MOROCCO

Moroccan authorities impeding Spanish journalists

NEW YORK: The Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed its alarm by an increasing climate of hostility for Spanish journalists in Morocco, highlighted by official measures to prevent Spanish journalists from covering clashes in the Western Sahara. CPJ has called on authorities to allow journalists to do their work unimpeded. Read more >>

EAST AFRICA

Imprisoned Puntland journalist released

NEW YORK: The Committee to Protect Journalists has welcomed the presidential pardon and release of radio journalist Abdifatah Jama who was imprisoned in August 2010 for airing an interview with an Islamist rebel leader in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland. CPJ had repeatedly called for his release. Read more >>

MALAWI

Malawi: MTL faces competition

[Gregory Gondwe] Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL), which has enjoyed sole operation as a fixed telephone service provider, is now in for stiff competition with the second fixed telephone operator, Access Communication, rolling out its operations. In order to outdo its competitor, MTL impressed at the just ended technology fair in Blantyre that was organised by the Malawi Confederation Chamber of Commerce (MCCCI). Read more >>

AFRICA

Tourvest Inbound Operations rebrands

Tourvest Inbound Operations (TIO), an inbound tourism wholesaler in sub-Saharan Africa, has announced a revamp of its corporate identity including a new name, Tourvest Destination Management, and a new logo. Read more >>

NIGERIA

From Nollywood to a president: 10 really big Nigerian Facebook pages

[Loy Okezie] Worldwide, Facebook has grown to become one of the most popular websites ever, due to its social networking tools and utilities, audience reach and its relevance to brands, celebrities and organisations. Over the past three years, Facebook has grown exponentially in Nigeria from less than 40,000 Nigerians on the network to over 2 million active members. Read more >>

NIGERIA

Nigeria hosts international trade fairs

DUBAI, ABUJA: Al Fajer Information and Services, a Dubai-based exhibition organiser, has announced the details on Autoparts Nigeria 2010 and Plast Pack Nigeria 2010, two international trade fairs to be held from 25-27 November 2010 at the Abuja International Conference Centre in Nigeria. Read more >>

MALAWI

Malawi: MBC appoints senior management

[Gregory Gondwe] The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), previously operating as Radio One and Radio Two before merging with Malawi Television in July this year, has taken a second step in its merger process by appointing its management team. Read more >>

AFRICA

Addressing young reader initiatives worldwide - WAN-IFRA

As part of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers' (WAN-IFRA) Young Reader Development Working Group, young reader development experts gathered in Paris, France late last month to report on their programmes and exchange ideas. One of the projects discussed is based in Kenya, where young people in a Somali refugee camp created a newspaper that reports on conditions in the camp. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

Zim: Community radio lobby criticises government

[Dumisani Ndlela] The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) has criticised government for failing to license independent broadcasters in the country, describing recent changes to the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) Act as saddening. Read more >>

AFRICA

Pick n Pay means business with African expansion

Africa's second largest food retailer, Pick n Pay, announced its second foray into Africa in two weeks. In line with its blazing African expansion plan, the group last week said it bought 24% of Zimbabwe operation TM Supermarkets, bringing its total shareholding to 49% - a deal worth about US$13 million. Read more >>

MOZAMBIQUE

Pick n Pay signs Mozambican franchise agreement

Retailer Pick n Pay on Monday (8 November 2010) announced that it had signed a franchise territorial agreement with retail franchising group Retail Masters in Mozambique to further extend its African footprint. Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

Google's 'Quick View' - the marketer's friend and foe

LONDON, UK: After a testing period in the USA, Google's preview system, 'Quick View', has recently been popping up in the UK. When a search is conducted on Google, as well as being able to view the related search results, the searcher, whilst scrolling through each, is privy to a full miniature pop-up preview of the related website. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

FIFA wins gold at global communications awards

SAN DIEGO, US: The FIFA e-Activity Report has won gold at the 2010 Spotlight Awards Global Communications Competition from the League of American Communications Professionals. Judged in the category Online: Annual/Sustainability Report, the jury awarded the digital report 96 out of a possible 100 points, and full marks for 'overall narrative' and 'overall visual design'. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

Marketing Tabbie nominations due now!

CLEVELAND, US: Your staff has had to work harder than ever to market your publication - and there's one more chance to "brand yourself a winner" with the 2010 Marketing Tabbies. Read more >>