SOUTH AFRICA

[Biz Takeouts Lineup] 32: The South African media and alcohol restrictions

This week's Biz Takeouts Marketing & Media radio show, streamed live 5pm-6pm via 2oceansVibe Radio, will focus on alcohol advertising restrictions and the effects on South African consumers and the media. The studio guest this Wednesday evening, 1 August 2012, will be well known corporate marketing analyst, advisor and media commentator, Chris Moerdyk. [twitterfall] Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

What is the essence of Bizcommunity? #happybiz11

This month, Bizcommunity turns 11 and, to celebrate in Johannesburg, we're doing something a little different. We're asking you - our community of readers, contributors and clients - to share what Bizcommunity means to you, and including your words in an unusual birthday gift, a unique painting designed to capture the essence of what Bizcommunity is all about. Read more >>

AFRICA

Tanzanian authorities ban weekly indefinitely

NAIROBI: The Tanzanian government yesterday, 31 July 2012, banned indefinitely the critical Swahili-language weekly MwanaHalisi, accusing the paper of publishing seditious articles, according to local journalists and a statement by the information ministry. Read more >>

AFRICA

HKLM's growth in West Africa

Strategic branding and communication design consultancy, HKLM, has experienced an acceleration in brand activity from clients in several West African countries in what is indicative of the region's strengthening economy and a growing need for organisations to differentiate their offering and secure their competitive positions. This is according to HKLM director, Gary Harwood. Read more >>

MAURITIUS

Mobile connectivity improved in Republic of Mauritius

Gateway Communications, a supplier of pan-African telecommunications services, has provided connectivity solution to Emtel, for the remote islands of Agalega and Rodrigues, which form part of the Republic of Mauritius. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Four ways to really make social media work for you

[Chemory Gunko] There has been a ton of pieces in the media lately about the benefits - and lack thereof - of social media campaigns. What's your stance on social media platforms, and what can you do differently to make them really work for you? Read more >>

KENYA

Riek Machar to attend Business and Security Forum

It was announced on Monday, 30 July 2012, that the vice president of South Sudan, Dr Riek Machar will be attending the forthcoming Africa Forum on Business and Security along senior ministers from Kenya and other African countries. The forum will take place from 13-14 September at Nairobi's Laico Regency Hotel, Kenya. Read more >>

AFRICA

Register now for Global Journalism and Media Development Summit

Registration has officially opened for the Global Journalism and Media Development Summit - an event which integrates two journalism conferences, namely, the 16th edition of the Highway Africa Conference and the 3rd World Conference of the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), which will take place from 9-11 September 2012 at Rhodes University, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Read more >>

AFRICA

Kasunda elected as MISA regional chair

[Gregory Gondwe: @Kalipochi] Anthony Kasunda, the chairperson of the Malawi chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Malawi) has been elected chairperson of the MISA Regional Governing Council (RGC) at the 2012 Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 29 July 2012, at the Indaba Hotel and Conference Centre in Fourways, Johannesburg, South Africa. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

QR codes bring email, mobile coupons to life

[Wikus Engelbrecht] Marketers today face a dizzying array of options designed to help capture audience attention and drive sales. While email marketing through newsletters and coupons remains one of the most popular and successful vehicles for driving both online and in-store sales, mobile technologies have quickly gained momentum as the go-to choice for reaching consumers who are increasingly dependent on their mobile devices for everything from socialising to banking and shopping. This piece was co-authored by Kara Gray from New Horizon Consulting.* Read more >>

AFRICA

AllAfrica's editor wins top award

AllAfrica's deputy managing editor, Juanita Williams, has been honoured with a top South African award for her service as a leader of the country's principal forum for editors. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Bizcommunity.com revamps recruitment business

Since its launch in 2001, Bizcommunity has always seen the benefit for our readers of having industry jobs available on the site, as well as the benefit to companies looking for applicants and recruiters and recruitment agencies having a targeted audience pool to search for good quality applicants and CVs. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

Samsung copied 'every element' of iPhone: Apple

SAN JOSE, US: Samsung executives at the highest level made a decision to copy "every element" of the iPhone to compete in the smartphone market, a lawyer for Apple said as arguments began in a huge patent trial. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

Time to enter the Omma Awards

NEW YORK, US: On 1 October 2012 the annual OMMA Awards will return to New York for its seventh annual celebration of the industry's finest talents and campaigns. Closing date for entries is 10 August 2012. Read more >>

SINGAPORE

Spikes Asia announces five further juries

SINGAPORE: Spikes Asia, the regional creative advertising and communications festival for Asia Pacific, taking place 16-18 September in Singapore, has announced a further five of the ten juries that will be present in Singapore to judge this year's awards: Direct and Promo & Activation, Digital & Mobile, Media, PR and Design. Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

July sees no change to the UK's consumer confidence

LONDON, UK: Nick Moon, managing director of Social Research at GfK, comments: "According to the latest GDP figures, the economy has suffered a further 0.7% decline between April and June. This is the third quarter in a row the economy has contracted, meaning the UK is now stuck in the worse double-dip recession since modern records began. It is not surprising therefore that the Index has remained the same this month, as consumer confidence remains as stagnant as the economy." Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

Employee productivity levels sink to new lows, says PwC research

LONDON, UK: PwC's Key Trends in Human Capital 2012 report reveals that productivity levels saw a sharp drop in 2011 following a period of relative stability between 2006 and 2010. The report suggests this drop is driven by an increase in employee costs, which have jumped 16% from 2009 to around US$55 000 in 2011. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Jobless rate dip spoiled by shocks at factories

Heavy job losses in the manufacturing and trade sectors of the economy marred news yesterday that unemployment dipped unexpectedly during the second quarter of this year. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

DBSA board announces new CEO

The Board of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) on Tuesday announced the appointment of Patrick Dlamini‚ as the CEO of the Bank. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Zuma wants more skills

President Jacob Zuma has emphasised the need for skilled officials to run the financial affairs of municipalities following the recent damning report of auditor general Terence Nombembe on how local government systems were failing South Africans. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Eskom has not yet finalised application for tariffs

Eskom has not yet determined its final application to the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) with regards to its next tariff application, Eskom chief executive officer Brian Dames said on Monday. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

SA still among top business destinations

South Africa remains in the top 15 'long-haul' business events destinations in the world and is the premier business events destination in Africa, says Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

SAA introduces baggage piece concept for all flights

South African Airways (SAA) is introducing a new check-in baggage policy in response to varying customer requirements in each of its markets. The policy aligns with most of the larger Star Alliance member carriers ensuring a transparent and consistent set of rules across SAA and other Star Alliance network. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Nando's Comedy Fests coming to Durban, Joburg and Cape Town

The 4th Annual Nando's Durbs Comedy Festival will feature seven of the biggest comedians on one stage from 14 to 19 August at The Playhouse Theatre and the 5th Annual Nando's Jozi Comedy Festival will be held at the Teatro, Montecasino, from 20 to 26 August, 2012 and 3rd to the 9th of September 2012 at the Artscape Theatre. Read more >>