The evolving everyday-ness of everydayThe internet is evolving faster than you think, but don't be disconcerted - this makes it even easier to jump onto the bandwagon because nothing is static for too long - what's new now might be old news soon. After recently discovering the wonders of the Twitterverse, I now appreciate being updated throughout the day with what's going on beyond my laptop. While social media can be a curse to celebrities, sport personalities and politicians who forget the power of the medium, it means you live in the 'here and now' rather than when the prime time news is aired. You no longer have to be at a conference to know exactly what the keynote speaker is divulging or the colour of his shirt. This I discovered after searching #gathering on Twitter last week (hashtag used for The Gathering - a conference hosted by SA's The Daily Maverick) and following in-the-moment happenings as they unfolded as attendees were tweeting at high frequency - so much so that #gathering at one point trended #4 worldwide. I managed to catch The Social Network this past weekend - the movie based on the book about Facebook, The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich. It's a good, gripping movie that gives you some background on the origins of the most popular social networking platform in the world. Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook, is not portrayed in the best of lights - the film portrays him as stealing the concept of Facebook from other students and betraying his best friend. After watching it, I find using Facebook is a slightly different experience; but no less addictive. If you're reading this, you're already part of an online community so I'm not going to preach to the choir; but if you know any idle bystanders, I suggest you advise them to get onto the bandwagon - there's a whole new social experience available online that is changing the way the everyday-ness of everyday works. Cheers, Sindy Peters, Africa editor
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Today's top stories
Special focus on media freedom
[Gregory Gondwe] The Catholic church in Malawi has faulted Malawi's public media through a pastoral letter titled, "Reading the signs of the times," for being used as a government tool to castigate those with dissenting views and, in the process, belittling the country's press freedom. The letter, signed by Malawi's nine bishops, expresses dismay over what they call, "continuous unbalanced reporting and news coverage." Read more >> Marketing
[Andrew McIlwaine] It stands to reason that strong internal communication generates an engaged, productive and loyal workforce. Looking at internal communication - or as we so aptly put it these days, employee engagement - there are a number of cross-functional communicative approaches at our disposal. Read more >> LONDON: IC Events has again partnered with the COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA) to produce the programme and agenda for COMESA's 2010 Investment Forum scheduled to take place next year, 23-24 March 2011, in Dubai. COMESA RIA will spearhead the forum in partnership with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Read more >>2010 FIFA World Cup
Dr Danny Jordaan, South Africa's 2010 Organising Committee CEO, received an award at the 2010 Africa International Media Summit (AIMS) held in South Africa, 5-6 November, during the Africa Living Legends Banquet at the Durban Manor Hotel. Jordaan was awarded a white-beaded miniature replica of the 2010 Moses Mabhida Stadium for his role in hosting the successful 2010 FIFA World Cup. Read more >>Advertising
[Bonnie Ramaila] It took me a while to make up my mind about Vodacom's 'Surf for Free' ads - it wasn't until I read a 'gossip and chart' report received via some SMS info service, to which my cellphone-geek daughter subscribed me. I don't normally pay attention to the gossip bit, but it turns out that I share the same sentiments as Sir Elton John, but regarding our ad industry lately. [video] Read more >> Digital
[Jeremy Daniel] In a cold and rainy Cape Town on Monday morning (8 November 2010), Google launched gSouth Africa, its sixth African event of the past twelve months, inviting developers and tech entrepreneurs from all over the continent to come and engage to help create a better, more relevant internet for Africa. Read more >> Mobile
[April McAlister] JamiiX, an online counselling service operating on the Cape Flats in South Africa, is a finalist in the inaugural Bees Awards. The ceremony, which takes place in San Francisco, US on 9 November 2010, recognises the most innovative use of social media in business and communication. Read more >> Advertisement:
Newspapers
[Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's weekly The Standard newspaper, part of the Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) group controlled by media tycoon Trevor Ncube, has rebranded and slashed its cover price by half to US$1. The first rebranded edition hit the streets on 31 October 2010, and there has been a discernible market acceptance. Read more >> Online Media
The National Peace Corps Association has disqualified one of the winners of the 'My piece of the Peace Corps' YouTube contest. The entry 'The Peace Corps Effect,' featuring a Moldovan teenager, had won first place, but the judges ruled that the song used in the video was actually under copyright and violated contest rules. Read more >>Public Relations
[Walter Wafula] Fireworks Advertising, through its PR division, has teamed up with South Africa-based Arcay Communications Africa to widen its presence in Africa. "The affiliation provides Fireworks PR with a footprint that covers 50 African markets," Caleb Owino, MD, Fireworks Advertising Uganda said on Friday, 5 November 2010. Read more >> PARIS, FRANCE: RECMA, the research company evaluating media agencies in 50 countries, has just released its new Digital Agency Rankings report - edition 2010. The report finds that the leader is WPP with 32% of the total digital resources. Read more >>LONDON, UK: While consumers are still reeling from the aftershock created by the global economic crisis, lessons have been learnt, behaviours changed and consumer adaptability has created a new way of life. With that in mind, Mintel predicts nine key consumer trends for the year ahead, examining how long term behaviour has been implicated. In 2011, consumers are living for the long term with attitudes inspired by a changed value set. Read more >> More International news...
SOUTH AFRICA Captain Stu EP launchMoreCape Town Tourism is attending the World Travel Market 2010 in London from 8-11 November 2010 to spread the message that Cape Town is one of the places of a lifetime, and is well on the way to becoming one of the top ten cities in the world in which to live, visit, study, work and invest. Read more >>Over lunch of antipasti, warthog pasta and La Motte Sauvignon Blanc at Radisson Blu Waterfront, Brian Berkman and Maarten van den Nieuwenhuijsen, regional director of The Rezidor Group, Southern Africa shoot the breeze. Read more >> More Travel news...
Southern Ink Xposure, the international tattoo convention will be coming to the V&A Waterfront, Pavilion Conference Centre (formerly Imax/BMW Pavilion), Cape Town, between 28-30 January 2011. At least one international band will be performing alongside the host of tattooists. Read more >>[Ruth Cooper] Really good food, like a good lover, leaves happy memories to look back on in days when one is not feeling that, um, fufilled. One of my favourite food memories belongs to an amazing chicken burger I had in a pub in Scotland when I was 17. Why it was so memorable I can't really recall, but eight years later I still count that chicken burger as one of my culinary highlights. Last night's Food and Wine Pairing at Blues Restaurant and Bar in Camps Bay is going into the happy food memory banks. Read more >> More BizLounge news...
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