Marketing & Media Africa weekly newsletter - 15 May 2007

More opportunities for African learners open up
[Themba Gadebe] An amount of US$10 million (approx. R69 million) has been set aside to increase educational opportunities for African learners over the next five years.

Wild Talk Africa is an international festival and conference for the wildlife, travel and cultural filmmaking industry.

The event takes place from the 27- 30 August 2007 at the ICC Durban.

For more info visit www.wildtalkafrica.com

Media

Zimbabwean journalists now an endangered species
Otto Saki, a leading human rights lawyer, on 3 May 2007 said disregard of the rule of law was fast turning into a culture in Zimbabwe, characterised by the unlawful arrests, detention and torture of journalists.

NORTH AFRICA

Conflict takes heavy toll of Arab journalists
Conflict and civil strife in the Middle East and North Africa have taken a heavy toll of Arab journalists working in these areas.

Justice takes another beating in Zimbabwe
The detention of two lawyers for providing legal counsel to members of Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party is the latest attempt by the ZANU-PF government to undermine the rule of law and victimise practitioners representing the opposition, legal experts have said.

Violence against journalists now routine in Somalia
Journalists association calls on international community to put pressure on Somali government.

Nominations wanted
Canadian journalists association seeks nominations for International Press Freedom Award.

Beating of media lawyer slammed
Outraged by the police attack on Zimbabwean human rights lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, and three other attorneys last week, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for a full and transparent investigation of the incident.

PAP proposal provokes Zimbabwe
The Pan-African Parliament's decision to send a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe has raised the ire of the Zimbabwean government.

Somalia: New restrictive media law criticised
An international watchdog organisation says that the draft media law of Somalia must be revised to meet international standards.

‘Breach of guidelines' leads to suspension
Goma reporter suspended without pay after interviewing disaffected general.

Mobile

NIGERIA

MTN begins test calls on 3G platform
[Remmy Nweke] MTN Nigeria is reported to have successfully tested its 3G Universal Mobile Telecommunications platform for voice and video transmissions.

NIGERIA

"Epileptic" power supply to blame for poor telecoms
[Remmy Nweke] The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has blamed the increasing poor quality of services of telecommunications operators in the country on the lack of adequate power supply - according to its chairman, Gbenga Adebayo.

MTC completes Celtel buyout
[Remmy Nweke] Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) Group of Kuwait, has announced its 100% acquisition of Celtel International - the Ireland-based telecom company.

Newspapers

High Court refers Daily News to Information Minister

A Zimbabwean Court Wednesday rejected an application by The Daily News to be registered, and suggested that the paper must submit its application to the government.

MOROCCO

Moroccan monarch’s marijuana report lands Spanish journalist in court
José Luis Gutiérrez, a Spanish journalist has allegedly been a target of Spanish judicial harassment for more than a decade for reporting on a hashish case involving a vehicle linked to the Moroccan monarchy.

WEST AFRICA

Journalist faces possible jail term in criminal defamation case
Article allegedly defaming police chief could land Burkina Faso reporter in jail.

WEST AFRICA

Dusty demands damages
Government representative threatens legal action against newspaper over article implicating him in oil deal with foreign company.

CENTRAL AFRICA

Journalist in police custody in Kinshasa
Article critical of appointment of senior official facing charges lands publisher in custody.

WEST AFRICA

Liberian newspaper editor won’t knuckle down
The editor embroiled in the notorious Knuckles scandal report says he won’t back down. He wants justice – and his day in court.

Online Media

EGYPT

Egyptian judge wants websites blocked
Judge asks courts to block 29 additional websites, brings lawsuit against directors of HRinfo, Hisham Mubarak Law Centre and blogger Amr Gharbia.

Out Of Home

SOUTH AFRICA

The Quick Kiosk is right every time - Right Stuff

When it comes to outdoor event and point-of-sale branding, the Quick Kiosk provides a combined branding and sales platform using the classic recognisable Teardrop shape while also providing shade.

Radio

Oppah to get radio licence?
The ruling Zanu (PF) party has allegedly given top party officials operating licenses for radio stations following last year's African Commission (AC) ruling that the government should allow independent players in the media industry.

Reporter killed during army raid in Somalia
A radio contributor was hit and killed in crossfire while covering an army raid on an illegal gun market in Somalia.

NAMIBIA

Namibian chat show muzzled after Nujoma ‘collaborator’ issue aired
Change in format to popular show coincides with callers demanding that the country's founding president, Sam Nujoma, explain his alleged links with the CIA and a claim that he collaborated with South Africa during the liberation struggle.