tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35062677266306419952024-02-19T14:21:38.314+02:00hwbblogHWB Communications: PR in Cape Town, South Africa and Africa - info@hwb.co.zaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-55874905898690220742014-03-25T09:56:00.000+02:002014-03-25T09:56:04.724+02:00Newspaper circulation in South Africa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6mn5bgc2iWjzcHQX6ZxYua_LNm5Xj6HOEcfJVRYhxYX5RzhFzUq_uEKFB4OG0-ELpjxjobrpLadW0wnf2IzKwADlfkN2lHIPlQclKrijq_lqKcmgtBxhX_qJ6YTxv7T-8clxWwQI-Xw/s1600/Newspaper+circulation+SA+-+25.03.14+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6mn5bgc2iWjzcHQX6ZxYua_LNm5Xj6HOEcfJVRYhxYX5RzhFzUq_uEKFB4OG0-ELpjxjobrpLadW0wnf2IzKwADlfkN2lHIPlQclKrijq_lqKcmgtBxhX_qJ6YTxv7T-8clxWwQI-Xw/s1600/Newspaper+circulation+SA+-+25.03.14+(2).jpg" height="640" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-13304523198305388842014-03-12T12:45:00.001+02:002014-03-12T12:45:25.789+02:00New algorithms for search engines: 7 tips to improve your Google ranking - A blog by one of our PRGN partners in Europe Google has changed the search algorithms three times between 2011 and 2013. The following tips will help you to land as far as possible above on the searches hit list:<br />
<br />
Constantly creating new user oriented content (Content) on your own website. This means that visitors will stay longer on your website and Google shows that their side has a high relevance for certain topics.<br />
Ensure that the content coming from you - best links to your site (Back links) - will be published on reputable websites such as online magazines and communities guides. This is also for Google a central indicator of the relevance of their Internet pages.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>Do not pay for the mass positioning of the same content (Duplicate Content) or back links on sites such as pseudo press portals or web directories that were obviously created only to distort Google results in favour of certain pages. Google ignores such entries or even "punishes<span id="goog_1876078329"></span><span id="goog_1876078330"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>" companies appearing now in such "spam pages".<br />
<br />
Design your website content, structure and technique so that Google can analyze all the content easily and classify it thematically. This is achieved, among other things, by defining and integrating the best possible keywords, creating a user-friendly structure and eliminating hard-analyzable elements such as very large images and flash animations.<br />
<br />
Take care when providing new content on your site that subject matter and scope "fit" for your company. Google could otherwise classify your online appearance as a spam page. A small specialized business, for example, should not publish news on a wide range of subjects every day.<br />
<br />
If you lack expertise or staff, you can be supported by experienced agencies for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Public Relations (PR). While an SEO agency is a great way to lay the foundations (point 4), PR agencies are inherently professionals in providing customer-driven, high-quality content and place it on reputable websites (Point 1 + 2).<br />
<br />
Choose SEO and PR agencies who know the respective other side and work together efficiently and effectively. This guarantees an optimal strategy, an optimal conversion and an optimal Google ranking.<br />
<br />
Industry-Contact AG (IC AG) in Hamburg and seo support GmbH from Berlin are close partners for this reason.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Uwe Schmidt is with <a href="http://www.publicrelations-germany.com/news/2014-03-03-google-ranking-tips.html">IC AG Public Relations Agency</a> in Germany and a member of the Public Relations Global Network. A grouping to which HWB also belongs.</span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-7046712372035871112014-03-11T10:00:00.002+02:002014-03-11T10:03:29.448+02:00Social media: Be prepared to be overwhelmed'Elections 2014 will be the first national poll in South Africa where social media will be a key part of political campaigns. Well, much more so than in the past,' says HWB social media guru Martin Slabbert.<br />
In coming weeks you could be swamped with political tweets, status updates, Youtube videos, and posts.<br />
How do you cut through all the noise?<br />
<br />
There could be some political comments which will offend or disturb you. In the past, people could shout objectionable comments at only political meetings. Thanks to social media, the reach of their soapboxes has grown exponentially. Our Constitution guarantees free speech – people have the right to say things that you may not agree with. Of course, this does not mean that comments that would have been subject to legal challenges in print or in broadcast are somehow now acceptable on social media.<br />
<br />
Most political parties already have established communication teams that work purely on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and any other available channel. Martin says this means that there is a great chance that you may be exposed to messages of 'vote for me' or 'we deserve your vote'.<br />
<br />
Take everything you read with a bag of salt. Make sure you can verify that the message indeed came from the legitimate political party, and not from some hoax account. It happens to film stars and musicians; why can’t it happen to politicians?<br />
<br />
As election day draws closer, Martin believes social media will get very noisy. His final tip: Be prepared to be overwhelmed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqaTfpZqx_Nzsn-flBaYwaSXPGiyPlbvG8C3WTtbzOxkc5F0gZ637A9jkJMZyIJ0zVOF2GPc8Qe3NSGKNcZ6awc42fyku8O8iRAWIHNCEdtiV9i8ilx19hydhh_aBXFC3nWcCRjkkTJU/s1600/Martin_Slabbert_3+low+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqaTfpZqx_Nzsn-flBaYwaSXPGiyPlbvG8C3WTtbzOxkc5F0gZ637A9jkJMZyIJ0zVOF2GPc8Qe3NSGKNcZ6awc42fyku8O8iRAWIHNCEdtiV9i8ilx19hydhh_aBXFC3nWcCRjkkTJU/s1600/Martin_Slabbert_3+low+res.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<a href="https://plus.google.com/+MartinSlabbert?rel=author" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;" target="_blank">https://plus.google.com/+MartinSlabbert?rel=author</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-51749623978595059132014-02-07T15:53:00.001+02:002014-02-07T15:53:36.676+02:00Check it out: HWB Video Headlines – Volume 1: The making of our newsletter<a href="http://%3Ciframe%20width%3D%22560%22%20height%3D%22315%22%20src%3D%22//www.youtube.com/embed/N7YCjxg0qPI%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/N7YCjxg0qPI" width="560"></iframe></a><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-18948442728607114002014-01-21T11:40:00.001+02:002014-01-21T11:40:16.375+02:00Our CEO talks about the media & why PR is crucial for your brand<iframe frameborder="0" height="180" src="//www.mixcloud.com/widget/iframe/?feed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mixcloud.com%2Ftheothermichaeljackson%2Ftop-pr-guru-talks-about-the-media-a-why-pr-is-crucial-for-your-brand-meet-hwbs-evelyn-holtzhausen%2F&embed_type=widget_standard&embed_uuid=6a994c3a-f488-4bb1-abfa-8f89691363e9&hide_tracklist=1&hide_cover=1" width="660"></iframe><br />
<div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 610px;">
</div>
<div style="color: #999999; display: block; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 4px; width: 652px;">
<a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/theothermichaeljackson/top-pr-guru-talks-about-the-media-a-why-pr-is-crucial-for-your-brand-meet-hwbs-evelyn-holtzhausen/?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=base_links&utm_term=resource_link" style="color: grey; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Top PR Guru talks about the media & why PR is crucial for your brand: Meet HWB's Evelyn Holtzhausen</a> by <a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/theothermichaeljackson/?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=base_links&utm_term=profile_link" style="color: grey; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Other Michael Jackson</a> on <a href="http://www.mixcloud.com/?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=base_links&utm_term=homepage_link" style="color: grey; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"> Mixcloud</a></div>
<div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both; height: 3px; width: 652px;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-83345154895268726312014-01-16T15:18:00.001+02:002014-01-16T15:18:40.103+02:00Keeping it straight<div align="left" class="article-content" style="color: #9b9b9b; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
Businesses that sweep honesty under the carpet
while they make a fast buck get short shrift from clients in the long run.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
That has always been true, and social media has
made it even more difficult for the smooth operators to flourish. It takes just
an instant for a dissatisfied consumer to leap onto Twitter, Facebook or a blog
and make their displeasure known.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
However, our motivation should not be the fear of
being found out. We ought rather to depart from a point of integrity, and
consistently deal in a manner that is ethical, open and honest. This is what HWB
strives for in our dealings with clients and it is the quality we look for in
our clients and service providers. Our founding statement remains <em>Focus,
Attention to Detail and Follow Through</em>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
Our drive this year will be to continue to work
with integrity. In this manner we hope to grow our business – and assist our
clients to grow theirs – to new heights in 2014 and beyond. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
Take care out there</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGzIw2aoXXS31rlnK11XW2FfomVRuTQlGnHZMmphwrHQHpeKlmS2BUITiH2zKuhQf-11B6LfrCus1LwqdlF9DqB0kFQ5qISacgenFioir0vBwQknHqbN0z8OY6JNYcTppBTizJ9_uWSg/s1600/evelyn+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGzIw2aoXXS31rlnK11XW2FfomVRuTQlGnHZMmphwrHQHpeKlmS2BUITiH2zKuhQf-11B6LfrCus1LwqdlF9DqB0kFQ5qISacgenFioir0vBwQknHqbN0z8OY6JNYcTppBTizJ9_uWSg/s1600/evelyn+blog.jpg" height="200" width="172" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9b9b9b; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-left;">Evelyn John Holtzhausen</span><br style="color: #9b9b9b; line-height: 13px; text-align: -webkit-left;" /><span style="color: #9b9b9b; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-left;">CEO at HWB Communciations</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-92215285756240367152013-12-17T10:46:00.000+02:002013-12-17T13:53:52.503+02:00Tips from our social media guru: Never feed a troll“The good thing about #socialmedia is that it gives everybody a voice. The bad thing is that it gives everybody a voice. Do your work well and roll with the punches, because the truth will out.”<br />
<br />
Your greatest asset on social media is a strong community that loves your product or service and can spontaneously swot down “trolls” when they appear.<br />
<br />
A troll is a vicious person who delights in maligning others. Trolls crave attention, so don't "feed" them by responding to their negativity, says our social media guru Martin Slabbert. <br />
<br />
"Make sure your community knows the real you, and they will slap the lid back on the troll's box when he or she appears," he says.<br />
<br />
Martin is the brains behind the social media campaign for <a href="http://www.myciti.org.za/en/home/">MyCiTi</a> and many others clients. “As a community manager, you should always be aware of what people are saying about you," he says. “Use Tweetdeck or Hootsuite to track specific keywords on multiple social media platforms.”<br />
<br />
Social media is conversational, so be slow to take offence. “What you do need to do, is monitor trends,” advises Martin. “If the trend is good feedback then thank people and keep up the good work. If the trend is bad, you should apologise for any inconvenience, tell people how you will make amends, and do so quickly."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ke1wX7gLUNwHTglP9RzZMMpdmVMdhS33i2LcdZoSyIflPZgbhM06yUWf1QmbNK2kntMEOOFgIfVUe4s6gnIEEJpf6u1ymMllwW7x5vonkl7Qqj58uELT6SJIBdFTlexwaol_oWhzNR4/s1600/Martin_Slabbert_3+low+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ke1wX7gLUNwHTglP9RzZMMpdmVMdhS33i2LcdZoSyIflPZgbhM06yUWf1QmbNK2kntMEOOFgIfVUe4s6gnIEEJpf6u1ymMllwW7x5vonkl7Qqj58uELT6SJIBdFTlexwaol_oWhzNR4/s320/Martin_Slabbert_3+low+res.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
Martin Slabbert<br />
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/+MartinSlabbert?rel=author" target="_blank">https://plus.google.com/+MartinSlabbert?rel=author</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-82298034593130197672013-12-09T08:28:00.000+02:002013-12-09T08:28:20.916+02:00Charlie Rose: An interview with Mandela<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/siM8EgrKKYg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-42962615659430392392013-08-19T15:08:00.000+02:002013-08-19T15:08:02.242+02:00The changing face of public relations<div class="kInstance-Summary" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">
The general consensus is that <a href="http://www.hwb.co.za/">public relations</a> services include the standard offerings of drafting media releases, dealing with the media, strategy and general client management; with the aim of building mutually beneficial relationships between organisations and the public.</div>
<div class="kInstance-Body" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;">
However, with the fast growing digital environment and budget constraints, we're moving into an era where clients prefer having all their marketing and PR needs met under one roof. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />It is more convenient (operationally and financially) to pay a single service provider to manage all aspects of a company's PR strategy - traditional and online activity and marketing - than paying multiple agencies. Not only does this save them money but it saves today's most scarce commodity: time. <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Many PR agencies have latched onto this trend by expanding their service offering with an equal balance of traditional and online PR, in order to give the best service and retain their clients.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />As PR agencies, we should strive to bring these services under one roof, if we want to become indispensable to our existing and future clients.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">How to do this:</b><ul style="margin: 10px 0px 10px 40px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1. Assess your current service offering</b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />This should be fairly easy to do. It will allow you to compare the current status of your service offerings and actual capabilities. Your website and corporate profile should summarise the bulk of your offerings - it is after all the virtual front door of your business.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2. Assess your existing client business needs and do a gap analysis</b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />You should have this information at hand as your PR strategy should be aligned to your clients' business objectives! If you don't, a good place to start would be a strategic workshop with your client to assess the current and future goals of their business, and the services they would need to help reach it.</ul>
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Your findings should help to highlight any areas that may be lacking. For example, if you are a traditional PR agency and your client wants to expand in the social media realm, this should be an indication that you should either:<ul style="margin: 10px 0px 10px 40px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />
<li style="left: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">Hire a digital strategy resource internally and train your existing staff (it's pointless retaining this skill with one individual, spread the love). <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></li>
<li style="left: 1em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">Take on the digital strategy and outsource the project to an external provider (this is not always recommended as it could end up being costly and there's nothing stopping your client from searching for greener pastures - a traditional agency with digital experience.</li>
</ul>
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Once you've identified the gaps, you can now decide on steps to take to secure your company as the main client service provider with the necessary offerings.<ul style="margin: 10px 0px 10px 40px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3. Look at current and future trends</b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />It's always good to keep ahead of trends. This allows you to guide your clients effectively and prepare yourself, staff members and clients to take advantage of being ahead of the curve. Read about what local and international agencies are doing, network as much as you possibly can, send staff members on training and RESEARCH.</ul>
<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />These are but a few steps to take to ensure that you keep ahead of your client needs. Adjusting may not be easy but it will be well worth it in the long run. Times are tough and when the tough gets going, the going gets digital!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-36870015046050241162013-05-17T08:07:00.002+02:002013-05-17T08:07:12.579+02:00Deaf Hands @ Work t-shirts - supported by Futuregrowth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0v05lFLfBH3fXnL4bnmiLhgas2oPJnUtLLozQfiYDC25nXkqFK5mQN-lQMLgohTannGLpHy_ecG10yrHHiMZ4w7iUaR-xarZt41tCPQJNXwQhrG5gTfDk1aPsllbUiDYHQszNzjwKVlg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-05-17+at+8.05.04+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0v05lFLfBH3fXnL4bnmiLhgas2oPJnUtLLozQfiYDC25nXkqFK5mQN-lQMLgohTannGLpHy_ecG10yrHHiMZ4w7iUaR-xarZt41tCPQJNXwQhrG5gTfDk1aPsllbUiDYHQszNzjwKVlg/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-05-17+at+8.05.04+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="userContent">Deaf Hands @ Work in the Southern Peninsula
needs your help in marketing their Deafstyled services! Please like our
post and support this amazing cause.<br /> <br /> Follow them on Twitter too @DeafhandsDHW</span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">Charles Nyakurwa<br /> Founder and MD<br /> Deaf Hands @ Work<br /> from disAbility to thisAbility in Us!<br /> <br /> Email :info@dhwsa.co.za<br /> web :<a href="http://www.dhwsa.co.za/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank">www.dhwsa.co.za</a></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Is-Good-Money/209169132478504"><span class="userContent"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show">https://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Is-Good-Money/209169132478504</span></span></span></a><br />
<span class="userContent"><span class="userContent"><span class="text_exposed_show"> </span></span> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-6893170018792129772013-05-17T08:04:00.001+02:002013-05-17T08:04:11.874+02:00Was the 2013 World Press Photo of the Year faked with Photoshop, or merely manipulated?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBFX4PGuNLk3-aVOQYAWkrOlG4XTs4nJYdkkZUWTldS3baNeashvZRlHbQah4nihnMAj0s0FkXQu_8cffAmbjk5LfPZBLeOMlphU8-20T8N1e050qbaflwxhaF5N8KsakaEqwZXhLgTU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-05-17+at+8.01.24+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBFX4PGuNLk3-aVOQYAWkrOlG4XTs4nJYdkkZUWTldS3baNeashvZRlHbQah4nihnMAj0s0FkXQu_8cffAmbjk5LfPZBLeOMlphU8-20T8N1e050qbaflwxhaF5N8KsakaEqwZXhLgTU/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-05-17+at+8.01.24+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span id="intelliTXT" name="intellitxt"></span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">When is an image fake, and when is it merely enhanced?</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Read more: <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/155617-how-the-2013-world-press-photo-of-the-year-was-faked-with-photoshop">http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/155617-how-the-2013-world-press-photo-of-the-year-was-faked-with-photoshop</a></span></h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-29794254374057132272013-04-29T15:34:00.001+02:002013-04-29T15:37:22.397+02:00Newspaper readership figures in South Africa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq4TM_2Q7rlEcZxOjnp3hBVAL0nSltaBQO3_n9lxpcrcWW2C0qSy52n44qLVcksJxXiE5flg-lILH0WCw5xgn4C1Nt36J2f3VPogtMit6nWkZOkTf5FBMyyBT2DAf5DIKB7QZeIMEJZ0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-04-29+at+3.33.46+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq4TM_2Q7rlEcZxOjnp3hBVAL0nSltaBQO3_n9lxpcrcWW2C0qSy52n44qLVcksJxXiE5flg-lILH0WCw5xgn4C1Nt36J2f3VPogtMit6nWkZOkTf5FBMyyBT2DAf5DIKB7QZeIMEJZ0/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-04-29+at+3.33.46+PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The latest figures from the South African Audience Research Foundation
(SAARF) show that daily and weekly newspapers account for 49% of local
media consumption, making them still the most preferred source of news
and information in the country.<br />
<br />
Read more from <a href="http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/15/92694.html">http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/15/92694.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://saarf.co.za/">http://saarf.co.za/</a> <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-64885744051453559482013-04-20T20:34:00.001+02:002013-04-20T20:34:52.716+02:00HWB Client Futuregrowth Asset Management provides R2.5bn for solar, wind projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGbSL3CdxASlk5xypUdgq1gpNIDHAjugSU8f2NYJMVfdTWDzqrxzOCKeldFvytPRFuug_ngdbGTQxnnPYziM3_BmcNXTY7Pm4J-xtiL0bFWWChVh9-LPVb7FHcBd-CZSa_mxHVu8nmtU/s1600/photo+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGbSL3CdxASlk5xypUdgq1gpNIDHAjugSU8f2NYJMVfdTWDzqrxzOCKeldFvytPRFuug_ngdbGTQxnnPYziM3_BmcNXTY7Pm4J-xtiL0bFWWChVh9-LPVb7FHcBd-CZSa_mxHVu8nmtU/s320/photo+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Asset manager Futuregrowth Asset Management has provided
R2.5-billion in debt funding, which will offer investment
opportunities in new solar and wind projects for clients’ funds under
management.<br />
<br />
Over the next 20 years, South Africa’s energy
generation capacity will need to increase by more than 40 000 MW, twice
as much as currently available.<br />
Futuregrowth believes that
renewable resources could comprise nearly 18 GW, or 42% of new
generation capacity, if government adheres to the targets set out in the
Integrated Resource Plan, which is a 20-year plan to add additional
capacity to the grid<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/asset-manager-provides-r25-billion-for-solar-and-wind-energy-projects-2013-04-19">http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/asset-manager-provides-r25-billion-for-solar-and-wind-energy-projects-2013-04-19</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-33388690472954246622013-04-20T20:22:00.005+02:002013-04-20T20:22:45.717+02:00South African environmental campaigner Jonathan Deal was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAxvYj9zGEhxixs44kpaWNyaiAQZr-GeYt5eGiH0GI64b5BACoIxhhNVnEl3JnSoYIYRbvOOkzmv_M_dyYvam1Acsd351qnRAxDYMig2OT3p1cvyJMoWiSsMdcycc-9WlNJZ0qCva0KM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-04-20+at+8.19.27+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAxvYj9zGEhxixs44kpaWNyaiAQZr-GeYt5eGiH0GI64b5BACoIxhhNVnEl3JnSoYIYRbvOOkzmv_M_dyYvam1Acsd351qnRAxDYMig2OT3p1cvyJMoWiSsMdcycc-9WlNJZ0qCva0KM/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-04-20+at+8.19.27+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="userContent"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="userContent">South African environmental campaigner
Jonathan Deal was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for his work
in the fight against hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo, on Monday. The
Goldman Foundation interviewed him about the work he does in the fight
against fracking...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="userContent"><a href="http://www.goldmanprize.org/pressroom/2013/videos/profile/africa">http://www.goldmanprize.org/pressroom/2013/videos/profile/africa </a></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-35010682235933293892013-04-20T20:18:00.001+02:002013-04-20T20:18:44.316+02:00HWB supports Boston USA<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Team
HWB would like to send its best wishes to our PRGN colleagues at The
Castle Group in Boston, following yesterday's events at the Boston
Marathon. You and the rest of your beautiful city are in our thoughts at
this difficult time.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-47241867172431466092013-04-20T20:10:00.002+02:002013-04-20T20:10:10.258+02:00HWB curators of Cape Town 2014 World Design Capital<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpLESjLVMYpg1uJyjhb2UY3cp414D8jVBMrXlhjSJ-DG2IqbzW0-bRHMB2XB1ht4foMGgTxwrimBImsag_6l3m_718yIrsB6WQFD-nm1OaDTECI0RsRVSkkzi_HYwVI_hmltrQUV_Q3M/s1600/badge.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpLESjLVMYpg1uJyjhb2UY3cp414D8jVBMrXlhjSJ-DG2IqbzW0-bRHMB2XB1ht4foMGgTxwrimBImsag_6l3m_718yIrsB6WQFD-nm1OaDTECI0RsRVSkkzi_HYwVI_hmltrQUV_Q3M/s1600/badge.png" /></a></div>
<a href="http://capetown2014.co.za/">capetown2014.co.za</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-52732424490495847452013-03-01T08:00:00.001+02:002013-03-01T08:00:19.075+02:00South Africa magaazine circulation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdPy1BwKK_vMpoFwhlIYlOqjBiEQeBhsm-BH05bTJmrKjY8jicSQXIyuUwLBQFsBaKBjEcxtK7P7UXFJYN3f14Z11gUoOqY7F8inIJZRk9bvYGxqcJ1SVZZTIWxI-_45T_IM6lxQ10ZE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-03-01+at+7.57.46+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdPy1BwKK_vMpoFwhlIYlOqjBiEQeBhsm-BH05bTJmrKjY8jicSQXIyuUwLBQFsBaKBjEcxtK7P7UXFJYN3f14Z11gUoOqY7F8inIJZRk9bvYGxqcJ1SVZZTIWxI-_45T_IM6lxQ10ZE/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-03-01+at+7.57.46+AM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The ABC has released circulation statistics for the period October 2012
to December 2012. Here are a couple of consumer magazine ABC numbers
that popped out for us. We also updated our list of the biggest
circulating consumer magazines in SA.<br />
<br />
See <a href="http://www.marklives.com/wordpress/2013/02/the-biggest-circulating-consumer-magazines-in-sa-3/">http://www.marklives.com/wordpress/2013/02/the-biggest-circulating-consumer-magazines-in-sa-3/ </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-9893308954912633172013-01-30T10:47:00.001+02:002013-01-30T10:47:06.447+02:00HWB CEO hosts live chat on Destiny Connect<div style="text-align: left;">
<img border="0" height="419" src="http://www.destinyconnect.com/image.page.php?repi_id=107" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Join our CEO, Evelyn John Holtzhausen this afternoon at 1pm for a live online chat about "How to use the media to enhance your company's profile." <a href="http://www.destinyconnect.com/">http://www.destinyconnect.com/</a> visit the Destiny website and join in for his expert advice. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-69639944030083062792013-01-25T15:01:00.002+02:002013-01-25T15:01:27.033+02:00advantage magazine on HWB's two awards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGwnJ3aXDF2eFtXxPTgI4-eGBGbyEmWaHWDb36Aw9FopStd34qK71E_pFiBnM4sMraWVmmtEl0V5R2K5zTpudecIdKwa0jJn6VLT-hn6aD6sjIgECJvy_x1NmmA1IJTMg-0dk7FGOmDM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-01-25+at+2.56.31+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGwnJ3aXDF2eFtXxPTgI4-eGBGbyEmWaHWDb36Aw9FopStd34qK71E_pFiBnM4sMraWVmmtEl0V5R2K5zTpudecIdKwa0jJn6VLT-hn6aD6sjIgECJvy_x1NmmA1IJTMg-0dk7FGOmDM/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-01-25+at+2.56.31+PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
HWB Communications recently won Silver and Bronze awards at the
annual Public Relations Global Network’s (PRGN) Best Practice Awards.<br />
The annual awards, now in its second year had 120 entries in 13
categories. There were a total of 37 awards distributed consisting of 13
gold, 12 silver and 12 bronze.<br />
<br />
“HWB Communications are thrilled to be one of the 37 agencies who won
Best Practice Awards,” said Evelyn John Holtzhausen, CEO of HWB
Communications. “This truly shows us and our clients, that our
campaigns, our strategic thinking, our implementation and of course our
talented team is on par with the best agencies and public relations
practices globally,” he continued.<br />
<br />
Click here for more: <a href="http://www.advantagemagazine.co.za/two-international-best-practice-pr-awards-in-green-category-for-hwb/">http://www.advantagemagazine.co.za/two-international-best-practice-pr-awards-in-green-category-for-hwb/ </a><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Advantage Magazine </span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-62225415284409763002013-01-16T17:08:00.004+02:002013-01-16T17:12:55.796+02:00Social media is a seductive mistress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTFWQ49voNma_DlE_3Q53wBSlYsC4zOl96cndTsdHCBuknACjwAEVTWy5AwoWJw-XiAJV992pKW6VhjSyKt1HdPJ5Kq3XJpZGcDT9bTZx5eKcBSZrV8XbvR72SXr72qoFOaTwW71aHwI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-01-16+at+5.12.03+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTFWQ49voNma_DlE_3Q53wBSlYsC4zOl96cndTsdHCBuknACjwAEVTWy5AwoWJw-XiAJV992pKW6VhjSyKt1HdPJ5Kq3XJpZGcDT9bTZx5eKcBSZrV8XbvR72SXr72qoFOaTwW71aHwI/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-01-16+at+5.12.03+PM.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
If you read <a href="http://themediaonline.co.za/">themediaonline.co.za </a>website, chances are pretty good you have a Facebook
profile. Probably also a Twitter feed, a Google Plus account and maybe
even a blog. How much of your private life do you share on these
platforms? How much <i>should</i> you be sharing?<br />
<br />
<h1>
<span class="n fn" id="name">
<span class="full-name"><span class="given-name">Martin</span> <span class="family-name">Slabbert-Capper</span></span>
</span>
</h1>
<span class="phonetic-full-name">
</span>
<br />
<div class="title" style="display: block;">
Communications Practitioner & Broadcast Journalist
</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://themediaonline.co.za/2013/01/social-media-is-a-seductive-mistress/">http://themediaonline.co.za/2013/01/social-media-is-a-seductive-mistress/ </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-46030636656399484532012-12-17T13:29:00.000+02:002012-12-17T13:29:12.127+02:00Happy Holidays from HWB<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77wGtJGdHRVv8PZmrfk83O1FqjHXpejqAFTjp-OnUlUHw6Ny0PzKzErAthl2v5wxaBMunNe4NNW47DMPt9cdnpqXTMf6QEuOgkaWdsSEWKfA12HsKHVywTssZrZ7wLcSgkmvl20eZlSw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-12-17+at+1.24.58+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77wGtJGdHRVv8PZmrfk83O1FqjHXpejqAFTjp-OnUlUHw6Ny0PzKzErAthl2v5wxaBMunNe4NNW47DMPt9cdnpqXTMf6QEuOgkaWdsSEWKfA12HsKHVywTssZrZ7wLcSgkmvl20eZlSw/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-12-17+at+1.24.58+PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-26222239415963162662012-12-07T10:05:00.000+02:002012-12-07T15:51:47.480+02:00deVere talks about Botswana on CNBC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84HFvcpkvyR9rF4uvmTqCWAS6_eCtw8o72218IcPiKPScSlJiKti8YEMq9Su6PjRE-fqTJapyp3rLHIk9dLWydXm1cYHhJ_1bQsBHxtDkBvWnaB1L3TYnRCy-eLTu2Yc2vJYUDk72GVk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-12-07+at+10.00.30+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84HFvcpkvyR9rF4uvmTqCWAS6_eCtw8o72218IcPiKPScSlJiKti8YEMq9Su6PjRE-fqTJapyp3rLHIk9dLWydXm1cYHhJ_1bQsBHxtDkBvWnaB1L3TYnRCy-eLTu2Yc2vJYUDk72GVk/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-12-07+at+10.00.30+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The deVere Group is the world's
largest independent financial consultancy group. International
investors and expatriates employ us to find financial services
products that suit their medium to long term requirements for
insurance, investments, savings and pensions. With in excess of US
$8 billion of funds under administration and management, deVere has
more than sixty thousand clients in over a hundred countries.<br />
<br />
Craig Featherby, CEO of deVere Africa, spoke to CNBC on their investment in Botswana.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.abndigital.com/page/multimedia/video/invest-africa/1482275-Opportunities-and-Challenges-Facing-Botswana-Part-1">http://www.abndigital.com/page/multimedia/video/invest-africa/1482275-Opportunities-and-Challenges-Facing-Botswana-Part-1</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.abndigital.com/page/multimedia/video/invest-africa/1482274-Opportunities-and-Challenges-Facing-Botswana-Part-2">http://www.abndigital.com/page/multimedia/video/invest-africa/1482274-Opportunities-and-Challenges-Facing-Botswana-Part-2</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-83691215057498416402012-12-07T08:45:00.000+02:002012-12-07T08:51:23.055+02:00MyCiTi - Getting to Cape Town International Airport on time - YouTube<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<object class="BLOGGER-picasa-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6dP37jgHKMqXuIXIySHad-nvtfUmY2BrCwLnD-XhNdVX2YQuLppbUuLcopqKAhkvTSBsRzIfMPF0ryndD9ekEPHJm7R-9DoXt1zt8i0RKEjo9ImVS0oWAzOZm3qAK8xHvIR1NT3GLuM/s1600/MyCiTi+-+Getting+to+Cape+Town+International+Airport+on+time+-+YouTube.mp4" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Da813b560b14676e6%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1357452613%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D2679CE95172DFD3CC03E0D66F860B9D8C0CAB9FD.31E0C4D85A9AB46A2D2DF142940F8492C6933975%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fredirector.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Da813b560b14676e6%26itag%3D18%26source%3Dpicasa%26cmo%3Dsensitive_content%253Dyes%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1357452613%26sparams%3Did%2Citag%2Csource%2Cip%2Cipbits%2Cexpire%26signature%3D2679CE95172DFD3CC03E0D66F860B9D8C0CAB9FD.31E0C4D85A9AB46A2D2DF142940F8492C6933975%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-81791223699835249812012-12-06T15:11:00.000+02:002012-12-06T15:11:01.795+02:00SA youth follow politics, shun parties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTZgfhx7aaccs0tNS46PEpYIsDhyrttfqd3Y_D9X8wyDKIi_YBH93SahH9Huf4QD-gpQzabKIqxGklkyxDbq6YnIzEiJD2BHtCAjMUkbKA3TF0KV6QSmCT9AeHZztOqIe74xa8YrGdPc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-12-06+at+3.06.05+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTZgfhx7aaccs0tNS46PEpYIsDhyrttfqd3Y_D9X8wyDKIi_YBH93SahH9Huf4QD-gpQzabKIqxGklkyxDbq6YnIzEiJD2BHtCAjMUkbKA3TF0KV6QSmCT9AeHZztOqIe74xa8YrGdPc/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-12-06+at+3.06.05+PM.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<strong></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Download </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">SA Reconciliation Barometer (SARB) survey 2012 report here</span><strong>: </strong><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.ijr.org.za/news-and-events.php?nid=105&type=news"><strong>http://www.ijr.org.za/news-and-events.php?nid=105&type=news</strong></a></span><br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>Young South Africans want to participate in politics, but on
their own terms. With two-thirds of the population under 35 years,
parties should take note that conventional politicking doesn’t guarantee
votes from the ‘Facebook generation’. </strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is the finding of the latest round
of the SA Reconciliation Barometer (SARB) survey, conducted annually by
the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) since 2003.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With the ANC’s national conference in
Mangaung just days away, much more than leadership and policy is at
stake. In the run-up to the 2014 general elections, party leadership
will have to consider how to appeal to a generation of ‘born frees’, who
may be beyond the range of traditional recruiting strategies.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The results of the SARB show that young
South Africans have different ideas about political engagement, than
older generations who lived through the democratic transition. ‘We have
grown up in a digital age,’ explained a student at a recent IJR event in
the Eastern Cape, ‘we don’t read a lot, we Google and we Facebook a
lot, and watch TV.’</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Barometer results this year show that
40% of black under-35’s have little or no confidence in political
parties, and the same is true of more than two-thirds of young people of
other races. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of young South Africans say that
they would consider supporting a political party different to the one
preferred by most of their friends and family. The same student
commented, ‘what’s this trend about voting and regurgitating my vote
with the same vote for the same party, there is a new trend now.’</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Young and older South Africans alike
(49% overall) also doubt that national leaders are concerned with the
views of ordinary people. Large numbers (44%) believe they have
witnessed corruption in their own communities, and more than one in
three believe government is not doing enough to combat it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some young South Africans, however, are
more optimistic than adults that they can make a difference, and get
disinterested government officials to listen to their views.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The survey also raises some
disconcerting findings about political activity in this demographic.
Thirty-five percent (35%) of youth think it’s better to ignore the law
and solve problems immediately, and a quarter (24%) that it is not
necessary to follow the laws of a government they didn’t vote for.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For some, mistrust of political parties
and leaders, the desire to effect change and the view that the law can
be bent or broken, may bring about consequences for the country: one in
five under-35’s say they have been part of a violent or destructive
protest in the past year. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Without addressing the complex
challenges young South Africans face – access to quality education,
finding jobs, and ensuring their views are heard – they may increasingly
turn to unconventional and unexpected channels to express their
frustration.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The SA Reconciliation Barometer is a
nationally-representative public opinion poll conducted annually across
the country. More information is available at <a href="http://www.reconciliationbarometer.org/">www.reconciliationbarometer.org</a> or <a href="http://www.ijr.org.za/">www.ijr.org.za</a>. You can follow the Reconciliation Barometer on Twitter at @SABarometer.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3506267726630641995.post-9966097080345396822012-12-06T15:01:00.000+02:002012-12-06T15:02:46.107+02:00Broadband access doubles in SA in two years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq4ZL3gw-_Dvd_3lgD2vs1NAQuR-4wDryvvQZP1MbuzHejNaRA9zF4-M59SfW10kTV-cAqLA0SWUqymbdeVzQXBd2kJwH6CqAlSHkcN9aZqMoFgzy00n0PYBMAdstXFYVPc84A2VEj_4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-12-06+at+2.59.53+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq4ZL3gw-_Dvd_3lgD2vs1NAQuR-4wDryvvQZP1MbuzHejNaRA9zF4-M59SfW10kTV-cAqLA0SWUqymbdeVzQXBd2kJwH6CqAlSHkcN9aZqMoFgzy00n0PYBMAdstXFYVPc84A2VEj_4/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-12-06+at+2.59.53+PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Broadband access in South Africa has more than doubled in the last two
years, as mobile operators slashed the cost of data and network roll-out
accelerated.<br />
<br />
This is revealed in new data contained in the final version of the <i>Internet Access in South Africa 2012 </i>study which was conducted by World Wide Worx.<br />
<br />
The broadband data, which is analysed in detail in the report, shows
that the number of broadband subscriptions grew from 3.6 million at the
end of 2010 to an expected 8.2 million by the end of 2012 which is a
total of 128% growth. <br /><br />Many users have multiple forms of
broadband access, such as an ADSL account as well as 3G, while many hop
between operators to take advantage of promotional offers.<br /><br />As a
result, the number of individual broadband users is substantially lower,
but also more than doubling in the past two years. <br /><br />The number has grown from 2.8 million to 6.7 million, 140% growth in just two years.<br /><br />Telkom’s ADSL service now holds just 10.6% of the broadband subscriber market in South Africa.<br /><br />Measured by subscriptions, South Africa now has an apparent 15.8% broadband penetration of the population. - News24Unknownnoreply@blogger.com