Four young South African media practitioners have been awarded the Advertising Media Forum (AMF)’s Media Masters scholarships.
Katherine Leise (Nota Bene JHB), Arisha Haripersadh (MediaShop Durban), Bahia Ahmed (MEC Cape Town), and Lati Mushiana (Media Basics) have each received funding for their chosen courses, which range from internet marketing to marketing communications.
“The standard of entries was very high, but the scholarship recipients were chosen for their well-rounded media knowledge, articulate and distinctive voice, and personal presentation skills. Our judging panel was particularly impressed with the passion they felt for the media agency sector – a crucial part of how we eventually see a message,” said AMF chairperson, Erica Gunning.
“Our aim in awarding these scholarships is to equip candidates with skills they would not be likely acquire in the normal course of their functions. All of them will have the benefit of gaining knowledge of contemporary and future trends in the media agency sector,” she said.
The AMF scholarship fund, created from the proceeds of last year’s Mystery Masters’ Golf Day, will award rising media agency stars who have exhibited exceptional personal and career attributes and show promise in significantly contributing to the media agency landscape.
All four recipients emphasised the need to keep abreast of a dynamic and ever-changing career sector.
Lati Mushiana will study Marketing Communication at the AAA School of Advertising. “My course will expose me to different concepts and empower me to be a more rounded professional,” she said.
Arisha Haripersadh will use her scholarship to complete her Honours in Marketing Management with the IMM. “Marketing and media influence our buying decisions in a conscious and an unconscious way. Making a contribution to the industry which orchestrates the campaigns that create these influences is fascinating and satisfying.”
Katherine Liese has opted for an online course, the Quirk Certificate Course in Digital Marketing, from the Business School of the University of Stellenbosch. “I believe that this course offers me the opportunity of becoming a fully holistic communication practitioner and strategist. Our industry is so dynamic that we need to invest many hours in improving what we offer, creating value for the agency, oneself and our profession as a whole.”
Bahia Ahmed’s interest is also online. “I think it’s important for us to understand the ever-changing role of the SMS, e-mail and other online applications from a marketing perspective. A Certificate in Internet Marketing will give me a distinct edge and benefit my clients. There are now so many advantages to clients using online advertising and the more I know, the better I can utilise them.”
This is the second year that these scholarships have been awarded.
