[TAG.org.za] Advert Campaign: Ideas for advert content/design

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richardf

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Hi everyone

I'd like to tap into the wisdom of the MyADSL crowd while developing this full page advert we're going to publish in the Mail&Guardian later this month.

It's really an opportunity for us as telecoms consumers to put the strongest message out there about how Telkom and government are profoundly hurting this country.

Below is what we promised our pledgers, and I'd like to stick as much as possible within these parameters. If you have any ideas for the text or design, please post!

Richard. (www.tag.org.za)

1. People's names
Contributors to this campaign will be acknowledged. All the names of the contributors will appear on the advert. By publishing names, we not only acknowledge the contributions that thousands of people have made, we also send a strong message to ICT stakeholders that there are real people and businesses who are seriously dissatisfied with South African telecommunications.

2. A strong core message
A succinct, bold statement that expresses how consumers in South Africa have been let down by government, ICASA, and Telkom, and how it is killing our businesses, affecting our lives and hurting South Africa.

3. A call for reform
A direct challenge to the powers-that-be to speed up telecoms liberalisation in South Africa and enforce current regulations.

4. The facts to back it up
In the form of graphics and short paragraphs, we'll explain what the problem is and straightforward ways it can be solved. We will also tell readers how they can help in the fight for telecoms reform.
Click to expand...
 
TAG has already been mentioned on the forums. I'm interested in digging something to the frontpage of digg.com relating to South African broadband/telecoms. Maybe we can use TAG? If it reaches the frontpage, many many people will see it and maybe you will get international pledges? Be prepaid to have many hits though which could take down your server :)

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=54585
 
Telecoms Action Group now taking donations

Hi there.
A lot of us pledged support for the TAG's idea of taking out an ad in a prominent newspaper and pledged our support and our money for the campaign.

Now's the time to put your wallet where your mouth is and pledge your RR's to this worthy cause.

http://www.tag.org.za/tag_over.php


Extract of mail they sent to inform me about it.

Dear TAG pledgers and supporters

The time has come to put our money down.

The Telecoms Action Group Advert campaign has received an
overwhelming response from telecoms consumers in South Africa in
terms of pledges and messages of support. Now we've all got to do our
bit to ensure this campaign reaches a successful conclusion.
www.tag.org.za

A bank account has been set up called "Telecoms Action Group". All
money received into that account will be used only for TAG-related
activities. We are aiming to raise R50 000 for the advert, but any
extra money received will be used for similar targeted campaigns.

If you haven't already committed to supporting this campaign and
having your name included on the advert then you still can, so pledge
and make your donation now before the publication deadline.

The banking details are as follows:

Name: Telecoms Action Group
A/C Number: 402 330 137
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch Code: 004205

Please use the name that is going to appear on the advert as the
reference for the transaction. (You may also send us a confirmation
of payment to [email protected])

We will post a proposed advert on the Tag.org.za website later this
week for discussion and everyone that has paid their money will be
able to offer feedback.

We will also post regular updates on www.tag.org.za on the status of
the account and take your name off the "owing" list when your pledge
is received. The process for reconciling deposits with pledgers is
manual and there may be some delay between depositing your money and
being marked as "paid" on the website so please be patient. If,
however, you payment is not correctly recorded within a couple of
days please do contact us to sort this out.

If you have any queries about the donation process, please contact
[email protected].

You can also read this article for more details on the progress of
the campaign: http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1192

The Telecoms Action Group
Click to expand...
 
"[TAG] Make your donations now"

Received this email today, the ball is rolling!

Dear TAG pledgers and supporters

The time has come to put our money down.

The Telecoms Action Group Advert campaign has received an overwhelming response from telecoms consumers in South Africa in terms of pledges and messages of support. Now we've all got to do our bit to ensure this campaign reaches a successful conclusion.
www.tag.org.za

A bank account has been set up called "Telecoms Action Group". All money received into that account will be used only for TAG-related activities. We are aiming to raise R50 000 for the advert, but any extra money received will be used for similar targeted campaigns.

If you haven't already committed to supporting this campaign and having your name included on the advert then you still can, so pledge and make your donation now before the publication deadline.

The banking details are as follows:

Name: Telecoms Action Group
A/C Number: 402 330 137
Bank: Standard Bank
Branch Code: 004205

Please use the name that is going to appear on the advert as the reference for the transaction. (You may also send us a confirmation of payment to [email protected])

We will post a proposed advert on the Tag.org.za website later this week for discussion and everyone that has paid their money will be able to offer feedback.

We will also post regular updates on www.tag.org.za on the status of the account and take your name off the "owing" list when your pledge is received. The process for reconciling deposits with pledgers is manual and there may be some delay between depositing your money and being marked as "paid" on the website so please be patient. If, however, you payment is not correctly recorded within a couple of days please do contact us to sort this out.

If you have any queries about the donation process, please contact [email protected].

You can also read this article for more details on the progress of the campaign: http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1192

The Telecoms Action Group

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Lets get that money in to the chaps!
 
Last edited:
Been offline for a few days - just got email now - money from antitrust.co.za will be transferred via EFT tomorrow :)

(Shame stoke, where you been man, under a rock? Missing your ADSL much?)
 
The opportunity to deregulate has been hijacked by existing monopolies that are already printing money - and who have no intention of allowing competition. The opportunity is being sliced up between them with ICASA's active help.

The new ECT conversion makes operating legally ever more complex and smacks of collection of information for Telkom who have a R300M per year budget to stall or slow any liberalisation.

Its time for a REAL independent overseer to quick-start real reforms
 
While the use of the advert to convey the message a call to action might be an added boon - send a mail to Papi, or ping telkoms website repeatedly between 10 and 10:15 - we need them to know that we can be collective in efforts.
 
If I may... The Mail & Guardian reader is already the more "informed" type reader. How about doing a add in the more common local daily papers and then one on Sunday in the big 3 Sunday papers?
 
Put "faces" to the advert...

How about some sort of design that names and "blames/flames" the individuals who are responsible for the current state of affairs in the telecoms market ... ie. a picture of Paris Mashile with a caption like "You can afford ADSL, we have no evidence that you cannot!' or some comparisons so people can put it in perspective... like "You can have a similar broadband experience like in the US/UK if you're prepared to forfeit your bond payments and cancel your BMW order".

The embarrassment factor and having their picture associated with the advert may make them think possibly 1% harder about the state of affairs than just paging over the advert and paying no attention to it.

Perhaps even a comparison of Thabo Mbeki's comments vs Parish Mashile's comments.

Well that's my 2c on the matter.
 
Payment made :)

Come on guys, more than half the money needed has been collected already. Even if you didn't pledge, you can still send through money now.

If you are really as p1ssed off with Ivy, Telkom, ICASA etc as you say you are, then do something about it. I think this is going to draw a lot of attention, not only locally but potentially worldwide too.
 
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