Power to the African peopleIs 2011 the year when Africa's citizens unite and with one voice let their leaders know enough is enough? Is 2011 the year when they decide they deserve better? Is it the year dictators step down from power and yield to the people. It sure does seem so. On 14 January the world watched as former Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali stepped down from his post and fled the country (with 1.5 tons of gold mind you). Since 25 January the Egyptian people have resolutely taken to the streets calling for the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak. In both instances, social media was a key factor in rallying fellow protestors and spreading the message - it was the key coordination and mobilisation tool. Social media today plays an even larger role in Africa than I bet its creators had ever dreamt it would or could - and this is why leaders worldwide will fear it. Egypt is facing one of its most defining moments in its history and social media has played a vital role in the organised protests we witness today. Corrupt, inefficient governments worldwide should heed the warning - the people have the power that could very well see your downfall. That power comes not in the form of guns and bullets and brute force; but from words, words that spread like wildfire in the digital age. Here's to the future, Sindy Peters, Africa editor
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Today's top stories
Special focus on media freedom
NEW YORK: Egyptian authorities have taken unprecedented measures to block media coverage of widespread protests against the government. CPJ has condemned Cairo's news blackout and calls for authorities to immediately restore internet and mobile phone services, end the targeting of the press, and allow media to conduct their work freely. Read more >>NEW YORK: Nilesat, the satellite transmission company owned by the Egyptian Radio and Television Union and other government agencies, has stopped transmitting the signal of Al-Jazeera's primary channel, the station and others reported yesterday, 30 January 2011. Read more >>In a sign of official unease about the unrest in Egypt and the fact that it could spark calls for reform at home, Chinese censors are apparently blocking online discussion and sanitising news reports on the subject. Read more >>Marketing
[Georgia Christian] CAN-Spam defines a transactional or 'relationship' message as any email that facilitates, completes or confirms a commercial transaction that a recipient agreed to enter into with the sender. It is said that no other message is as personal, relevant or anticipated and as a result, transactional emails generally see open rates of 47% click-through-rates (CTR's) of 20%. Read more >> Digital
SAN FRANCISCO: An internet blockade in Egypt has inspired Google to provide an improved tool for tracking access to the firm's popular websites. Read more >>[Cam McGrath] CAIRO: Twitter was an early casualty. Then Facebook access became spotty. But when the internet itself went down, Egyptian pro-democracy activists knew their protests were having an effect. This report was dictated on landline phone from Cairo to the IPS office in London. Read more >> Mobile
[Gregory Gondwe] Airtel Communications has taken Airtel Malawi, previously Zain Malawi, to court over a dispute regarding the trademark name 'Airtel'. Airtel Communications was incorporated in 2006 and has 'Airtel' on its trademark; the same appears on the trademark of Airtel Malawi. Read more >> [Dumisani Ndlela] Zimbabwe's telecommunications regulator has ordered mobile phone network operators to penalise subscribers who have not yet complied with a directive to register their personal details ahead of a 28 February 2011 deadline. Read more >> LAGOS: Airtel Nigeria rewarded 10 of its employees for exceptional performance at its Employee Communications Forum held in Lagos with the presentation of the Airtel Nigeria Functional and Service Excellence Awards. Five employees were presented with Airtel Functional Excellence Awards while another five received the Airtel Service Excellence Awards. Read more >>Retail
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] Consumer confidence in Nigeria and Kenya - two of Africa's leading economies - has significantly increased in the past six months, while Morocco experienced a slight decline and Egypt's index recorded a level below 50, a MasterCard Worldwide Index of Consumer Confidence released last week in Johannesburg has revealed. Read more >> [Ed Hughes] LONDON, UK: Brands and retailers are benefiting from added value promotions, but for marketers looking for a longer-term gain and less of a tactical quick win, there has been a resurgence of the more traditional promotional methods. Read more >> TORONTO, CANADA: comScore, Inc. has released findings from comScore ARS indicating the importance of a strong upfront strategy and creative execution in driving campaign effectiveness for TV and digital advertising campaigns in Canada. Read more >> More International news...
[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] With one glaring exception in the shape of the re-born Beetle, Volkswagen as a brand builds the kind of vehicles that South Africans love and respect - and it's precisely this brand loyalty that will drive the sales of the Amarok, VW's long-awaited entry into the fiercely contested local bakkie market. Read more >> More Motoring news...
[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] There's a posh girl's school in St Andrews, Bedfordview. There's also a smart boutique hotel, St. Andrews Hotel, that makes me immediately think of properties such as The Peech, Fairlawns and 10 Bompas. The standout here is the first-rate service, which impressed me. The location too is lovely, overlooking Gillooly's lake. Read more >> WHITE PLAINS, US: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that Forrester Research, Inc. has recognised Sheraton.com, the web site for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, as the best hotel website in its class for brand experience in the 8 November 2010 report, The Best of Web Site Brand Experiences 2010 . Read more >> More Travel news...
The full line-up for the Up The Creek Festival, which will be held on a campsite close to Swellendam, Western Cape, from 3 to 6 February, 2011, has been announced. Read more >> More BizLounge news...
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