As Gerety Awards jury sessions begin across 15 cities worldwide, the global creative industry turns its attention to the 2026 shortlist announcement and the return of the acclaimed Gerety VIP Diamond BBQ in Cannes with Tantor Films.

The World Out of Home Organization (WOO) has announced the award winners for Individuals, Digital, Classic and Special Build Creative, Sustainability and Technical Innovation, at its annual Global Congress in London on 4 June.

It's tempting to think that the more rewards there are to choose from, the better. Behavioural science says that's not true. The days of rewards catalogues and warehouses are well and truly behind us, says Natasha Olivier, Senior Product Manager at GET Rewards.

As digital disruption reshapes how brands connect with audiences, AAA School of Advertising has responded with a landmark qualification: the Master of Digital Marketing, the first master's degree specialising in digital marketing in South Africa.

South African consumers have cast their votes in the country's comprehensive independent product survey. Product of the Year South Africa has announced the 40 winners of the 2026 Product of the Year Awards, recognising products and services that have stood out for innovation, relevance and real consumer appeal.

In retail, the fear of missing out (FOMO) has often been treated as a simple conversion tool: create scarcity, add urgency and encourage people to act quickly, but consumers are increasingly tuned into how urgency is used. They know when something feels exciting, and when it feels manufactured.

As brands seek to reach high-value consumers in their daily routines, Outdoor Network, a Provantage company, has extended its digital out-of-home (DOOH) footprint with the launch of a new digital billboard on Beyers Naudé Drive, positioned within the busy Randpark Ridge and Randburg commuter corridor.

The Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA) and Effie Awards South Africa have extended the deadline for entries into the 2026 Effie Awards South Africa programme and encourage agencies, brands, media owners, specialist agencies and clients to make use of the additional time to submit their most effective work.

The One Club for Creativity has announced the launch of the first Young Ones Get Out the Vote brief, a new free global challenge calling on undergraduate college students around the world to come up with campaigns to drive voter participation.

Some time ago, the smartest brands and agencies in South Africa realised something important: forced influencer integration simply wasn't landing anymore. They knew that audiences could see through it, creators could feel it, and the work often lacked authenticity, impact and cultural relevance.