July 13, 2009

[Editorial column] Why so low-key?

By Simone Puterman in Editor's column, Loeries, WAN, advertising, press freedom | 0 comments

If there is one issue that has been in the spotlight for the past weeks and months, if not years, it’s the debacle at the SABC. We’ve had the Full Monty, from trips overseas to board meetings in luxury hotels to board members resigning in droves to a leader who apparently ‘sucks’ as a leader - she said it, we didn’t. Now that we have an interim board and with the process now underway to nominate a permanent one, you’d think that given the mess at the SABC and the need to sort it out, the powers-that-be would at least get the issue of advertising for nominees right? Apparently not.

This morning, Monday, 13 July 2009, saw the launch of the Loeries judging week with presentations by jury chairmen Jan Jacobs, Jim Sutherland and Matt Shirtcliffe. An audience member pointed out during Q&A time that it was very telling that none of the show-and-tells included any traditional TV spots, but we certainly saw lots of digital and integrated campaigns. On the subject of digital, finally, after a short delay, Thursday 23 July, should see the switching on of the much-anticipated Seacom undersea cable. Will it bring South Africa - and South African advertising and marketing - into the digital age or will it only be the start of a year to two-year-long process?

Go go go, go Seacom, go!
The biz editorial team

PS In this week’s Ornico Ad Showcase, we feature TV ads for CTM, Rainbow Chicken, Woolworths, Mercedes and Stuttafords, and radio ads for Outsurance, Post Office, Telkom, DStv and Oxy.