The New Age: not an agent of change
TNA Media has launched the long-awaited, and much-debated, newspaper The New Age. Its front page, its second after the freebie Heritage Day special, reflects editor Henry Jeffreys’ careful juggling act of batting away any criticism that the newspaper is obviously pro-ANC while also creating interest during a rather slow news cycle. One issue doesn’t make a newspaper, or break it, and the paper has some obvious strengths, mostly in the form of Jeffreys, but also in... Read More
Wayne Naidoo elected as ACA chair
Wayne Naidoo (CEO of Lowe Bull) has been appointed the new chairperson of the Association for Communication and Advertising of South Africa (ACA) in place of Reinher Behrens. Two vice chairs were re-elected, namely Mike Gendel and Boniswa Pezisa, while Nina Morris took the third spot vacated by the election of Naidoo. Naidoo will chair his first official ACA meeting in the new year. Members can expect continued work on issues such as transformation, education (through the AAA... Read More
Y&R to restructure, refuses comment on Lamb resignation
Following the recent surprise announcement that Fraser Lamb had resigned as group CEO of Y&R, a wall of silence around the resignation seems to have been erected around the company by its management. Yossi Schwartz, chairman of Young & Rubicam Brands SA, declined to comment on Lamb’s resignation, saying it was a private decision he wished to respect. Schwartz is the only spokesperson within the company allowed to engage with the media on the matter of Lamb’s... Read More
Riaad ‘Riyad’ Moosa now guilty of hate speech – BCCSA
The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) is at it again – this time accusing comedian Riaad Moosa of hate speech for busting some racial prejudices and using the word “coolie” in the process. It also renamed him “Riyad”. The BCCSA recently made a similar ruling against comedian John Vlismas although, in that instance, it actually got his name right. The BCCSA seems to be unfamiliar with intent and context when it comes to its... Read More
Award-show behaving badly
Immature or wild at heart? Either one could describe the third annual Bookmarks awards evening, where the digital marketing and publishing evening took the opportunity last night, Thursday, 18 November 2010, to pat one another on the back – albeit cautiously. Held at Brio in Cape Town, the long narrow room filled to capacity by 7pm, the evening kept guests on their feet for the next two and a half hours, literally, since no seating was available. The vibe was clubby, with... Read More
