PARTY

"WPP brings GREY back to SA; ABC Q1 figures out" - MarkLives

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

WPP strikes again, brings GREY back to SA

by Herman Manson. GREY has re-entered the South African market. WPP has announced that its wholly-owned operating company Grey has acquired a majority stake in The Volcano Group. GREY exited the local market abruptly in July 2013, when it closed its Johannesburg agency.

ABC: The biggest circulating newspapers in South Africa

by Herman Manson. The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released newspaper circulation statistics for the period January - March 2014 (2014 Q1). Daily newspapers have seen a slight uptick in circulation to 1 622 041, compared to 1 541 488 in the previous corresponding period. Note: we compare the current figures with the same figures for this time last year, and not with the previous quarter.

ABC: The biggest circulating consumer magazines in South Africa

by Herman Manson. The Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa has released circulation statistics for the period January - March 2014. Overall, circulation has fallen to 5 888 456 from 6 207 891 in the previous corresponding reporting period (and from 5 912 008 in the previous quarter). Note: we compare the current figures with the same figures for this time last year, and not with the previous quarter.

See also:

ABC Newspaper Round-up: Weekend papers suffer

ABC Magazine Round-up: Consumer magazines continue decline

Grubstreet: SA's newspapers give us something to chew on

Dissident Spin Doctor: Dear brands, (please stop) the dumb things you do

by Emma King. It's interesting to look at what our partners - the brands we work with - should not do, or should stop doing. Here are some of the things that bug me the most.

The Switch: Do you want a loerie or an ostrich?

by Alistair Mokoena The loerie bird has, in essence, become the hallmark of creative excellence in our industry. But what if I told you there is another bird out there, of equal significance? A bird that can teach us a few valuable lessons about running a successful business?

Regular reads:

Ad of the Week with Oresti Patricios: #RainyDay savings

Heroes & Zeros with Andy Rice: Rescue Radio's Hidden Message - best ad of the week

Shelf Life with Louise Marsland: Transforming Jozi CBD through creating meaningful change

MagLove with MediaSlut: Putin Apple to the beat

Design Annotator with Uno de Waal: AfrikaBurn, botanical projects and backpacking in Maboneng

#Top40TVratings with SAARF & MarkLives: Drama rules supreme, despite elections

On the radar:

John Brown Media makes senior appointments

Liquorice names executive creative director

Velocity executive producer Peter Carr to head up Bouffant

PAMRO call for papers

Mobile industry's annual global Smarties Awards comes to SA

To be in the know, read www.marklives.com and sign up here for MarkLives' round-up of top ad and media industry news, analysis and opinion in your mailbox every three work days! Follow @marklives on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Pinterest