, international football associations, government, and the media. Read more >>

Engaging events are key to brand engagement - Kadoro Events & Communications

Experiential marketing is driven by involvement and engagement; not only between brand and consumer, but between brand and event management professionals. The perspective comes from Amanda Rogaly, owner of Kadoro Events & Communications, one of South Africa's foremost event management and brand activation companies. Read more >>

Sound Media's Paul Almeida celebrates eleventh SAMA Awards - Sound Media

Paul Almeida, seasoned music producer and Managing Member of The Sound Media Group, has once again been involved in the judging process of the SAMA awards, South Africa's top music industry event. Read more >>

Global Icons and Cool Britannia launch the World Cup Party to end all parties! - Global Icons

Global Icons of Cape Town, and Cool Britannia, the UK-based international events company with a decade of experience in organising events for the travelling football faithful, will be working together to turn the Cape Town International Convention Centre into Africa's biggest football party from 11 June to 12 July 2010. Read more >>

e.tv once again proud broadcast partner of The Baby Expo - The Baby Expo - MamaMagic

Once again in 2010 e.tv will be joining hands with The Baby Expo. The partnership will not only see e.tv running promotions for The Baby Expo through its parenting show, Great Expectations, but also setting up a Great Expectations studio at the show. Read more >>

Business opportunities at City of Johannesburg's 2010 World Cup Public Viewing Area - Scan Display

From 11 June to 11 July 2010 more than 200,000 visitors will watch World Cup matches on big screens at the City of Johannesburg's Public Viewing Area (PVA). The PVA will provide businesses with a rare marketing opportunity, allowing them to engage with the spectators by hiring exhibition, retail and food stalls at the event. Read more >>

3D Deco and 3D Dome manifest geodesic fabric architecture - 3D Deco

Coming to the South African events market is the 3D Dome, powered by Pacific Domes. Combining the sacred geometry of R. Buckminster Fuller with 3D Dome's progressively designed covers has given birth to this futuristic and synergetic structure. Read more >>

SA Tourism appoints Scan On Show - Scan Display

South African Tourism has appointed Scan On Show to manage their business tourism exhibitions. After an extensive tender process, Scan On Show was selected for the exhibition management of Meetings Africa - ‘Africa's business tourism lekgotla' - and the national pavilion at IMEX in Frankfurt. Read more >>

The Baby Expo helps the SPCA - The Baby Expo - MamaMagic

At The Baby Expo families are the focus and no family is really complete without a four-legged friend. To remind us of this and to aid in the wonderful work they do, the SPCA Randburg will be at The Baby Expo selling doggie balloons in all shapes and sizes and giving out brochures about the animal welfare work they do. Read more >>

Women's Health launches its Popup Studio concept - Women's Health

Women's Health, published by Touchline Media, is launching its latest brand extension, the Women's Health Popup Studio. The purpose of the concept is to present free and accessible healthy lifestyle workshops. Read more >>

Thought24 crowned the largest publisher by readers of women's general interest titles - Thought24

The latest AMPS 2009AB results show that Thought24, publisher of TRUE LOVE, Move!, Move! Best Parent, and Real magazines, is the largest publisher of women's general interest titles in South Africa, with a total readership of over 6.1 million per month. Read more >>

Media Literacy and Culture of Reading Summit - MDDA

The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) convened a Media Literacy and Culture of Reading Summit on 26-27 March 2010 at Mafikeng in the North West in an attempt to support initiatives that promote literacy and a culture of reading amongst diminished language groups and inadequately served communities. Read more >>

MIO launches mobi site - Prefix Technologies

Music Industry Online has expanded its reach and accessibility with the launch of its mobi site. The mobi site, developed by Prefix Technologies, features an interface that is easily accessible using a basic cellphone with WAP, and comes with a variety of content modified for cellphones. Read more >>

Trudon mobile SMS scam - Trudon

A scam SMS message has been doing the rounds congratulating recipients that they have won R100 000 from Trudon Mobile. Trudon advises anyone who receives such an SMS not to respond to it. Read more >>

Die Burger to launch brand new competition in May - Die Burger

Buy Die Burger newspaper on Monday, 10 May, and stand the chance to win R1 million, a boat trip for the family, Vuka scooters and cash prizes in the Blits game (Blitsspel). Read more >>

Social media and real-time search - two worlds that are converging - Acceleration Media

[Diane Charton] Last month, Google added a new capability to the Google South Africa search engine: the option for users to search for real-time social media content from across the Web. With that move, two worlds that many online marketers still treat as separate environments suddenly converge into one space. Read more >>

Usability and content are paramount as more and more users flock to iafrica.com - Primedia Online

iafrica.com has recently experienced a substantial increase in daily unique users and page impressions. According to Nikki Cockcroft, CEO of Primedia Online, the increase in daily unique browsers is testament to the efforts of recently appointed Portal Manager, Bridget Pringle, and a slick and rewarding user experience. Read more >>

Turning data into rands with online measurement - Acceleration Media

[Diane Charton] All too often, marketers make the mistake of measuring for the sake of measuring, or measuring the wrong metrics. Companies that want to make the most of the tools available to track and measure their online campaigns, should first think about what they are measuring and why. Read more >>

JD Consulting are proud to announce the launch of the new L&D Contracting website - JD Internet Consulting

JD Consulting recently launched a new website for L&D Contracting. Since 1996 L&D Contracting have been manufacturing steel structures our core focus being billboards and advertising structures. Read more >>

Draftfcb Johannesburg takes Auris X online - Draftfcb (South Africa)

Draftfcb Johannesburg has developed a comprehensive online strategy for the sporty new Toyota Auris X range that is certain to attract the attention of its prime target market - young, adventurous and digital savvy South Africans. Read more >>

The Marketing Kraal celebrates three years of brand building for its clients - The Marketing Kraal

The Marketing Kraal entered the competitive and cutting-edge “out-of-home” advertising industry in May 2007 with one client on its books. Today, the company is proud to have worked with blue chip clients like e.tv, Cell C, Telkom, National Lottery, Eskom, Johannesburg Water, Media 24 and Metro FM. Read more >>

McDonalds doubles up with 2010 FIFA World Cup Mini Cab campaign - Graffiti

Following the success of its recent 24/7 Mini Cab advertising campaign, McDonalds SA is of the opinion that the Mini Cab advertising medium might just be the best way to capture the attention of visiting 2010 FIFA World Cup fans! Read more >>

Greg Gray scores two finalists at Clio's - Velocity

Velocity Director, Greg Gray has been listed amongst this year's Clio Finalists in the Television category. Read more >>

The Sound Media Group and Loaded cause sudden healthy outbursts across SA - Sound Media

The Sound Contact, a division of The Sound Media Group, has further strengthened ties with foods and beverage distributor JMC by running national activations for their 100% natural superfood smoothie brand, Loaded. Read more >>

Ngage appoints experienced news journalist - Ngage Public Relations

Johannesburg-based industry communication specialist, Ngage Public Relations, has appointed Michael Greenshields as writer. Michael is an experienced journalist and boasts more than three years experience as a reporter for a UK-based newspaper, where he covered business, health, crime and politics, to name a few. Read more >>

Potent communication cut-through with SnapComms Desktop Alerts - Kezi Communications

Have you ever felt like sending an e-mail is too much effort and a huge risk to take, as history has repeatedly proven to you that nine out of ten of your colleagues would probably not even “receive” the e-mail, let alone read it? There are particular characteristics of the SnapComms Desktop Alerts that will make your life easier. Read more >>

SA's Radio Station of the Year chosen - The Future Group

After days of intense deliberation, judges in the inaugural MTN Radio Awards have finally made their choice and South Africa's radio station of the year will be announced at a prestigious function in Johannesburg on Saturday, May 15. Read more >>

Jacaranda 94.2 grows bilingual reach in Gauteng - Jacaranda 94.2

The latest SAARF RAMS Diary (2010/2) shows a diary-on-diary increase from 6.4% to 6.7% in Jacaranda 94.2's Gauteng market share. This is coupled with a substantial increase from 23.3% to 26.9% in Jacaranda's Afrikaans home language market share, while maintaining a healthy 5.7% of English home language listeners in the province. Read more >>

Two thirds of South Africans are not coping in the current economy - Interact RDT

The economic outlook according to more than half of South African consumers is optimistic, yet 62% say they are not coping or only just surviving in the current economic climate. This is according to a recent survey conducted by Interact RDT. Read more >>

SAMRA accreditation drive to further lift research standards - SAMRA

The Southern African Marketing Association (SAMRA) has, during recent months, embarked on an accreditation programme for researchers in South Africa to help set the pace for, and, longer term, lift standards of practice in the industry. Read more >>

Reach soccer fans with Bafana Bafana - MEGAPRO Marketing

With less than 30 days to the 2010 FIFA World Cup kick-off Bafana Bafana will enter the final phase of preparations with a series of four home friendly matches against Thailand, Bulgaria, Colombia, and Denmark. This offers a great opportunity for brands to connect with fans and customers. Read more >>

Big Concerts signs MEGAPRO Marketing - MEGAPRO Marketing

Big Concerts, with over 18 years experience in the South African live entertainment market, has signed MEGAPRO Marketing in an exclusive three-year deal. MEGAPRO will now offer premium entertainment opportunities in addition to the array of top sports sponsorship and advertising properties in which they've traditionally specialised. Read more >>

EA's 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa in stores throughout South Africa - MSCSPORTS

Electronic Arts has announced that the EA SPORTS 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa video game will be in stores on 7 May throughout South Africa with eight new celebrations for the PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system. Read more >>