SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Predictions for the retail sector

[Gareth Pearson] A transformation is in motion amongst shoppers and retailers country-wide. Consumers are becoming more discerning and demanding, and retailers and manufacturers are under pressure to innovate, offer quality and savings - all in one eco-friendly package! Here are some interesting trends for the retail sector that I've identified for 2013. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Mobile money to give SoLoMo a kick in the pants?

[Vanessa Clark] SoLoMo: the glorious intersection of social, location and mobile that was going to superpower hyperlocal search and prove to be the holy grail, allowing retailers and other businesses to attract an army of smartphone-wielding customers. Pretty exciting stuff, especially during an economic downturn, right? In my opinion, quite the contrary. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Mobile - more of the same? Probably not

[Petros Kondos] A fistful of mobile companies have come and gone during 2012. The next generation of startups is ready to hit the mobile industry with a host of new services of which most will, at best, either slither into mediocrity or just plain fail due to a lack of funding and media agency support. Breaking new ground is not easy; breaking new media ground that translates into profit is even more difficult. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] 'Goodvertising' - the key to brand leadership

[Thomas Kolster] There's a transformational shift happening and it's picking up pace in the New Year. Business and its far-reaching (some might say overreaching) arm, advertising, are becoming more responsible, more caring and more sustainable. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] Targeted direct marketing to come into its own

[Warren Moss] The year ahead is unlikely to see any fantastical new developments in direct marketing; in fact, it's more likely to be characterised by the maturing of existing technologies and a return to more traditional practices. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

[2013 trends] The year of the snake

[Oresti Patricios] Context is king, but knowing what's around the next corner takes a little more than 20/20 vision. To find out what trends, innovations or environmental changes could affect your brand's future in 2013, here's some foresight. Read more >>

SWAZILAND

Senate president's censorship threat

Swaziland senate president Gelane Zwane has insulted and threatened journalists for turning up to a meeting to which they were invited, according to reports in the Times of Swaziland, the country's oldest privately-owned newspaper. Read more >>

UGANDA

MTN Uganda launches Wi-Fi hotspots

As MTN Uganda continues to cement its position, it has now launched a new Wi-Fi service with a number of MTN hotspots around the country. The hotspots will be available to MTN and non-MTN customers. Read more >>

AFRICA

utd. by content partners with WB Cape Media

Newly launched utd. by content have announced its further global expansion through a recent deal with WB Cape Media, a company spearheading the secure distribution of digital media throughout Africa. Read more >>

KENYA

AccessKenya rolls out optimisation drive

Corporate internet and IT solutions provider, AccessKenya Group has rolled out a network optimisation drive aimed at delivering faster internet speeds to customers over the next twelve months. Read more >>

KENYA

Mobile Web East Africa 2013 returns to Kenya

The 2013 Mobile Web East Africa (MWEA) conference will take place at the Southern Sun Mayfair in Nairobi, Kenya from 20-21 February 2013. Registration is now open and the agenda has been made live on the event website. Read more >>

AFRICA

FAIR to award small grants, applications open

FAIR (Forum for African Investigative Reporters) has announced that investigative journalists working for African media and residing in Africa can apply for a small grant under the 2013 'African Investigative Journalism Grants Fund'. Deadline for applications close on 27 February 2013 Read more >>

AFRICA

Google's chairman visits Nairobi to discuss ICT growth, innovation

Chairman of Google, Eric Schmidt was in Nigeria and Kenya last week to make a courtesy call to Lagos State Governor, Governor Babatunde Fashola accompanied by Google Ideas Director, Jared Cohen and country manager for Google Nigeria, Juliet Ehimuan Chiazor amongst others to discuss the use of information and communications technology to drive growth in various sectors of the Nigerian economy. Read more >>

LIBERIA

Ellen to remove draconian laws

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as part of her legislative agenda for 2013 is to remove some draconian laws from the books in a bid to promote free speech and the Press. Read more >>

NIGERIA

Q&A's on Nigeria's image in the media

[Nurudeen Oyewole] A few days ago, prominent Nigerians and communications experts gathered at a forum in Lagos to examine and proffer solutions to challenges facing the country's image. Read more >>

ZIMBABWE

Accurate marketing data imminent

Up-to-date data on what Zimbabweans read, watch, listen to and buy will be released next month. The fourth quarter Zimbabwe All Media and Products Survey (ZAMPS) research was completed last year and the data is now being analyzed and tabulated ready for release. Read more >>

FRANCE

Fat people more likely to die in a car accident

PARIS, FRANCE: Obese people face a much higher risk - of up to 80% - of dying in a car accident compared with people of normal weight, researchers reported on Monday (21 January). Read more >>

UNITED STATES

NYF: Second round, Executive Jury appointments

NEW YORK, US: New York Festivals International Advertising Awards has announced the second round of appointments for the 2013 Executive Jury. Since 2011, NYF has assembled the "dream team," an elite group of worldwide creative officers brought together to select the "World's Best Advertising." Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Baloyi says "no-one was cajoled" at Seriti Commission

No member of the Seriti commission of inquiry received instructions or was cajoled into producing a particular outcome, commission spokesman William Baloyi said on Tuesday (22 January). Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Airlines object to Fastjet's bid for 1time

[Nicky Smith] Almost all of SA's large airlines are formally objecting to the threat posed by UK-based Fastjet's attempts to enter the local market by taking over the operations of 1time Airline‚ which is in provisional liquidation‚ Business Day reports. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

SA will not create 5m new jobs says Mkhize

[Sam Mkokel] The government's target of creating 5m jobs by 2020 is unlikely to be met because of a range of factors including labour unrest and the strained relationship between the state and big business‚ says Economic Development Deputy Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Send your budget tips to the minister

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has invited the public to submit their tips on what they would like to see in the National Budget, which he will table next month. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

ECC to consider inputs on farmworkers' wages

The Employment Conditions Commission (ECC) will on Thursday meet to consider inputs collected from the nationwide public hearings on farmworkers' wages. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Eskom tariff hikes will hurt small businesses

Small businesses cannot afford spiralling electricity increases from Eskom and municipalities, Free State commercial property owner Wim Boshoff said on Monday (21 January). Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Amarok becomes the automatic choice

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Volkswagen's impressive Amarok bakkie has steadily been silencing the pessimistic noises from the doomsday prophets and the blue-bearded 4x4 'manne' who initially scathingly predicted all sorts of performance failures and possibly even the early demise of this classy German 2-litre, twin-turbo one-ton bakkie. Read more >>

SOUTH AFRICA

Mapungubwe floods: Latest news

The recent heavy rains experienced in most parts of the country have resulted in the sudden temporary closure of the Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage (MNP& WH) site. The park is inaccessible from Musina as roads leading to the area are washed away. Read more >>