Know thy social media (Pt two)I've been a huge supporter of the local rock / alternative / indie music scene in South Africa ever since Bizcommunity launched the BizLounge. I've attended gig after gig - from The Dirty Skirts to The Rudimentals to Goldfish - and we have some great talent here. I've watched bands grow from small-time Cape Town bands into artists playing on one of the biggest national radio stations with their hits making it all the way up the charts. Some have transcended national borders and are touring overseas. It just irks me that at times some of these artists and their managers / publicity managers have not come to grips with how to use social media tools and how not to. A prime example occurred last week on Facebook when a band referred to itself in the third person; understand that this is extremely alienating to fans who would like to believe that the band actually runs the Facebook page and that they are communicating with the band. This is of course not always the case in reality but at least pretend that it is. All musicians continent-wide should embrace social media in marketing themselves; it is, however, imperative that the platforms' ins and outs are grasped thoroughly before using them unwittingly to the band or artist's detriment. Ciao, Sindy Peters (@sindylp), Africa editor
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Today's top stories
Special focus on media freedom
[Issa Sikiti da Silva] As governments across the African continent come under increasing pressure from critical media, 'vulture' ruling parties believe the only way to deal with this 'surrogate opposition' is to regulate it through statutory mechanisms that will eventually dent its wayward reporting. But some African voices of reason, such as Zambia's Fred M'membe, argue that the restriction of good media never produces good media. Read more >> NEW YORK: Unidentified gunmen killed an Al-Jazeera cameraman and wounded his colleague near the eastern rebel-held city of Benghazi in an ambush on Saturday, 13 March 2011, according to the Qatar-based satellite station. This is the first confirmed death reported in the Libyan conflict, the Committee to Protect Journalists said. Read more >>[Gregory Gondwe] The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has taken to court the matter over the amendment to Section 46 of the Penal Code that allows the information of minister to ban publications he sees contrary to public interest. Deputy director of MHRC Chrispin Sibande says they have taken the matter to the High Court so that it invalidates the amendment because it is inconsistent with the Malawi Constitution. Read more >> Both Niger presidential election candidates announced their commitment to promote freedom of expression and review media legislation if elected. The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum have welcomed the endorsement by both Mahamadou Issoufou of the Social Democratic Party and Seini Oumarou of the National Movement for a Developing Society of the Declaration of Table Mountain. Read more >>Marketing
[Ivo Vegter: @sxswsa] Here is a roundup of the posts published on sxswsa.co.za this weekend. We're over halfway through SxSW Interactive, but there's still plenty material in the works, so keep an eye on the blog for another few days. Also, follow @sxswsa, or the entire #sxswsa Twitter list. [ view twitterfall] Read more >> Digital
The Google Inc. Charitable Giving Fund of Tides Foundation announced on Tuesday, 8 March 2011, that it is awarding five grants totalling US$5 million to African projects in support of improving internet access and to enable African countries to participate in and contribute to the global Internet. One grant will assist in expanding the online Nelson Mandela archive. Read more >>WASHINGTON: US computer security authorities warned on Friday (11 March 2011) that online scammers may seek to exploit the earthquake in Japan. Read more >>Mobile
[Ray Maota] South African telecommunications giant MTN has been named the continent's most valuable brand by an online resource that tracks the performance of the world's top trademarks. The results were released by Brandirectory, which compiles internationally relevant financial results, trademark histories and marketing news about notable brands. Read more >> Online Media
WATERLOO: The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) recently announced that the Africa Portal has reached a large, worldwide audience since its launch late last year. The online knowledge resource, which became active on 25 November 2010, offers open access to a suite of features aimed to equip users with research and information on Africa's current policy issues. Read more >>Research
The 13th PAMRO meeting and All Africa Media Research Conference will take place from 21-24 August 2011 in Dakar, Senegal at the Le Méridien President Hotel. Updates on media audience research activities from countries from all parts of Africa will be provided. Read more >>Retail
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has signed an agreement for a US$90.6 million loan to Tanzania that will aim to enhance access to rural financial services and markets and promote private-sector development in the country, the United Nations rural poverty agency announced. Read more >>[Miriam Mannak] While the food price spikes of the past few years have had a negative impact on food security and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, where people on average spend 70% of their income on food, they may also present the region with opportunities. Read more >> MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND: OMD and Starcom lead the agency networks in the shortlist for the Festival of Media Awards 2011 - in a year that saw a significant increase in the number of campaigns entered by independent and specialist agencies, a record number of entries overall, and a wider geographic representation with entries coming from more than 50. Ogilvy Johannesburg has been shortlisted for their SA Tourism campaign. Read more >>BOGOTA, COLOMBIA: Newspapers in much of the world are facing dual challenges from digital development and from pressures on freedom of the press. In many places, the issues are intertwined. Read more >> More International news...
[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] A caddy is one of the pleasures of playing golf because it means that somebody else gets to hump a rather heavy and unwieldy collection of clubs, balls and a sundry collection of golfing accessories in a heavy bag around a usually undulating golf course in the pouring rain or scorching sunshine. Read more >> More Motoring news...
[Brian Berkman: contributing editor, travel] Nick Seewer is chief executive officer of Cape Town's The Pepper Club Hotel and Spa; Brian Berkman, Biz.Travel's contributing editor, had a chat with him about, among other things, what's required to run a hotel successfully, and what separates a winning CEO-GM team from an also-ran. Read more >> More Travel news...
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