OPINION

"The politics of TV and voting" - MarkLives

And other top advertising, media and marketing news, analysis and opinion on the website this week, including...

Thinking TV: The politics of TV and voting

By Inge Hansen. With 20 years of democracy behind us, in May 2014, the South African public prepared once again to go to the polls and cast their vote in the national elections. However, things were beginning to change for the parties wooing for votes, in that it's more difficult now to hold people's attention than it has ever been and their sources of information are now constantly evolving.

Gail Curtis leaves Saatchi & Saatchi

by Herman Manson. Gail Curtis has left advertising and her position as group CEO at Saatchi & Saatchi South Africa, after nine years with the agency. She departed in May 2014 but is committed to advising the agency through July. Her plans are to establish a new consultancy focused on mentoring women in senior management positions.

Letter from NY: The truth about Cannes

by Matthew Bull. I have just completed my 13th Cannes Lions in 15 years and the change from my first one in 1999 has been remarkable. The truth is that it's now a media event, where the powerful new media and digital companies of our era jostle for the front page - and the downside of all this is the relegation in standing of the creative awards.

The Sell: Buyers, browsers and brand new content

by Mimi Nicklin. I recently had a debate with a colleague of mine who works in the global ad world. Her opinion was that content marketing - social, online, blogs etc - were firmly in the ‘consumer' camp when it comes to the ‘consumer vs shopper' debate. Strictly the business of "the content agencies and digital shops..." As you might guess, I disagreed.

Africa Dispatches: Africa's most-admired

Africa's most-admired brands as selected by key influencers. Curated by Mandy de Waal.

Regular reads:

Ad of the Week with OrestiPatricios: Sanlam's super-duper boy

Heroes &Zeros with Andy Rice: Old Spice & Harvey Nichols - best ads of the week

Shelf Life with Louise Marsland: Transforming the Oreo brand in graphic 3D

MagLove with MediaSlut: Corny, canny and crazy cover concepts, from Geena& Susan to craggy Clint

Design Annotator with Uno de Waal: Domestic bliss, super boy and adventurous photographs

#Top40TVratings with SAARF &MarkLives: #WorldCup scores five of Top 10 slots

On the radar:

Naspers sees internet revenues rise to R57bn

IAS opens in Cape Town

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