Media Moves… TheMediaOnline’s weekly round up. Isolezwe promotes journalists, new editor for Isolezwe ngeSonto. Tuned In Publicity hires radio campaign manager. New VP of commercial operations for A+E Networks. Cape Town’s Brand inc flourishes with new employees. Stone Soup PR wins Ads24 account. NAB represents SANParks Times. Fivestar PR back on Santa Shoebox project. Volcano Advertising wins MAN Truck account. Isilumko a winner at Top Women Awards. All the moves in media.
Who’s moved where
Isolezwe promotes journalists, new editor for Isolezwe ngeSonto
The isiZulu newspaper, Isolezwe, has announced promotions within its editorial lineup, strengthening an already winning team. Sazi Hadebe, who was appointed Isolezwe editor in July, is responsible for the daily and both the weekend titles.
Slindile Khanyile has moved from her position as weekend editor to support Hadebe as deputy editor. Isolezwe ngeSonto’s news editor, Sandile Mdadane has been promoted to weekend editor.
“We’ve kept our news environment open across the titles,” says Hadebe. “It’s important that we can follow stories and share ideas but the Saturday and Sunday editions have their own content emphasis and tone,” he says.
Mdadane (@SansMdadane) has been in senior editorial positions on Isolezwe ngeSonto since its launch in March 2008. He has worked across sports, education, entertainment and politics in his 14 years in journalism, and regards his promotion as a welcome opportunity to develop new skills.
“As weekend editor, I’ll be overseeing two quite different titles,” he says. “Saturdays are particularly strong on human interest, advice and sport while Sundays are far more entertainment-driven,” he says.
A Mamelodi Sundowns supporter, the 36-year-old Mdadane is father of two sons. In addition to his passion for soccer, he enjoys music and poetry – dabbling as a guitarist and poet in his spare time.
Cutting his teeth as an arts reporter at a weekly isiZulu newspaper in 1997, the same year in which he graduated from the ML Sultan Technikon (now known as Durban University of Technology), Mdadane was also launch editor for a popular isiZulu entertainment and lifestyle supplement.
“There’s a youthful energy and enthusiasm driving Isolezwe,” says Hadebe. “That needs to be balanced with rigorous journalism and the editorial capacity to nurture and train staff.”
The strong editorial structure aims to sustain growth of the 10year-old daily and the younger weekend titles, Isolezwe ngeSonto (2008) and Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo (2011).
“All three titles are growing, placing increasing demands on the editorial staff,” say joint general managers of Independent Newspapers KZN, Brian Porter and Greg le Roux. “Running a 24/7 news operation can be brutal but Isolezwe has the added pressure of rapid circulation and advertising growth,” says Porter
PIC (from left) – Sandile Mdadane Isolezwe weekend editor, Slindile Khanyile Isolezwe deputy editor and Sazi Hadebe Isolezwe editor
Tuned In Publicity hires radio campaign manager
Mike Savage has joined entertainment public relations experts Tuned In Publicity in as radio campaign manager. Savage, who has a professional background in the radio industry, will be handling the submission of new music to radio stations across the country.
“Radio plugging is important in any artist’s career and it is vital that it is handled correctly and the music is presented in the best possible light to music managers and play list compilers,” said Tim Hill, publicist and brand manager, Tuned In Publicity, “Mike’s inside knowledge on how radio and the rest of the music industry align themselves will assist in placing singles where they will receive the best possible chance of being play listed.”
Savage started off a career in radio at campus level on UCT Radio and Kovsies. He then moved inland to Mpumalanga where he worked under the guidance of radio veterans Kevin Savage, Tony Murell and Dave Walters and was involved in both producing and presenting for MPower FM in Nelspruit. Most recently, Savage was awarded the role of producer for Martin Bester Drive on Jacaranda FM.
New VP of commercial operations for A+E Networks
Fast-growing factual entertainment broadcaster A+E Networks™ UK, a joint venture between A+E Networks™ and BSkyB, has appointed Bakori Davis in the newly created role as VP of commercial operations.
Davis, who joins the company from Viacom Media Networks, will be responsible for all linear and non-linear channel distribution within the UK, Ireland, Central and Eastern Europe, Nordics, Benelux, Iceland, Greece, Africa and the Middle East. He will focus on driving growth of the portfolio of high-quality, ground-breaking A+E Networks UK’s channels including HISTORY™, Crime & Investigation Network®, BIO®, and MILITARY HISTORY®.
Davis will also manage A+E Networks UK’s ad sales efforts, responsible for international advertising, branded content and integrated marketing opportunities.
“It’s an exciting time to be joining A+E Networks UK,” Davis says. “The business is expanding, having recently concluded a deal to extend the distribution of its channels in Central and Eastern Europe. I am looking forward to driving further growth and exploring new business opportunities in new markets.”
A+E Networks UK operates channels in 27 countries across the UK, Europe, Africa and the Middle East and is available in more than 67 million homes and in 15 language
Cape Town’s Brand inc flourishes with new employees.
Two new Brand inc-ers have settled in at sports and creative specialist agency Brand Inc Cape Town. Rista Saunders has joined to run their front of house, whilst Claud Plaatjies enhances the online and multimedia side of the agency.
Who’s won what
Stone Soup PR wins Ads24 account
Ads24, the national sales and trade marketing division for Media24’s print and online newspaper brands, has appointed Stone Soup PR as its media relations and communications company, after a hotly contested three-way pitch.
Linda Gibson, CEO of Ads24, said that Stone Soup PR’s expertise will be most leveraged in publicising Ads24’s research products and creating awareness about its integrated audience, print and online. “The selection was thorough and audited. We felt that Stone Soup was the only agency that broke the brief down and answered all the questions we posed, such is the extent of their industry knowledge, which is formidable.”
Ads24 already reaches 70% of the total newspaper readership (AMPS 2011) through titles that include Daily Sun, Rapport, City Press, Beeld and many local newspapers. In addition, Ads24 offers national advertisers integrated newspaper and digital opportunities via the newspaper websites, mobisites and tablet applications.
Stone Soup, which recently celebrated its tenth birthday, has experience across a number of business-to-business sectors, is well connected and brings specific advertising, marketing and media industry knowledge and understanding to Ads24.
NAB represents SANParks Times
NAB has been appointed to represent SANParks Times, a new quarterly publication that will be distributed to 19 national parks and also on several international flights. A total of 120 000 copies will be printed.
“SANParks Times will appeal to a national and an international audience so is ideal for advertisers wanting to reach consumers who are affluent and enjoy a finer lifestyle. Advertising is open for the first two editions, which will be published in September and December this year,” says Gill Randall, joint MD of NAB.
“Total SA is committed as a major contributor to the project but there are numerous stakeholders who are actively involved in nature conservation and believe in our country’s natural heritage. This product offers advertisers an opportunity to show commitment to conservation in South Africa.”
The publication’s 2013 issues will be published in April/May and July 2013.
Fivestar PR back on Santa Shoebox project
Fivestar PR has once again pledged its services on a pro bono basis to the Santa Shoebox Project, which kicks off on 1 September this year with an ambitious target of no less than 100 000 shoeboxes. The Cape-based PR agency has successfully driven the media campaign for this inspiring project since its inception.
The Santa Shoebox Project has over the years become a familiar brand within the media landscape, attracting a wide range of sponsors and donors across the country. It is an inspiring community initiative of the Kidz2Kidz Trust, a non-profit organisation that has been collecting personalized ‘Santa Shoeboxes’ at Christmas time for thousands of children from distinctly vulnerable social backgrounds since 2006. In 2011 it collected gifts for more than 70 000 children in need, at over 620 children’s homes, crèches and educare centres across South Africa and as far as Namibia.
Janie van der Spuy, who heads up the boutique PR agency, says that the company is delighted to be involved with the project on an on-going basis. “We look forward to the project launch each year, and love the opportunity to give back by being involved in this heart-warming project. The support from the media has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I can honestly say that they have played a vital role in growing the project year on year, by spreading the word to encourage more donors to sign up. “
With ‘teach your child the joy of giving’ as the essence of the project, the Santa Shoebox Project is instrumental in involving people from all walks of life, especially children together with their parents, in giving to children in need who may never have received a gift at Christmas before.
To participate in this heart-warming project, simply register online, where an easy step-by-step procedure will guide you through the process. www.santashoebox.co.za
Volcano Advertising wins MAN Truck account
MAN Truck & Bus, global supplier of commercial vehicles, have appointed Volcano Advertising to develop a creative campaign for their Consistently Efficient Tour 2012. The roadshow kicked off in Centurion on 15 August, travelling nationwide across more than 4000 kilometres. Volcano Advertising have developed the creative theme for the roadshow as well as facilitated the rollout of these elements across various below-the-line channels.
Who’s making moves
Isilumko a winner at Top Women Awards
At the 9th Annual Top Women Awards, Isilumko Staffing, holding company to Isilumko Media, was winner in the Top Gender Empowered Company category for Business Support Services. In addition, MD Nritika Singh was selected as finalist in the Top Woman Executive Category. The awards event shone the spotlight on top businesswomen in 2012 and companies at the forefront of gender empowerment in the country.
“I’m so proud to be a finalist; it is our aim as a company to do our part to make the South African workplace more gender equitable. Isilumko has a heart for transformation and recently we announced our latest BBBEE certificate rating which has been elevated from a Level 3 to a Level 2,” Singh said.
Isilumko is 49.8% female owned and 73% of the staff complement is female. Additionally, over 80% of the management team is female.
The judging panel for the 2012 Awards was made up of esteemed business leaders like Basetsana Kumalo – director of Travel with Flair; Stewart van Graan – general manager of Dell Southern and Central Africa; Dolly Mokgatle – co-founder and executive director of Peotona Group Holdings, and Ansie Ramalho – CEO of the Institute of Directors of South Africa, to name a few.
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