SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Eyes front and centre

[Abey Mokgwatsane] How does your brand break through the clutter? If you're in the business of understanding and catering to the evolution of consumer needs, desires and expectations, look front and centre. Here are my predictions for 2013... Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] The year we stop living to work, start working to live

[Greg Schneider] Increasingly, people are valuing intangibles benefits of a job over the bottom-line salary. 2013 will be the year where recruitment and talent retention are governed by the environment and not simply the pay check. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Changes #trending, opportunities knocking in education sector

[Josh Adler] I'm quite new to education, but completely immersed and have much to say. I thought I'd focus my crystal ball on a broad range of education industry issues, and wanted to avoid at all costs penning another "Have you heard about Khan Academy?" piece, (But now that that's done)... Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Growing power, vulnerability of the corporate brand

[Mike Freedman] How are P&G and Unilever differentiated? Does the Coca-Cola Company want to be known for obesity or health? Will supermarket brands be strengthened or weakened by their supply chains? The perfect storm of social media, continuing social unrest, concerns over the economy and environment will batter brands that are not resilient and adaptive, while shaking established ad agencies to their foundations. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Reinventing the sales function

[Peter Gilbert] Belatedly, sales - long the corporate stepchild - is emerging not only as a topic worthy of academic and executive attention but also as the business function where substantive improvement is not only doable but also capable of delivering extremely attractive improvements in shareholder returns. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] South Africa's marketing research industry in 2013 and beyond

[Craig Kolb] It seems we are at a point where technology advances so quickly, it is almost unsettling. Of course, it is a matter of perception but, for what it is worth, my subjective experience over the past five years has been one where a disturbingly high number of 'impossibles' have suddenly become 'possible'. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Promise closes off 2012 with five new clients

[Issued by Promise Brand Specialists] Promise closed off 2012 with five new account wins. The agency will be delivering through-the-line and Digital solutions to clients within the financial, retail and food services categories. Read more >>  visit press office >>

AFRICA

$14,5bn tech city to rise in Kenya

[Craig Wilson] Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki will preside over a ceremony next week to break ground on a new US$14,5bn technology town called Konza City. Read more >>

LIBERIA

Liberia Media Laws Reform Symposium kicks off

Government officials, international participants and other key stakeholders yesterday, 17 January 2013, gathered at Monrovia's Mamba Point Hotel to participate in Liberia's first Media Law Reform Roundtable. Read more >>

AFRICA

Spinlet presents Industry Nite in Feb 2013

Industry Nite, presented by Spinlet, is a weekly event pulling together up and coming artists, established artists, record label execs, brand managers and fans in one venue for entertainment and networking. The next event takes place on 20 February 2013 from 9PM at The Oriental Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria. For more, go to www.socialmediaweek.org/lagos/events.

KENYA

Media Council of Kenya elects new chairman

The editorial director of the Nation Media Group, Joseph Odindo has been appointed as the new chairman of the Media Council of Kenya. Odindo was elected during the 13 member council's recent sitting. Read more >>

KENYA

Uhuru Kenyatta's media company gets new boss

Former Milele FM CEO, Granton Samboja has been named the holder of newly created Mediamax Group executive director position. This move automatically displaces Paul Wanyagah as the boss. Wanyagah was the chief operating officer at Standard Group before joining Mediamax. Read more >>

SOMALIA

Somali journo arrested after interviewing reported rape victim

[Caro Rolando] A Somali freelance journalist has been detained without charge since 10 January 2013 after interviewing a woman who says she was raped by state security forces. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that Abdiaziz Abdinur was summoned by the Central Investigations Department (CID) last Thursday, in connection with the interview he conducted with the woman. Read more >>

ZAMBIA

Ex-information permanent secretary arrested

[Peter Adamu] Former information permanent secretary, professor Sam Phiri has been arrested in connection with freelance journalist Chanda Chimba III's documentaries that were critical of president Michael Sata in the run up to the 2011 polls. Read more >>

AFRICA

AfDB renews agreement with APO

The African Press Organisation (APO) will continue distributing African Development Bank (AfDB) press releases via Africa Wire, the service for press release wire distribution and monitoring in Africa. Read more >>

AFRICA

Agency clients should know what they want

[Walter Wafula] "Men don't know what they want," is a common phrase among many women. Often, they tell their friends. Men who dare 'hit' on those who have been "through it all," often hear statements akin to the above, but normally, in different skins and tones. Read more >>

AFRICA

Standards warning as African aviation boom looms

The aviation industry in Africa is on the cusp of an unprecedented and extended boom, which augurs well for growth on the continent, but must also prompt a serious review of standards that can impact on safety and security, an industry expert warns. Read more >>

ANGOLA

Body language on public television defended

The creation of a body language space on the Angolan Public Television (TPA) was defended on Wednesday, 16 January 2013, Angop has learnt. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

IGA partners with Unitrade to expand to SA

CHICAGO, US / JOHANNESBURG, SA: IGA has announced that it will continue to advance its global presence by partnering with Johannesburg-based Unitrade Management Services (UMS) to bring the IGA brand back to South Africa. IGA originally moved into South Africa in 2002, but there have been no IGA stores in the country since 2008. Read more >>

UNITED STATES

Q&A with Michael O'Rourke, president, International Awards Group/NYF

NEW YORK, US: In this interview with Michael O'Rourke president of International Awards Group/New York Festivals, he talks about the awards, jury composition, what makes winning campaigns, and much more. Read more >>

FRANCE

Cannes Lions launches Innovation Lions

CANNES, FRANCE: In its 60th year, the organisers of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity look to the future by inaugurating this year The Innovation Lions, a new awards category to honour the technology and innovation which lead to the creative idea being possible. Read more >>

FRANCE

Google forced to pay for traffic it generates

PARIS, FRANCE: The head of the Orange said on Wednesday (16 January) it had been able to impose a deal on Google to pay for the vast amounts of traffic generated on its telecommunications networks. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Jobs for at least 130 sheriffs

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe on Wednesday (16 January) called on eligible candidates to apply for the job of a sheriff in the various offices around the country. There are 130 vacancies. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Motsoaledi urged to intervene at Bara

Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi must intervene in the closure of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Nursing College, the IFP said on Wednesday (16 January). Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

No agricultural wage deal yet, even in Clanwilliam

According to Agri SA, Tuesday's claim by Cosatu's Tony Ehrenreich that a breakthrough was achieved with a wage deal in Clanwilliam, requires clarification. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

The weird, wonderful, and just plain kooky hotel requests for 2012

Most hotel staff could write books about the strange side of human nature they see at work, but since discretion is the watchword none of those experiences are ever likely to see the light of day - except on the Protea Hospitality Group's annual list of weird and wonderful guest requests submitted anonymously by staff from their 125 properties all over Africa! Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Take exotic destinations with a travel concierge!

[Will Smith] Preparing for a journey but you cannot find a minute to check the availability of tickets or flights or accommodation? Then a travel concierge is just what you need. Read more >>