Have we become award obsessed?
Every recruitment ad demands 'award winning portie'. Every agency demands award winning ads. Are we in the business of selling our clients products or in the business of winning awards? 8 Mar 2006
Are smaller PR companies getting the short end of the stick?
The Public Relations industry as a business in South Africa is seriously facing dangerous waters. With the burgeoning of a zillion smaller PR companies, clients have picked up the scent of desperation in the air as consultancies clamour for a piece of the pie, to the extent that the industry as a whole is losing its weighting. 5 Mar 2006
Does my employer own every idea I conceptualize?
I'm employed to produce a certain TV show, but when I come up with a concept for a new show (totally different from the one I work on) why should my employer own MY concept? 2 Mar 2006
Same character over and over in ads - dangerous?
I sometimes find that in such ads, one ends up paying attention to the character and not what is being advertised. 28 Feb 2006
Corne & Twakkie - Indeed the most outrageous show
What could possibly be the entertainment value of this show? Why does every Afrikaans sitcom or series have to depict this nationality as the most backward race ever to grace the history of culture? 20 Feb 2006
Employers to be held accountable for piracy
With the ever increasing bandwidth, albeit a painfully slow progress, available in SA, music and video piracy is spiralling rapidly out of control. 13 Feb 2006
The future of magazines?
There's a new "magazine" that doesn't seem to be a magazine because it is not printed, but is on a disc (CD). Is this perhaps the future of publications? 5 Feb 2006
Barbaric Fear Factor
I'm disgusted and disappointed in Fear Factor and e.tv for actually broadcasting such a barbaric program. The poor people desperate for R250 000 are blinded by money and the contracts they signed are for cheap entertainment. 24 Jan 2006
Should audiences be warned about ''hidden'' or ''stealth'' advertising?
The Writers Guild of America, with backing from the Screen Actors Guild, has called for a code of conduct to govern the growing trend of hidden advertising in TV shows and films. 24 Jan 2006
Billboards taking over the suburbs
Are we allowing our suburbs to be overtaken by billboards and ad poles and is there a line to what should be advertised on them? 10 Jan 2006
Response rates
Concern around misconceptions by people who clearly do not know what they are talking about. 17 Nov 2005
Cinemas practising ''reduced prices ploy''
I recently went to the East Rand mall to see a movie. Upon my arrival I was told that the cinema has upgraded to "Classic" at a price of R35 or so, and no longer R12 on Tuesdays. 15 Nov 2005
What software helps marketers stay organized?
What tools are the best for bringing email, files, RSS, and other information sources together? 13 Nov 2005
No ho-ho!
The season of - "Oh hell, it's Noel" seems to come around a little faster each year, or are the retailers attempting to talk us in to Christmas specials earlier each year, in the hope that by the time that Christmas finally arrives, we will have been back for a second or third chance at the 'special offers'? 8 Nov 2005
Do you use Google to research people that you plan to employ?
One thing that I do is look up companies that I am either going to do some work for or if I am going for a job interview with them. I was just not sure if it work the other way round or do they take your CV at face value and a bit of work you have done on a CD. 7 Nov 2005
Corporate abuse of editors
A recent job ad called for 'editors' who would double up as sales consultants for all intents and purposes. 31 Oct 2005
Lack of support for local artists
I have a few pressing questions regarding support from the media for up and coming local artists that I just don't seem to have answers for. 30 Oct 2005
Smith and Pinkett hide themselves in cupboard
There have been a number of discussions centred on language and its use in the media, but for us whipcrackers even a dying hobbyhorse can do with a bit more flogging. 26 Oct 2005
The role of a press club
What role should a press club play in the media world, and what should it aim for? 10 Oct 2005
SABC TV commissioning
One production house is responsible for two sitcoms and some drama on SABC TV. Is it because there are not enough production houses to do the work or is this one particularly above the rest? 9 Oct 2005
Inferior language used in ads
Listening to radio commercials one frequently comes across spots being done by people who don't speak the language. 6 Oct 2005
What is it with some agencies that require people that are all rounders?
It is a bit like going to your general practitioner (Doc) to get a spine fusion done or your eyes fixed, that is what the specialists are there for. The design agency should work the same way, because when you employ general people you get general work but if you employ a specialist you get exceptional work. 29 Sep 2005
Poor service
There is never enough said on poor service in SA. Poor service extends right across the board. We need to keep the pressure up as consumers. 28 Sep 2005
Sponsorship in need of a paradigm shift
As a sponsorship practitioner it is both sad and unfortunate to see that major corporates are still biased and committed to investing most of their sponsorship budgets into sports. 27 Sep 2005
Potential design candidates appalling
I have been tasked to find a replacement for my position of Medium level Graphic Designer, and can't believe the poor quality of candidates out there. 26 Sep 2005
Difficulty getting sponsorship
I am in one of SA's fastest growing bands and we're looking for a financial partner. We've been to most of the big brands that usually get on board, but it seems that the wrong people are in charge of sponsorships and marketing these days. 15 Sep 2005
Unscrupulous small print publishers
I've recently observed that some small to medium sized publishers in this country have a unique practice. 7 Sep 2005
Outsurance ad misleading
At first glance an Outsurance ad that appeared on the front page of The Star on 29 August and on the inside back cover of the August issue of Car Magazine looked like a great offer. 31 Aug 2005
Media messages must be sensitive to the realities of life
The new Joko Tea ad is ill-conceived, condescending and trivialises the lifestyle of the working class. 22 Aug 2005
