NORTH AFRICA

Reporter missing in Libya; attacks continue in Yemen, Iraq

NEW YORK: The Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed its alarm over the ongoing deterioration of conditions for the media in the Middle East, including the disappearance of Atef al-Atrash, a critical Libyan journalist, since anti-Qaddafi demonstrations began on 17 February 2011. Read more >>

AFRICA

Google Instant is great news for SEO

[Shaune Jordaan] Google Instant search is annoying for some, and useful to others. One fact does remain - it runs on the same search engine and the search results are exactly the same. The difference it brings is in how the user reacts to the results they see. Read more >>

AFRICA

2011 Maputo International Ad Festival set for May

The sixth Maputo International Advertising Festival will take place from 25-27 May 2011, AMEP - the Mozambican Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations Association announced yesterday. The festival recognises advertising agencies, producers and communications companies worldwide especially from Africa and the Indian Ocean regions. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

ZMC pushes for creation of statutory media complaints body

[Staff reporter] The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) has begun the process of setting up a media complaints council to regulate journalists against unethical conduct, but critics charge the law under which such a body is being created will discredit the institution. Read more >>

AFRICA

Kagiso Media reveals African growth ambitions

[Artwell Dlamini] Kagiso Media, whose operations are largely based in SA, said on Tuesday (22 February 2011) that it was looking for growth opportunities in Africa. Read more >>

EAST AFRICA

New MMA East Africa Council co-chair appointed

LONDON: The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) yesterday, 22 February 2011, announced the appointment of Chris Kirubi as co-chairman of the newly established MMA East Africa Council. Kirubi will join Frank Mania, CEO of PHD, a Saracen media agency, as joint chairman. Read more >>

AFRICA

Why Nokia got into bed with Microsoft

[Toby Shapshak] There's a new battle in the mobile market, a "war of ecosystems", according to Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, who was forced to defend his company's unprecedented tie-up with arch enemy Microsoft. Read more >>

SOUTHERN AFRICA

Bytes targets Angola, Zimbabwe

[Thabiso Mochiko] Despite growth in electronic communications printing is still widely used and demand is expected to remain. Read more >>

AFRICA

Ugandan journo wins UNEP Young Environmental Journalist Award

NAIROBI: Ugandan radio journalist Patricia Okoed-Bukumunhe has won the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Young Environmental Journalist Award for her report, "Climate change and Uganda", broadcast on Radio France International. Jury members described the entry as "original, cutting edge environmental reporting". Read more >>

AFRICA

c.i.a launches research tool in Africa

The Consumer Insight Agency (c.i.a), an ethnographic market research company, has launched it's NOW Africa Immersion Tool in Africa. The NOW project provides insight into the mindsets of consumers within and beyond Africa. Read more >>

SWITZERLAND

First 'Media Accelerator Program' launched at Festival of Media 2011

MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND: The Festival of Media Global 2011 launches a brand new initiative in a bid to find the most exciting new media businesses in the world. The Media Accelerator Program (MAP) will be reaching out to the global community of media innovators to find those new companies who are set to most impact the sector in the coming years. Who will be the next Twitter or Facebook that will revolutionise the way we market to our customers? Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

Retail banks continue to resist social media

[Published by Ovum] LONDON, UK: Despite fragile consumer confidence, most retail banks do not view social media as an important tool to engage with customers, putting them in a dangerous position, according to Ovum, one of the Datamonitor group of companies. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Landmark online platform launched to combat clampdown on civil society

JOHANNESBURG, SA: Too many governments are blatantly getting away with enacting repressive restrictions on civil society and diminishing the freedoms of expression, assembly and association, CIVICUS: World Alliance of Citizen Participation said yesterday, 21 February 2011, while launching its landmark Civil Society Watch Online platform. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Captiva-ting, cavernous Chevrolet

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] SUV's are almost as prolific on South African roads as low-flying, overloaded Toyota mini-bus taxis and locals are spoilt for choice when it comes to makes, hauling abilities, safety and comfort features, warranties, service plans and price tags - most of which you will find attractively packaged in the Chevrolet Captiva. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Maputo gem

[Luanne Toms] Traditionally host to colonial-era sybarites, Maputo's revitalised Polana Hotel is a tranquil retreat in the heart of this gritty city. Read more >>

GERMANY

German holidaymakers avoid Egypt and Tunisia

NUREMBERG, GERMANY: The political unrest in North Africa has had far-reaching consequences for the tourism industry. According to GfK Retail and Technology, the majority of German holidaymakers have postponed any planned trips to Egypt and Tunisia and demand for the summer months also noticeably declined in the first few weeks of the year. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Roland Albertson is all about the music

[Ruth Cooper] Singer-songwriter Roland Albertson recently won the Best Male Artist at the 7th annual International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA). A very commendable achievement as he came out tops from among 10 000 entries and was the first South African to win an award at the IAMAs ever. This award seems to be the start of great things for Roland, who's currently recording an EP, putting a band together and working on some sexy little future projects. We chatted to him via email to find out more. Read more >>