by Herman Manson. The ANC’s ad agency of record has been dragged into a scandal surrounding an alleged “black ops” election campaign.
Tag archives: anc
Brand Politics: The reign of the evangelists
by Alistair Mackay (@almackay) Brand evangelists can be hugely damaging for a brand, whether in politics or the private sector. It’s not just people bad-mouthing a brand that can influence others to avoid it; it’s the characteristics of those singing its praises, too.
Brand Politics: Fighting to get noticed
In a hyper-sensitive market such as ours, the consequences of offending people are enormous. But the consequences of being bland are just as damaging for long-term brand growth. How can marketers get their brands noticed without getting them hated?
Brand Politics: After-sale marketing — where political branding falls down flat
by Alistair Mackay (@almackay) Political parties really don’t get after-sale marketing. Just as with consumers after having made an important and expensive purchase, emotions run high after an election and the risk of “buyer’s remorse” is real.
Brand Politics: Unite and conquer
by Alistair Mackay (@almackay) What is the 2014 version of advertising that crosses racial divides? Segmentation strategy in South Africa is difficult: we don’t like to be treated differently, and we recoil from brands that pick up on any differences. That creates a tension for marketers.
Design Annotator: “ABC’s of Xhosa Names” and election TV ads
by Uno de Waal (@Unodewaal) This week on Design Annotator we’re highlighting: Thandiwe Tshabalala’s illustrated GIFs; Cape Town-based illustrator Ninjabreadboy; graphic designer and art director Aldo Pulella; Greg and Roché Dry, founders of Egg Designs; Hanro Havenga’s BestRand photo project; train surfing in SA doccie; Cloudy With a Chance of Pixels; the Russian Bear #UrbanExpressions campaign; 2014 Cinemark Cannes Young Lions winners; and ANC and DA election TVCs.
Creation: Death by uninspired political posters
by Artwell Nwaila (@artwelln) Imagine a world where political parties attempt to get creative when it comes to voting season. A place where thought is put into a tagline beyond the dull call to action: “Vote for me”. A world where campaign posters capture your attention like a well-crafted full circle campaign.
FNB’s You can help – the ad campaign with democratic tendencies
A social contract exists between civil society and business that demands of business to engage with communities on issues relevant to them. Conveniently, business often ignores this contract, preferring to stay close to the politically connected, avoiding ‘hard’ issues and offering little more than sport sponsorships as their part of the bargain.
Faced with the abusive vitriol aimed at even the mildest critics of government performance it’s hard to blame corporate SA from shrugging off its responsibility to actively and publicly engage with civil society on issues of national importance including government performance.
Those too young to vote are already eyeing the difficult and real issues they will inherit from their elders. They need to be heard, now, even if what they have to say to the generation in charge is not what that generation wants to hear.
There is power here. It belongs not to the ruling party, or to big business, but to the emerging political activism of a generation born free. Their day is coming. FNB simply acknowledges this.
What the POI Bill says about the gradual erosion of our democracy
The Protection of Information Bill has just been steamrolled through and rubber-stamped by Parliament – a body tasked with balancing the demands of the executive with the best interests of their constituents – something it has consistently failed to do. In favour – and seeking the favour of – the executive.
Cartoonist vs. President
Last week, Jacob Zuma obtained a court date for his defamation lawsuit against Jonathan Shapiro, aka Zapiro, thus paving the way for history’s first civil court battle between a president and a cartoonist. Carlos Amato spoke to Zapiro, whose 16th annual collection, The Last Sushi, hits the streets this month. Interview by Carlos Amato, illustration by Zapiro