SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] At the heart of African marketing

[Gerry Costa] As the world economy limps to recovery, Africa is increasingly becoming more important and on everyone's agenda. Here, I take a look at what is required to formulate Afro-centric marketing strategies that can succeed and this is what we can expect in 2013. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Radio raises the volume

[Matona Sakupwanya] Radio has always baffled media futurologists, effortlessly bouncing back from perceived 'threats' such as recession right through to technological revolution - something consistently touted by 'radio assassins' as the next to bring about the demise of the medium. Bucking the trend, year-on-year growth as an industry remains at a steady increase and this demonstrates its enduring relevance. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Seven youth-influencer outreach insights

[Mongezi Mtati] In 2012, brands asked some pertinent and challenging questions pertaining to influencer outreach and seeding their products. Insights gained both as a delegate and a speaker at a number of enlightening conferences over the past year have led me to the following observations about what brands want and how Africa's youth prefer to be communicated with - from a marketing and advertising perspective. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[Biz Takeouts Podcast] 49: The state of e-commerce in South Africa

Find out more about the current of the South African e-commerce environment and the trends in online shopping over the past decade by listening to the podcast of last week's Biz Takeouts Marketing & Media radio show, which airs every Thursday from 5-6pm streamed live via 2oceansVibe Radio. [twitterfall] Read more >>

EGYPT

'Egypt is not suppressing media' says Dr. Yasser Ali

Egypt's presidential spokesman Dr. Yasser Ali sent a message Thursday [17 January 2013] to The Washington Post under the banner "Egypt is not suppressing media." Read more >>

AFRICA

African Film Development Foundation calls for country represetatives

The African Film Development Foundation, established in May 2012 in response to the need to promote ventures by Africans in the film industry and support stakeholders and organisations that make the films, seeks country representatives. Read more >>

AFRICA

ABN Productions hosts Brand SA, Forbes Africa talks at WEF

ABN Productions will host the Brand South Africa and Forbes Africa panel discussion during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. The discussion titled, 'Dynamic Africa: A New Reality' will take place at 7am (CAT) at the Grischa Hotel on 23 January 2013. Read more >>

AFRICA

Reminder of TV, radio's duty during the Orange AFCON 2013

A reminder has been issued that only LC2 Media - AFNEX and CCFOOT Ltd is empowered to authorise a television or a radio located on sub-Saharan African territory (except for South Africa), to broadcast ("via Terrestrial TV and satellite, by free TV"), on its territory the Orange AFCON 2013. Read more >>

NIGERIA

MTN on the offensive

Sectarian violence in Nigeria is posing a threat to the MTN Group's operations. Suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, which wants a stricter version of Islamic sharia law imposed on the whole country, have attacked the towers and cut the fibre connections of several mobile operators, including MTN, in the past few months. The sect claims operators are supplying its members' subscriber information to the Nigerian security authorities. Read more >>

AFRICA

Bummed there is no Twitter on Mxit? Don't fret now you have Tweetr

[Michelle Atagana] As a platform, Mxit seems to be evolving. In the last year it has expanded the user experience by opening up its API and allowing third-party developers to build apps for the mobile social network. Read more >>

AFRICA

[E-book] Technology in Africa - 2013 Digest

If you are interested in insightful opinion and analysis about the Technology scene in Africa and matters that affect it, then the newly published Technology in Africa - 2013 Digest is for you. Read more >>

AFRICA

Orange supports AFCON 2013

The Orange Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa 2013 tournament kicked-off on Saturday, 19 January 2013, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Orange is once again the official partner of this major sporting event. Read more >>

UNITED KINGDOM

High price inflation drives highest retail growth since recession began

LONDON, UK: UK retail is set to grow by 1.8% in 2013 with total retail spend hitting £300.7 billion - though this is nowhere near the pre-recession growth levels it is the highest rate of growth since the recession began. However this is largely down to rising prices, according to a report from SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, and Verdict called How the UK will shop in 2013. Read more >>

NEW ZEALAND

Kim Dotcom launches mega site

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND: Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom launched a new file-sharing site at his Auckland mansion on Sunday (20 January), precisely a year after armed police arrested him at the same venue in the world's largest online piracy case. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Floods cause havoc after weekend rains

Three children were killed in separate incidents when their homes collapsed during heavy rains in Limpopo over the weekend, authorities said on Sunday (20 January). Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

SAIRR calls for BEE to be scrapped

[Paddy Hartdegen] I may have been saying this for years but now another much more august body agrees that black economic empowerment initiatives should be scrapped and South Africa should entrust its development, growth and social change to the people who are best trained to implement them - whether they are black, Indian, coloured or white. Read more >>