Venelize de Lange from media update explores what declining trust in influencers reveals about changing consumer expectations, and why brands must rethink influence in a more sceptical, value-driven market.

For years, loyalty was treated as a marketing layer. It has been a case of points in, discounts out, and putting together a quarterly report that showed activity but not much else. That approach is no longer holding up. Costs are rising, attention is scarce, and customers expect value that fits into real life. 

As the World Economic Forum concludes in Davos, a familiar irony permeates the proceedings. Under the banner "A Spirit of Dialogue", global elites have spent the week debating the philosophical and existential risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI), says Musa Kalenga, Group CEO of Brave Group.

The often adhered to rules of marketing are changing — not by trends, but by tectonic shifts in consumer behaviour, technology and societal expectations. SAS has asked top marketing thought leaders, and the leader in data and AI, for their predictions on how brands can adapt and thrive in 2026.

The One Club for Creativity has announced the jury for the inaugural One Show Indies, the new global competition dedicated to celebrating the work of independent agencies, design firms, freelancers, creators, and other creative companies around the world. 

Does it feel as though the only way to get your message across these days is to grab people's attention by "hopping on a trend" or producing something fast and flashy? Not so fast, says Sue Blaine, Senior Writer and Editor for Flow Communications.

Global travel management company FCM has appointed Lance Nkwe as Business Leader for FCM Meetings and Events South Africa, responding to a demand from organisations seeking more sophisticated ways to plan and deliver business events.

Jewellery Afrika has announced that it has been awarded Jewellery Publishing Platform of the Year 2025 — Africa at the Global Excellence Awards by Lux Life Magazine in London, United Kingdom.

As the paths to success become more diverse, higher education institutions face new demands on how to communicate value. Venelize de Lange from media update looks at the strategic shifts influencing education marketing in an increasingly complex media environment.

Effie Worldwide has announced its 2025 Iridium Effie Jury, the distinguished global panel tasked with selecting the single most effective campaign of the year as part of the Global Best of the Best Effie Awards.