Media have to pay to cover Zapiro's book launch

UPDATE: Apparently there has been some sort of a mixup regarding the Zapiro book launch. It seems as though there is someone from the PR company and Charity organisations involved with Zapiro didn't really know when the book launch was so instead she led us to believe that the launch was at her event which was a charity event and hence we were asked to pay.I am not 100% sure why the lady who we were in contact with didn't simply let us know that the Zapiro book launch is happening in Cape Town on the 27th November 2008 at 18:00 for 18:30. Recreation Centre, Pollsmoor Prison, Steenberg Road, Tokai.My thanks go out to Richard who represents Zapiro, for getting in touch with me personally and sorting things out. Either way I think the Zapiro book launch is going to be fantastic.On a side not: I still maintain that media should never pay to promote events or attend functions.I absolutely love Zapiro's work. I think the man is a genius and one of South Africa's great heroes. With that said, I think he has made a shocking error with his book launch.It is not clear whether Zapiro is calling the shots or whether his PR agency has completely and utterly lost their minds. Either way I am a bit shocked.To attend Zapiro's book launch as media is going to cost R200 per person. Crew of two = R400 for the event. I have done many weird, strange, odd, different and uncomfortable things in my time in the practice of journalism. I have NEVER paid to cover a story or promote an event.Zoopy was told to pay R200 per person to attend the event and were basically told that we should feel lucky because media gets a 50% discount. Really? Media get a discount, well gee-wizz-wow I am bowled over at your kindness.Direct quote from "events coordinator":

As per our discussion earlier, unfortunately we don’t allow any media to attend any of our upcoming events for free.Our normal price per person to attend the event is R427-50 including VAT, however we offer Media a discounted rate of R200-00 per person including VAT.Should you still be interested to attend the event, please contact me before the end of today and have your credit card details ready to process the payment online as we only accept payments upfront to pay the venue. Our system is set-up to only accept credit card payments when a booking is made 5 working days prior to an event.

So in return for our R400 Zapiro's book launch will get national exposure, a professionally produce media video and the possibility to be featured on some of the biggest news websites in the country. That sounds like a fair trade to me.I am sorry but I don't care if you are a journalism intern, the editor of the biggest magazine or Jeremy bloody Clarkson, media should not have to pay to attend any launch of any book that could aid in the sales of that book.Absolutely ridiculous.The frustrating thing is that Zoopy (and I am sure many other media organisations) have covered Zapiro launches and events very successfully and for free in the past:If you want to read Zapiro I suggest you visit Mail&Guardian online every day and have a look at Zapiro's free.Again I need to state that I think that Zapiro cartoons and all of his work is absolutely incredible, so don't make us pay to help you spread the word.

I, Lucifer

Author Glen Duncan

I am reading an extremely interesting book at the moment (I finished Branson's Screw it). I, Lucifer is a novel about the world as seen from the perspective of the devil. The novel is written by Glen Duncan. The book is brilliantly written, cleverly phrased but occasionally a bit too intellectual in regard to its diction and the authors choice of words.

It is however and incredible look at the world and various happenings from the devil's perspective. Things like the devil being cast from heaven by god, drug addiction, suicide, the devil's take on hell and heaven (Why would hell be hot, reckons the devil, would it not be a greater slap in the face to god if hell was more enticing than heaven, if being away from god (in hell) was more enjoyable than being with god (in heaven)). Now I am not advocating devil worship by any means, but this book is just brilliantly written and a fresh take on life.

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Screw it, Just do it - More from the book

Quotes from Richard Branson.

• "If you challenge yourself, you will grow."

• "When I told my Mum, she said, "I knew you could win Ricky."
• I personally took to this quote. I think that the one person in my life who has, without a doubt and unwaveringly supported me through everything I've ever done is my Mom. She still does and I thank her for that.

• "Mum knew that losing wasn't fair, but it is life. It's not a good idea to teach children that they can win all the time. In the real world, people struggle."

• "I believe in myself. I believe in the hands that work, in the brains that think, and in the hearts that love."
• What a wonderful quote, what a great outlook on things.

• "Hard-won things are more valuable than those that come too easily."

• "It's good to pause and do nothing."
• I think that we could all use that advice...stop, bite in to that peach and see what it tastes like.

• "Money is just a means to an end, not an end in itself."

Thats it for now.

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Screw it, Lets Do it

No, I am no talking about the eternal "it" that the birds and bees and educated flees like to do. I am talking about Richard Brandson's new book, "Screw it, Lets do it".

My Father insisted that I purchase and read this little book (106 pgs). The writing is fluid and the font size is large which means its an easy read. I like this sort of book. I like Richard Branson's story. I like that he was under 20 when he first became wealthy and I like that he did it all by saying "fuck it, Im good and I know Im good, now the world needs to know."

I will be posting little snippets that I think are worth while from the book. it is very much a 'one liner' kind of book. Take from it what you think is relevant, the rest is fluff.

So to Begin:

    "I learned many lessons: not just if you want to do something, just do it, but also to prepare well, have faith in yourself, help each other, never give up."

I think that the simplicity of the statement makes it fairly valid. Everyone know's how to get to where they want to be, but many are scared to just do it. Keep watching for more from the"Virgin" himself.

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