NORTH AFRICA

Journalists detained and broadcasts jammed in Libya

NEW YORK: Security forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi continue to detain journalists and jam broadcast frequencies, the Committee to Protect Journalists said yesterday, 1 March 2011. Read more >>

COTE D'IVOIRE

Ivory Coast political camps target rival media outlets

NEW YORK: Supporters behind incumbent Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo and rival Alassane Ouattara are targeting rival partisan media oulets and their journalists in an increasingly bloody struggle for power, the Committee to Protect Journalists said yesterday, 1 March 2011. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Do corporate CEOs understand the importance of SEO?

[Shaune Jordaan] The problem that we face in South African commerce right now is that very few top CEOs know what SEO, or what SEM marketing entails. Some might say, "well that's because it's not important, and how can it result in sales?" Hmmm, this attitude would make you look foolish in front of a company (competitor) that has grasped the potential which Google, Yahoo and other search engines present. Read more >>

AFRICA

Education for all: damning report on state of education in Africa

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The state of education in many parts of the world and Africa, especially in zones in conflict, is appalling, miserable and in bad shape, according to a 2011 UNESCO Global Monitoring Report set to be released today, Tuesday, 1 March 2011 in New York. Read more >>

AFRICA

Oscar night! But brace yourself; they let them speak

[Douglas Kruger] Who are the worst speakers on the planet? No, politicians come in a close second. The answer, curiously, is: the best actors on the planet. That's right, Oscar night has rolled around again, and although there is no denying their consummate mastery of the thespian's craft - the emotional complexity required for Inception, the simple yet elegant storytelling of The King's Speech - their public speaking skills leave, well... public speaking skills to be desired. Read more >>

KENYA

New journalism, communications program offered in Kenya

The Presbyterian University of East Africa School of Communications Studies and The Centre for Art and Media Entrepreneurship in Africa (CAMERAFRICA) in Kenya have partnered to offer an Executive Diploma in Journalism and Communications Program starting March 2011. The curriculum is designed with the aim of preparing seasoned, high potential mid-level and senior journalists and communication specialists for big assignments by providing them with core practice and management skills they will need to run successful newsrooms and creative communications enterprises. For more information on the nine-month program, email executivediploma@camerafrica.co.ke.

MALAWI

Malawi: President's office defends repressive media law

[Gregory Gondwe] President Bingu wa Mutharika, through his office of the president and cabinet, has defended the amendment of Section 46 of the Penal Code. Media practitioners however, are demanding its repeal. Since 25 February 2011 to date, the president's office has been running a full paged advert where it has detailed facts which justify the endorsement of the new law that President Mutharika assented to early last month. Read more >>

AFRICA

SA's Jacob's Cross awarded at PAFF 2011

LOS ANGELES: The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) held it's annual Night of Tribute and awarded South African Hlomla Dandala the Creative Achievement Award on behalf of Jacob's Cross, an M-Net production produced by BOMB. Read more >>

UGANDA

Kenya's Royal Media seeks radio licence in Uganda

[Walter Wafula] Kenyan electronic media house Royal Media Services has applied for an FM broadcasting licence in Uganda. The company currently operates Citizen Television in Uganda although it has not started local programming. In Kenya, Royal Media Services operates Citizen TV - the most popular local station and Radio Citizen. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

Strong rand to inflate Zimbabwe's import bill

[Staff reporter] A strong rand is expected to increase the cost of imports from South Africa during the year 2011, giving respite to domestic producers who could capitalise on higher-priced imports to push their products into a competitive market, a research firm indicated. Read more >>

AFRICA

MTG launches pay-TV channels in Africa

The Modern Times Group (MTG), an international entertainment broadcasting group, on Monday, 28 February 2011, launched four pay-TV channels in Africa. Viasat History, Viasat Nature, Viasat Explorer and Viasat Crime are initially available to satellite pay-TV subscribers in Nigeria and cable pay-TV subscribers in Kenya. Read more >>

AUSTRALIA

ACP Magazines holds readership lead in vibrant Oz market

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Highlights of the latest Roy Morgan Research readership survey in Australia reveal that ACP magazines are continuing their good performance. Read more >>

TURKEY

Intercontinental Advertising CUP and Creative Summit - with a touch of music

ISTANBUL, TURKEY: Here's a conference with a difference... There will be presentations, of course - but there will also be the sound of a violin in the Congress Hall of Conrad Hotel in Istanbul during the Intercontinental Advertising CUP and Creative Summit this month. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Hilton Worldwide launches Waldorf Astoria in the UAE

DUBAI, UAE: Hilton Worldwide has announced the signing of a management agreement with the Al Hamra Group for the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah - the second Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts property in the Middle East following the 2005 opening of the Qasr Al Sharq in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

MK Awards 2011 winners

Cape Town, 27 February 2011: The MK Awards 2011 was hosted on Saturday night at the CTICC in Cape Town. With 3 500 guests in attendance, the 5th MK Awards honoured the best in South African music by awarding 13 categories. Read more >>