Issie Kirsh, pioneering force behind 702 and Primedia, passes away at 90
Primedia CEO Jonathan Procter paid tribute to Kirsh’s legacy, stating: “By launching 702 in 1980, Issie Kirsh pioneered independent radio in South Africa.
Amazon launches Artificial Intelligence -powered contextual ads at 2nd blockbuster upfront
A new Artificial Intelligence -powered pause ad format pairs dynamic messaging with on-screen visuals. Shoppable and interactive formats now include real-time Amazon info and expanded CTAs for non-Amazon brands.
MRC, IAB Release Attention Measurement Guidelines Draft
Ad industry media ratings watchdog the MRC and the Attention Measurement Taskforce of the IAB this morning released joint official guidelines for the burgeoning media attention measurement marketplace for public comment through July 12.
GroupM US staff told up to 45% will be impacted by restructure
GroupM clarified that the 40–45% figure refers to U.S. team restructuring, not departures. No comment was made on potential future layoffs.
Linear ad spend grew in Q1 despite economic uncertainty: iSpot
While streaming continues to make gains, the increase in linear spend during the period, even despite a decline in impressions, signals a sharper focus by marketers on quality outcomes.
Unemployment climbs to 32.9% in 2025 Q1
The number of persons employed in the formal sector decreased by 245,000 in Q1: 2025, and the informal sector employment increased by 17,000 over the same period.
Mark Zuckerberg’s artificial intelligence ad tool sounds like a social media nightmare
Zuckerberg, at Stripe’s Sessions conference, shared plans to automate the ad industry with an end-to-end artificial intelligence tool that tests thousands of artificial intelligence-generated ads across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
LLM traffic not as engaged as organic traffic: Study
The new data challenges claims made by Google and Microsoft Bing that artificial intelligence driven clicks are higher quality than organic search.
Did you miss last week’s MediaLoop newsletter?
No stress — we’ve got you covered. Our new website’s archive section is perfect for catching up when the week gets away from you. Have a look.
New artificial intelligence startup pays South Africans to grow digital maps in townships
Instead of chasing virtual creatures like Pokémon Go, young people and local residents are hitting the streets to find and document the countless small businesses that keep township economies alive.