The Media Online

19/09/2025

Higher Education Supplement. Out this Sunday in the Sunday Times ZA.

19/09/2025

Mscsports’ strategist Bertine Faber discusses the evolving role of brands in women’s rugby. She suggests behind the spectacle is something deeper: this isn’t sentiment at work, it’s smart, long-term investment paying dividends. As she points out, 'Investment in women’s sport isn’t charity, and it isn’t a box-ticking exercise. It is one of the most undervalued growth opportunities in South African sport. Internationally, brands that have recognised this are already reaping the benefits.'

SA Rugby’s new sponsorship model has concentrated investment on the Springbok brand - but mostly the men's game.

19/09/2025

In the race to climb Google’s search rankings, too many brands have lost sight of the bigger picture. Caught in a loop of publishing SEO-driven content piece after content piece, they unknowingly start competing with themselves for visibility – a hidden pitfall known as keyword cannibalism, says Flow Communications' Thelma Ngoma-Mavhunga.

Avoiding keyword cannibalism starts with strategic intent – not just better search engine optimisation, but smarter storytelling.

19/09/2025

Today’s businesses need to find the balance between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Intelligence (HI). AI can write, design, predict, and analyse faster than any human. It’s a partner, a competitor, and, in some cases, a substitute for human ingenuity (and even relationships). But there’s one thing AI cannot do: it cannot create trust, writes Webfluential co-founder, Murray Legg.

The priority isn’t to outproduce competitors with more AI-generated content, it’s to activate the networks already around you.

18/09/2025

THE MEDIA ONLINE NEWSLETTER l 18 September 2025

* Beware keyword cannibalism
In the race to climb Google’s search rankings, too many brands have lost sight of the bigger picture. Caught in a loop of publishing SEO-driven content piece after content piece, they unknowingly start competing with themselves for visibility – a hidden pitfall known as keyword cannibalism, writes Flow Communications' Thelma Ngoma-Mavhunga
* Is radio as we know it dead?
Radio needs to substantially evolve its format and its approach to be part of multi-platform revolution, marketing creative Kabelo Mekoa believes.
* Burrowed Perspectives: Swimming with crocodiles
My path into advertising wasn’t traditional, but it mirrors the times: unconventional, unfiltered, and built on the belief that persistence is the sharpest tool in a strategist’s kit, writes Amy Jayne Burrow, brand and communications strategist.
* Media Moves: Publicis Media makes key senior appointments, URC and Castle Lager join forces to elevate fan experience, 5FM to ‘Ampli5’ Breast Intentions Colour run
The Media Online’s weekly round up of people, account and business moves in media.
* South Africa becomes the stage for powerful storytelling on the HISTORY Channel
This October on the HISTORY Channel (DStv 186) South Africa takes the spotlight with a historic crime documentary. Great African Crimes with Mandy Wiener season 2, starts on Friday 3 October at 21h05.


Read it here: https://arena.evlink8.net/public/messages/view-online/sBeEcH3k6biQiW5m/piUaoEdtP3h9GeFT/aU6RlFxFNjzKDF5M

17/09/2025

My path into advertising wasn’t traditional, but it mirrors the times: unconventional, unfiltered, and built on the belief that persistence is the sharpest tool in a strategist’s kit, writes brand and communications strategist, Amy Jayne Burrow.

My path into advertising wasn’t traditional, but mirrors the times: unconventional, unfiltered, and built on relentless persistence.

17/09/2025

With an authority-first approach, the way we measure success changes. Instead of just counting clippings, we focus on genuine media impact. This is the difference between a passing mention and coverage that shapes perception and drives action, writes Red Ribbon Communications' Ronelle Bester on formulating a kickass tech PR strategy.

Media impact is the result of genuine brand authority, built through intelligent content creation, guided by a clear and purposeful strategy.

17/09/2025

The mysterious OG influencer OOH campaign ... While the yellow-clad OG is already making noise on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook with lines like “ ”, the question remains: who’s behind the attitude?

Something bold has hit the streets – and South Africans can’t stop talking about it. From taxi ranks and roadside billboards to gyms, malls, Gautrain stations and golf clubs, bright yellow messages are popping up everywhere. They’re cheeky, loud and impossible to ignore. The self-proclaimed .....

17/09/2025

Audio ambassador Tim Zunckel talks to three marketing managers for national radio brands. Melba Thompson (Metro FM), Busi Phakathi (5FM) and Amore Swanepoel (RSG) about their strategies on brands, programming and marketing, audience retention, public relations and influencers, the national footprint challenge and the wildcard that is artificial intelligence.

To better understand how national radio brands approach these challenges, Tim Zunckel spoke to three marketing managers at the SABC Radio.

17/09/2025

AGENCY SCOPE research interviews with CMOs, senior marketing leaders and agency executives suggest an industry at a turning point, say Johanna McDowell and Cesar Vacchiano.

Interviews with CMOs, senior marketing leaders and agency executives suggest an industry at a turning point.

16/09/2025

THE MEDIA ONLINE NEWSLETTER l 16 September 2025
* Amplifying audiences the marketing way
Audio ambassador Tim Zunckel talks to three marketing managers for national radio brands. Melba Thompson (Metro FM), Busi Phakathi (5FM) and Amore Swanepoel (RSG) about their strategies on brands, programming and marketing, audience retention, public relations and influencers, the national footprint challenge and the wildcard that is artificial intelligence.
* Four essential actions to safeguard AI adoption in South Africa
The same systems that promise efficiency and innovation also open doors to cyber threats, model manipulation, and data breaches, writes Boland Lithebe, security lead for Accenture, Africa.
* SABC appoints specialist advertising partners
The SABC has appointed three specialist agencies. 'By collaborating with trusted specialist partners, we are strengthening our ability to deliver innovative, multi-platform solutions across radio, television and digital,' says GCEO, Nomsa Chabeli.
* BRC appoints GfK to deliver SA’s next-generation Total Video Measurement
GfK (an NIQ company) has been selected to design and deploy South Africa’s new Total Video Measurement service following the shocking news that Nielsen was exiting the country, CEO of the Broadcast Research Council of SA, Gary Whitaker, announces.



Read it here: https://arena.evlink8.net/public/messages/view-online/sBeEcH3k6biQiW5m/nuOT0rsdTnPByDdG/aU6RlFxFNjzKDF5M

16/09/2025

The SABC has appointed three specialist agencies. 'By collaborating with trusted specialist partners, we are strengthening our ability to deliver innovative, multi-platform solutions across radio, television and digital,' says GCEO, Nomsa Chabeli.

The SABC has appointed Arise/365 Digital, Media North and Mediamark as specialist digital sales partners following a competitive process.