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Marketing & Media Africa

The battleground of social media

It was a week dominated by fake news and social media influence across the continent. In Kenya, Facebook has taken action to halt the spread of fake news so it does not influence Kenya's elections, even taking out adverts in the country's newspapers, explaining how to combat fake news.
In South Africa, which faces yet another contentious week in politics with another no-confidence vote against President Jacob Zuma, the Daily Maverick held The Gathering event in Cape Town, this time focusing on media and politics. This, in the wake of the #Guptaleaks corruption and state capture scandal which saw a London PR firm hired to spread racial dissent and discredit key South African politicians, business people and journalists, via fake news websites and Twitter bots. Click through to all our coverage from The Gathering: How to save SA from state capture and media elitism, why Fake news is ‘weaponised social media', and why Media freedom is a cornerstone of democracy.

Have a great week!
Louise Marsland
Africa Editor: Bizcommunity.com


Comment online in our ed's column archive. Go mobile with apps and m.bizcommunity.com. Engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Subscribe to YouTube and via RSS. Send all your African marketing and media news and event invitations to africanews@bizcommunity.com, exclusive opinion pieces to contributors-africa@bizcommunity.com and international news to internationalnews@bizcommunity.com. Read "How to contribute to Biz, from op-ed pieces to news".



BizWeekly top stories
The Gathering 2017 Media Edition.Credit: Ashraf Hendricks, GroundUp.org.za.
SOUTH AFRICA
How to save SA from state capture and media elitism
[Louise Marsland] Critical questions about South Africa's political future, the economy, media and its sustainability, and how to combat the fake news scourge, were all addressed at the Daily Maverick's The Gathering 2017 series... read
Negotiations for a single continental market for goods and services on track
NIGERIA
Negotiations for a single continental market for goods and services on track
Continental Free Trade Area negotiations are expected to conclude at the end of 2017 with a firm policy in place to benefit all countries in Africa and reduce poverty... read
Journalists detained, harassed, beaten covering Congo protests
DR CONGO
Journalists detained, harassed, beaten covering Congo protests
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo should cease harassing and detaining journalists and should allow them to cover protests and other events of public interest without interference... read
Facebook takes action against fake news in Kenya
KENYA
Facebook takes action against fake news in Kenya
With the recent spate of fake news reports circulating on social media in Kenya, Facebook has rolled out an educational tool to help people spot fake news on the platform... read
#RYExecEd: Preparing your brand to ride out the social media sh!tstorm
SOUTH AFRICA
#RYExecEd: Preparing your brand to ride out the social media sh!tstorm

Leigh Andrews

Mike Stopforth of Cerebra continued his social media workshop held as part of Red & Yellow School's #ExecEd series by explaining trust as a commercial factor for your business. read
Blinkers are fine if you're a horse, not if you're running a business. Elena Levitina © -
SOUTH AFRICA
#RYExecEd: Why your brand's missing out if it's not taking social seriously

Leigh Andrews

Mike Stopforth of Cerebra, often dubbed 'the godfather of social media in SA,' began the Red & Yellow School's Executive Education workshop on social media by explaining what's happened in the realm in the last ten years to help us understand what might happen in the next ten... read
Every African tech hub for itself in quest for sustainability
SOUTH AFRICA
Every African tech hub for itself in quest for sustainability

Tom Jackson

“This is done on a tech hub by tech hub basis. Each is figuring out their own business models for continued support and growth.” read
Places Magazine, August issue.
AFRICA
Fastjet rebrands in-flight magazine
The in-flight magazine of Fastjet, Smart Travel, has been relaunched as Places Magazine to reflect the extended market the airline covers across Africa... read
Luke McKend. Credit: Ashraf Hendricks, GroundUp.org.za
SOUTH AFRICA
Fake news is ‘weaponised social media'

Louise Marsland

Fake news is the new battleground for media freedom as social media is “weaponised” for propaganda purposes and fake news... read
Joe Thloloe
SOUTH AFRICA
Media freedom is a cornerstone of democracy

Louise Marsland

Anti-media rhetoric is fuelling violence against journalists across South Africa, The Gathering 2017 Media Edition, presented by The Daily Maverick, heard... read
Imagination Studios competition goes 100% local
AFRICA
Imagination Studios competition goes 100% local
Cartoon Network's Imagination Studios competition will be 100% local this year, as the channel partners with local talent to inject some African flavour into the first locally produced animated one-minute shorts... read
Africa 2017 launches.
EGYPT
Trade and investment focus at Africa 2017
Heads of State and business leaders to gather once again in Sharm El Sheikh for ‘Africa 2017' to talk African trade and investment... read
Burundi solar street lights.
BURUNDI
Burundi opts for solar power to reach masses
Over 95% of Burundi's 11 million people lack access to electricity - this week solar-powered ‘light islands' began appearing in dense pedestrian areas and in streets... read
Internet restored to Somalia
SOMALIA
Internet restored to Somalia
The Federal Government of Somalia has successfully restored internet and data services to South and Central Somalia... read
Bisi Adegbuyi and Chris Sheldrick
NIGERIA
Nigeria embraces ‘three word address' innovation
Nigeria's postal service will now use the innovative ‘what3words' digital address system to increase the number of homes it can deliver to... read
What kind of business leaders does Africa need?
AFRICA
What kind of business leaders does Africa need?

Dr Hischam El-Agamy

Four key skills that business leaders need that will drive growth across the African continent... read
The convergence of credit card and cash in Africa
AFRICA
The convergence of credit card and cash in Africa

Simeon Tassev

According to a recent study conducted by Mastercard, over 50% of the South African population still transact using cash on a daily basis... read
Sweet end of packaging
SOUTH AFRICA
Sweet end of packaging
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SOUTH AFRICA
Engaging multi-generational employees with internal communication
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Melissa Burns
SOUTH AFRICA
Upgrading business with mobile app development

Melissa Burns

Today there are over 4.6 billion mobile phone users worldwide, and over 2.6 billion of them have smartphones... read
Mike Schalit, Net#work's creative co-founder and creative chief of BBDO SA Group.
SOUTH AFRICA
Net#work BBDO to launch limited edition book on creativity
Marking its 23rd year, Net#work BBDO is publishing a limited-edition coffee table book that examines insights into the nature and process of creativity... read
2017 Fak'ugesi Festival themed ‘Brave tech hearts beat as one'
SOUTH AFRICA
2017 Fak'ugesi Festival themed ‘Brave tech hearts beat as one'
The Fak'ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival will once again be a celebration of technology, creativity, collaboration, and innovation from across the African continent... read
Three African markets worst affected by spam calls
AFRICA
Three African markets worst affected by spam calls
Truecaller Insights reveals the top 20 countries affected by spam calls in 2017, including the top three African countries... read
Ghana's AGOA strategy aims to boost growth
GHANA
Ghana's AGOA strategy aims to boost growth
Ghana began developing an AGOA Strategy last year, following the renewal of AGOA for a 10-year period (2015 to 2025) by the US Congress... read
Jochai Ben-Avie, senior global policy manager at Mozilla.
RWANDA
Barriers to internet access in Africa revealed
Internet penetration in Africa sits at about 25%. Mozilla-backed research reveals the main barriers to internet access in African countries... read
KENYA
InfiNet Wireless appoints Duo
DUO Marketing + Communications (DUO) has been appointed by InfiNet Wireless as its PR and communications agency for South Africa and Kenya... read
Are you Egypt's next top social entrepreneur?
EGYPT
Are you Egypt's next top social entrepreneur?
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L-R: Enda Kwinga, HR; Grant Brooke, CEO; Kikonde Mwatela, COO; Caine Wanjau, CTO; Mahia-John Mahiaini, CFO.
KENYA
Twiga Foods raises investment to expand
Twiga Foods, the Kenyan business-to-business food supply platform, has raised $10.3m in Series A Investment Round... read
Digitalisation pushing boundaries of manufacturing
SOUTH AFRICA
Digitalisation pushing boundaries of manufacturing

Dereshin Pillay

Digital transformation, as we've come to realise, means something different in every industry. In manufacturing, the term can be broad-reaching... read
Photo by rawpixel.com via Unsplash
NIGERIA
Internet users in Nigeria hit 91.6 million
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the number of internet users in Nigeria's telecommunications networks has increased to 91.6 million in June... read
Morne Bekker
SOUTH AFRICA
Data management: the centre of IoT projects

Morne Bekker

The internet of things (IoT) offers many more opportunities than merely improving efficiency and reducing costs... read
Preparing for digital future requires rethinking policies
SOUTH AFRICA
Preparing for digital future requires rethinking policies

Valter Adão

The future of work is being shaped by two powerful forces; the growing adoption of artificial intelligence in the workplace and the expansion of the workforce to include both on- and off balance sheet talent... read
Futurelife celebrates a decade of nutrition
SOUTH AFRICA
Futurelife celebrates a decade of nutrition
Futurelife began in 2007, as a social project to help improve the lives of malnourished and disadvantaged people in sub-Saharan Africa... read
SA payments startup Yoco to expand across Africa
SOUTH AFRICA
SA payments startup Yoco to expand across Africa

Tom Jackson

South African payments startup Yoco is to launch in test markets in East and West Africa by the end of next year on the back of strong growth at home... read
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AFRICA
The global food system still benefits the rich at the expense of the poor

Laura Pereira

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Analytics is critical, but data is being left out
SOUTH AFRICA
Analytics is critical, but data is being left out

Danny Drew

Without incorporating data from all channels, organisations will rely on a level of assumption, allowing a disconnect between what customers want and what is being delivered... read

WOMEN'S MONTH
Standard Bank announces 2017 Top Women Awards finalists
SOUTH AFRICA
Standard Bank announces 2017 Top Women Awards finalists

Issued by Topco Media

The awards attracted a flood of entries for this year's 14th annual ceremony, which will take place at Emperors Palace on 17 August, before a host of business and government leaders, along with celebrities... read
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International
Bitcoin tests democracy amid fears of split
SOUTH AFRICA
Bitcoin tests democracy amid fears of split

Hanna Ziady

Fears of a possible split in the bitcoin community, which might create two varieties of the crypto-currency, are overblown... read
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GLOBAL
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Image supplied.
GLOBAL
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GLOBAL
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AFRICA
Africa's cities face unique risks. What can be done to manage them?

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Photo by Andrey Larin via Unsplash
NIGERIA
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Chinedu Eze

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Tanzanian president, John Magufuli
TANZANIA
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Ethiopian law firm partners with BonelliErede
ETHIOPIA
Ethiopian law firm partners with BonelliErede
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Image Supplied
AFRICA
HVS to release white paper on African game lodge industry
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Marriott International's new dynamic sales and marketing leadership team
AFRICA
Marriott's new super sales and marketing leadership team for Middle East and Africa
On the heels of the successful mega merger between Marriott International and Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Marriott has announced a new Brand, Marketing, Sales and Consumer Services (BMSC) Leadership Team... read
Joachim Huber via
SOUTH AFRICA
AfDB to invest $24 billion in agriculture in Africa - Adesina
The AFDB president said the bank was committed to turning agriculture into a business across Africa and to ensure that the continent fed itself within the next 10 years... read
E-library launches in Africa to connect students
SOUTH AFRICA
E-library launches in Africa to connect students
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Pilot project shows robots streamlining warehouse operations
SOUTH AFRICA
Pilot project shows robots streamlining warehouse operations
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SOUTH AFRICA
Autonomous vehicles to reshape the global economy
Forrester, in collaboration with Christian Austin and Sal Schiano, has researched the downstream impact of widespread automation in transportation... read
Bas de Vos
SOUTH AFRICA
How to use blockchain to reinvent asset management

Bas de Vos

Without going into the specifics too deeply, blockchain is a huge, global distributed ledger or database running on many devices and open to anyone within the blockchain... read
Africa Architecture Awards shortlist announced
AFRICA
Africa Architecture Awards shortlist announced
A total of 307 projects from across 32 African countries qualified to enter the inaugural Africa Architecture Awards... read
WHO report: Kenyan cholera outbreak
KENYA
WHO report: Kenyan cholera outbreak
Kenya is experiencing an upsurge of cholera cases since the beginning of the year... read
British American Tobacco facing Africa fraud probe
SOUTH AFRICA
British American Tobacco facing Africa fraud probe
British American Tobacco is being investigated for possible fraud regarding company activities in Africa, it announced on Tuesday... read
Nigeria's Max launches on-demand motorcycle transport
NIGERIA
Nigeria's Max launches on-demand motorcycle transport

Gabriella Mulligan

Nigerian e-courier startup, Max, has launched a new on-demand motorcycle transportation service, MAXGo, in Lagos, addressing the city's road traffic congestion... read
Photo by Jackson Jost via Unsplash
NIGERIA
Nigeria signs oil financing deals with Shell, Chevron
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Mining Elites in Africa nomination deadline extended
SOUTH AFRICA
Mining Elites in Africa nomination deadline extended
Mining Review Africa has decided to extend the nomination deadline for its Mining Elites in Africa recognition of excellence project to Friday, 11 August 2017... read
New appointments
    AFRICA
  • Meads to oversee Cisco's expansion in MEA region - more info

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