Regional Commercial Radio – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly A lot of South Africans will be taking to the road over the next few days and weeks. For those who don’t really feel like talking while speeding down the highway, there’s always the radio. The last year or so has given us a […]
Media
Posted inLifestyle, Media, News/Politics
Mbeki said African journalists are paid for counter-revolutionary sellouts
It is almost two months now since former president Thabo Mbeki accused some African journalists, “experts” and “analysts” of being paid for sellouts. Of course, this he did in a much-publicised letter in October in which he distanced himself from Terror Lekota’s Cope (sic.) His speaking truth to media has been greeted by resounding silence, […]
Posted inMedia, Tech
What would Isabel do?
(This piece originally appeared on tonylankester.com) South African blogger Donn Edwards is being sued for libel by a timeshare company called Quality Vacation Club (QVC) after he wrote of his experience with the company. I have no axe to grind with the timeshare industry. But if they bend the rules and dupe people into buying […]
Posted inLifestyle, Media
How Afrikaners, coloureds and blacks are abandoning their native tongues for English
The last 15 years have introduced two fundamental changes that have, inevitably, radically shaken South African society, language and culture. This is a not a new phenomenon where, perhaps for the first time in the 21st Century and its African modernity, parents are raising children who do not speak or understand their native tongue. In […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
You can Cope but cannot hide from the irrefutable ANC political power
It must be tough for those who think the ANC is falling apart or is losing support. This is because of the recent publishing of a Plus 94 Research finding that says if people were to vote NOW, it is most likely to get 74% of decided voters; 84% of these are black, 15% white […]
Posted inLifestyle, Media
Biggs’ online teenage suicide a forerunner to snuff movies and dirty bombs?
A 19-year-old teenager from Florida, USA, Abraham K Biggs, elected to commit suicide before an online forum carrying an estimated audience of 1 500 viewers. With his webcam rolling he took an overdose of tablets and lay down on a bed. As always there those who did not take him seriously and actively encouraged him […]
Posted inBusiness, Media
Mortgage sluts and America’s sales culture
One of the plays I studied in Drama and Film 201 was Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet. Winner of the Pulitzer prize in 1984 and adapted in 1992 into a movie starring Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon and Alec Baldwin, it’s a tale of a group of property salesmen frantically trying to persuade unwitting members […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
The story beneath
Covering the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Ministerial Forum in Bamako, Mali, did not come without its challenges. The conference was called largely to push the interests of huge international organisations, like World Bank, and to shamelessly promote investment in health systems’ research that will ultimately benefit those who are keen to loan huge amounts […]
Posted inBusiness, Media, News/Politics, Sport
Are we good enough for 2010?
OF COURSE, this question has been asked hundreds, if not thousands, of times. It’s been asked about our national soccer team Bafana Bafana and the answer is clearly “No!” It’s been asked of our stadiums and the answer seems to “Yes, if …”. It’s been asked of our transport “systems”, and the answer is “Possibly”. […]
Posted inLifestyle, Media
Winston is my hero
When I am feeling down, or lonely, or just bleugh, I turn to Winston. Yes, dear readers, one of the most reliable sources of pleasure in my life is a fuggly New York apartment cat who sneezes, eats like a pig and gets dressed up in funny outfits. I dare you to look at Winston […]
Posted inBusiness, Lifestyle, Media
ABSA: Absolute Blessing to Screw Anyone
Is it right that we all bitch so much about banks? I think one of the greatest lessons in life is gratitude. When I was in SA I ran motivational, empowerment courses for children. One lesson dealt with gratitude. All the kids were put in pairs, blindfolded, had marshmallows shoved in their delighted mouths, instructed […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
The nature of the beast & what goes around …
Just got home after attending a debate on freedom of expression at the University of Johannesburg (it’s 9.20pm GMT +2 — we journos like accuracy, see). The debate, sponsored by The Weekender newspaper, was chaired by Prof. Adam Habib and featured Jessie Duarte, spokeswoman for the ANC, Patrick Craven, spokesman for Cosatu, Karima Brown, political […]