Online – a necessary evil - 30 Nov 2009[Sindy Peters, content manager] Whether Rupert Murdoch's threat to pull content from News Corp off Google and put up a pay wall on all content from the company's publications is idle or not, it has brought to the fore, yet again, the question of whether newsprint will survive the rise of the digital age. There's a definite growing fear that print publications will slowly phase out as decreasing revenues make them unsustainable. It's a huge conundrum that companies are facing and whatever has to be done needs to be done soon. read more Beauty and the not so beautiful - 23 Nov 2009[Sindy Peters, content manager] South Africa will for the second consecutive year host the 2009 Miss World pageant. Some believe the event is outdated and degrading to women while others see it as an opportunity for women to contribute meaningfully to the world through the charities supported by the Miss World Organisation; it has raised more than £250 million for children's charities in its 58-year run. While most of the contestants' answers revolve around world peace and saving the planet, both wonderful endeavours, the whole cattle-parading of women who are considered 'beautiful' by a panel of 'qualified' judges does seem like an antiquated event in our modern world. read more Fighting crime for 2010 - 16 Nov 2009[Sindy Peters, content manager] If you're making your way to South Africa next year for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and are nervous about the country's crime rate statistics marring your experience, well that's pretty understandable. The South African government however is making a concerted effort to ensure visitor safety during the World Cup period with 41 000 police officers being deployed during the event. I also noted a step up in security this morning on the South African railway line service, Metrorail, with a friendly security guard checking passenger tickets at almost every stop. read more The power of mobile - 9 Nov 2009[Sindy Peters, content manager] With less than a month away from the 62nd World Newspaper Conference, a number of top speakers have been announced as part of the line-up at this year's event; one of the most important, being Olivier Fleurot, CE at Publicis Events Worldwide. He'll be looking at advertising effectiveness on the web and how news sites need to offer a platform that focuses on quality rather than quantity if they're going to attract advertisers. read more Another step into the 21st century - 2 Nov 2009[Rod Baker, guest columnist] If any of you thought that Somaliland is little more than warlords and pirates, the news is that the embattled country has made a step into this century - they have just introduced their first debit card. OK, they're a bit behind the rest of us, but at least it shows that there could be a functioning economy lurking in the background, and if they can shed their very dubious image of being an essentially lawless society, then outsiders - and that could include potential investors - might just be persuaded to take a closer look at our dilemma on the Horn of Africa. Meanwhile, back in Tunisia, it seems that journalists might be fair game. The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has condemned the beating of a Tunisian journalist, allegedly by police, and the arrest of another. When are Africa's authorities going to get it through their collective heads that this sort of thing does absolutely nothing for the continent's image? Freedom of the media and the freedom to do your job without being belted around the ear are part and parcel of a society that will tend to attract investments. read more Ambush, pirate marketing - 26 Oct 2009[Sindy Peters] The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa will see many brand and product owners trying to push their consumables by associating their goods with the epic event. FIFA has already barred about 20 entrepreneurs, mainly from the Gauteng region of the country, from using 2010 as a name or part of the name for any advertisement or campaign to promote their businesses. read more Business in Africa - 19 Oct 2009[Sindy Peters] The effects of the global economic downturn are evident everywhere from the number of companies undergoing liquidation, to unemployment figures rising sharply. However, things should be looking up all-round as Africa counts some of its losses and moves on. read more Concerts with a cause - 12 Oct 2009[Sindy Peters] Music festivals - they annually invade quiet little farm towns and for three days straight it's mostly all about sex, drugs and rock n' roll. Since Woodstock, when 500,000 fans descended on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York to promote music and peace, festivals such as these have always struck a cord with attendees in one way or another. read more 248 days and counting - 5 Oct 2009[Sindy Peters] Fans of football worldwide, but most particularly in Africa, are counting down the days to the kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. With just 248 days to go, everything seems to be running smoothly and all systems are a-go. read more Feeding Africa's imagination - 28 Sep 2009[Sindy Peters] Loeries fever in South Africa has once again come and gone in 2009. I'm sure, though, that some of the more enthusiastic are still nursing a hangover ensuing from the four-day festivities that saw Cape Town's Long Street become even more alive than it usually is. read more Escapism through reality? - 21 Sep 2009[Sindy Peters] It appears the escape from our own mundane lives through reality TV has not become tired in Africa. The concept still draws viewers, and it draws them in huge numbers. read more Light at the end of Zim tunnel - 14 Sep 2009[Sindy Peters] Politics in Zimbabwe is still highly volatile with the new Unity Government not quite on amicable terms and accusations being thrown back and forth as a low-key power struggle continues. Business in Zimbabwe, however, is picking up and potential investors are seeing great prospects for the country. read more Journalism governs Africa - 7 Sep 2009[Sindy Peters] Journalism in Africa is at times one of the most risky professions in the world, and yet there are thousands out there who can't seem to put their notepads down. It is also one of the fields that Africa is excelling in most and maintaining pace with the rest of the world. read more Revolutionised learning - 31 Aug 2009[Sindy Peters] I've never participated in distance learning and am fairly sceptical about whether it is as beneficial a tool as traditional learning methods. Feedback from those who have tried distance learning through locally based institutions has been more negative than positive - so where does online learning fit in? Lyndi Lawson looks at distance learning and the internet and weighs up how the internet has revolutionised the education sector in a two-part series. read more 2010 helping hands on deck - 24 Aug 2009[Sindy Peters] South Africans are eager to lend a helping hand during the FIFA 2010 World Cup with 47,251 applications already processed through FIFA.com. There are specific functional areas in which volunteers will serve. read more |
