AFRICA

WAN-IFRA calls for press freedom in Africa

The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has called on African nations to immediately abolish criminal defamation and "insult" laws that are widely used to silence criticism and intimidate free reporting across the continent. Read more >>

AFRICA

Twitter co-founder steps down as CEO

SAN FRANCISCO: Twitter co-founder Evan Williams announced on Monday (4 October 2010) he was stepping down as chief executive of the hot micro-blogging service so he could focus on product strategy. Read more >>

NIGERIA

Abuja Twitterers chronicle #Nigeriaat50 bomb explosions

[Mohamed Keita] A few minutes before deadly explosions ripped through Nigeria's 50th Independence Day celebration in Abuja on Saturday, Twitter user Achonu Stanley wondered about darkening skies over the festivities: "Would the day be marred by rain? It has become cloudy and dark. Sorry for the thousands of people at Eagle Square." Read more >>

AFRICA

MISA Zim mobilises public for broadcasting reforms

[Dumisani Ndlela] The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe is mobilising public support for its campaign for the liberalisation of the country's airwaves, which still remain under the grip of the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH). Read more >>

AFRICA

Is SMSing making your child stupid?

[Peter Streicheris] SMS language or 'textspeak' is taking a lot of flack for the general misuse of the English language today - both in spelling and grammar. But is it all negative? Parents and teachers have been blaming cellphones and SMSes for a 'degradation in the English language' for years now, and they feel this technology is standing in the way of children learning proper English. Read more >>

AFRICA

Under the influence of the social web

[Rob Dickens] Social networking is the Web 2.0 darling. It's hard to imagine that Facebook didn't exist just six years ago and Twitter only four. Not to mention that Facebook founder, 26-year-old Mark Zuckerberg, recently surpassed Apple's Steve Jobs as well as media mogul Rupert Murdoch on the Forbes US rich list. Worth an estimated US$6.9bn (£4.4bn) Zuckerberg is estimated to be the 35th richest person in the US. Read more >>

MOROCCO

Online radio training in Rabat

RABAT: Twelve teachers and technicians from the Audiovisual Department of the Higher Institute of Information and Communication (ISIC) in Rabat, Morocco have started a one-week course on online radio as the development of internet news, including online TV and radio, has impacted the traditional ways of news consumption. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

SA hosts launch of 2010 WSS Report

For the first time, South Africa will host the launch of the World Social Science Report (WSSR) at the fourth Annual Leadership Retreat in Kleinmond, near Cape Town, on Monday, 11 October 2010. The WSSR addresses the world's inequalities and how different nations, states and continents have different resources at their disposal for development. Read more >>

ZAMBIA

Zambia links with diaspora via online survey

LUSAKA: An online survey developed by IOM and Zambia's Office of Diaspora Affairs (ODA) will be carried out to gather up-to-date information on the readiness of Zambians abroad to invest some of their savings, skills and resources in the development of their country. Read more >>

SOUTHERN AFRICA

Calls to end Zim sanctions

PRETORIA: South Africa and Botswana have reiterated their call for sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe by Europe and America to be lifted with immediate effect. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

YoungGuns' names world's top 10 young creatives

NEW YORK, US: In the final ranking to be released to mark 10 years of the YoungGuns, the Top 10 young Creatives of the Decade have been announced, with creative geniuses from the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand dominating the list. Read more >>

AUSTRALIA

Cosmo Oz launches interactive issue

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: The October issue of Australia's COSMOPOLITAN springs into life with 'Snap It' - claimed to be a first-in-market interactive opportunity that brings readers closer to the magazine's content than ever before and aims to extend the COSMO experience. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

The importance of advertising creative in building brand sales

RESTON, US: comScore, Inc. yesterday, 4 October 2010, released findings from comScore ARS research indicating the importance of sound strategy and strong creative elements in driving effective campaign execution for TV and digital advertising campaigns. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Space available on Organisation Communications Course - Quo Vadis Communications

Limited space is available on the Organisation Communications Course offered by media specialists, Quo Vadis Communications, in Johannesburg. Read more >>