This research study aimed to provide the South African fast food industry and their advertising representatives with insights into 18-28-year-olds‟ perception of using sexual appeal to elicit their attention, and whether using this advertising technique is gaining positive brand recognition with this target market. This research study aimed to determine the selected sample‟s (NMMU students) perceptions of three South African fast food brands, namely KFC, Nando’s and Steers, in terms of their use of sexualised fast food advertisements. An electronic survey questionnaire was conducted with both closed and open-ended questions relating to the use of sexual appeal in advertising within the three South African fast food brands. The survey questionnaire helped determine what the selected sample‟s perceptions were of each advertisement, and whether the use of sexual appeal captured their attention. A semiotic analysis of each advertisement was conducted to determine if the advertisements do contain the use of sexual appeal, by examining the sign. This includes looking at the three aspects of a sign namely the signifier, the referent and the signified. In terms of this study, the signifier represents the T.V. advertisements; the signified represents the meaning of the advertisements and the referent represents to what the advertisements are initially referring. The results of the study indicated that each of the three fast food advertisements incorporated the use of sexual appeal in varying degrees. Respondents indicated that the sexual appeal in the advertisements was appropriate if they were directed at the right age group. The respondents indicated that these three advertisements were more likely to attract the males, in the target market and they felt that the advertisements leaned towards objectifying the women, which would be offensive to the females in the target market. It was determined that if the advertisements contained humour, they were more effective and memorable.

It has become conventional to use product placement in music videos. Big brands have started marketing themselves through product placement, for example, brands such as BMW, VitaminWater and Virgin Mobile. Placing products in music videos could be perceived as the brands linking themselves with celebrities. This product placement could either have a positive or negative effect on the celebrity and/or the brand. This research study aimed to provide the world of brands with insights into 18-28-year-olds’ perception of product placement in music videos, and whether placing their product in a music video where the audience is not partial to the celebrity, could be detrimental or not. This research study aimed to determine the selected sample’s (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University students) perceptions of the product placement of three specific brands (VitaminWater, BMW and Virgin) in three specific music videos, namely: Jessie J and David Guetta “Laserlight” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syxd2n8S4AE JLo’s “Get on the Floor” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4H_Zoh7G5A Lady Gaga and Beyoncé “Telephone” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ95z6ywcBY An electronic survey questionnaire was concluded with both closed and open-ended questions relating to the use of product placement in these three music videos. The survey questionnaire helped to determine what the selected sample’s perceptions were of each brand and celebrity, what they were after the respondents and seen the relationship between the brand and celebrity and finally, of product placement in general. A semiotic analysis of screen shots from each music video was conducted to determine what kind of nature the product placement occurred in in each music video.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Marketing)-Dept. of Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xvi, 156 leaves / The aim of this research is to evaluate students’ perceptions toward the market orientation of Proudly South Africa companies at Durban University of Technology. The Proudly South African campaign is currently very topical, having become a visible brand in its own right within the period of ten years, with the primary objective of creating job opportunities, supporting local companies by buying products that are produced within the boundaries of South Africa and to initiate nationalism among South Africans.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Marketing)-Dept. of Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xvi, 156 leaves / The aim of this research is to evaluate students’ perceptions toward the market orientation of Proudly South Africa companies at Durban University of Technology. The Proudly South African campaign is currently very topical, having become a visible brand in its own right within the period of ten years, with the primary objective of creating job opportunities, supporting local companies by buying products that are produced within the boundaries of South Africa and to initiate nationalism among South Africans.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: One of the characteristics of discourses about people who are marginalised such as sex workers, in many societies, is the way they are rendered through these very discourses as "Other‟ through, for example, forms of generalisation and homogenisation, attributions of immorality and infantilisation, which construct sex workers as bad or as helpless victims with little or no agency. In opposition to these discourses, my research is primarily concerned with advancing the voices of sex workers engaged in particular contemporary forms of sex work made possible by the access to the internet, and exploring with them how they construct and experience sex work: how they present and identify themselves. A qualitative, netnographic methodology influenced by grounded theory was employed, drawing extensively on semi-structured interviews with 15 independent escorts who advertise on a South African escorting website, referred to as Redlace.com. Content analysis of this website provided an additional source of data. The construction of the sex worker as someone who is simply controlled and exploited by others and who has no mind of her or his own, I found, was very much at odds with the manner through which the independent escorts in my study presented themselves. As I started conducting the interviews, I discovered that even the term "sex worker‟, which I had always understood as non-judgmental, was considered inappropriate and pejorative by most of the women in my study. In my discussion, I illustrate how, by soliciting clients via the internet, escorts are able to gain control over their working conditions allowing them to work independently and anonymously, which in turn renders them less publicly visible compared to other sex workers who solicit clients form the street. While I identify various continuities and discontinuities between independent escorting and other forms of sex work, the most profound and unanticipated difference was how some independent escorts whose independence and dissociation from organised forms of sex work in institutions such as brothels or escorts, placed them in a position where they were able to, and wanted to, present the "girlfriend experience‟. Herein the independent escorts performed and/or became like girlfriends offering sex, but sex mediated by "dating‟, and expressions of care and warmth symbolically associated with developing girlfriend/boyfriend relations.

The study is concerned with how television advertising content in South Africa promotes diversity and nation building. It looks at whether advertising representations reflect the idea of a new South Africa. The basis of the study involves a thorough analysis of the International Marketing Council’s (IMC) ‘alive with possibility’ television campaign through content analysis as well as Focus Group discussions. These advertisements are then comparatively examined with corporate advertisements on South African television. Post 1994 advertising was facing a new era with new challenges, especially due to the emerging black middle class as an important target market. Advertising in South Africa went through an enormous transformation, especially with regard to race and cultural representations and symbols of nationalism and patriotism. Some adverts, like those of the IMC, took on a specific didactic role to try and shift the perceptions of people. These ideals were also noticeable in corporate advertising in the country. Although television advertising itself went under transformation, people were unable to progress as quickly as broadcasting did. The dissertation looks at the variety of opinions regarding this type of advertising in South Africa. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for PhD: Management Sciences , Durban University of Technology. Durban. South Africa, 2015. / The history of South Africa has many scars of oppression and women have long experienced a disempowered position in society. It is also a history of intrepid efforts to emancipate South Africans from past afflictions. Media in South Africa played a key role in amplifying the apartheid regime and also overthrowing it. Media has significant power, is regarded as a bastion of freedom and nation building, and by means of its representation, contributes to our individual and social identities. Magazine media, in particular, are modern and popular cultural forms of representation. It is a significant force in South African culture and plays a central role in shaping public opinion on women. South Africa has a deep-rooted patriarchal value system and while advances can be commended, significant challenges persist. Despite women actively engaging in various aspects of society, from business to sport, they continue to receive marginal support and media attention. Stereotypical representations abound in magazine content and women are often sexualised and objectified in traditionally feminine, decorative roles and framed by their social positions as homemakers and non-professionals. This study explores magazines’ representation of women and the influence on identity construction. The connected landscapes of media’s production and consumption practices is also addressed, as there is a powerful interplay of how the economics of publishing significantly shape media content. This study proposes a model that contributes to promoting diversity in media content, ownership and control, critical citizenry and media accountability in terms of social change and gender equality. The qualitative methodological approach addresses the issue of objectification of women in editorial content and advertisements of two of South Africa’s leading consumer magazines, YOU and DRUM. The findings reveal that gender stereotypes thrive in magazine texts that repeatedly represent women as objects for male consumption, thereby not reflecting the diverse and progressive roles of modern day women. Magazine media can play a powerful role in helping to dislodge the patriarchal, public attitudes towards women. Diversified, equitable representation of gender in media is important so that it may demonstrate, and influence, society’s shift towards egalitarian principles. This study serves as a catalyst for change by building a knowledge base and raising awareness regarding magazines’ role in identity construction, by advocating gender issues and by contributing to gender parity in and through the media. / D

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Strategic Marketing, Johannesburg, 2016 / This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the influence electronic word of mouth (e-WOM) engagement and brand image have on purchase intention. The study was based on understanding factors influencing football fans’ consumption behaviour in relation to sports, specifically football. The study involved different aspects, including the impact of social media and branding on consumer behaviour. The literature consulted assisted with conceptual model and hypotheses development, around which the study was centred. Data for this study was collected from 260 Orlando Pirates FC fans at the Sebokeng branch, where participants were all supporters of the football club which was the subject of the study. Data was collected through a self-administered survey. Using the SPSS 22 and AMOS 22 packages to analyses the data, all the hypotheses were confirmed at 99% confidence level. E-WOM proved to be the most influential factor on fans’ consumer behaviour towards purchase intention while engagement showed the least. The conclusion and recommendation section was informed by the results following the data analyses. Recommendations which emanated from the findings were split between marketing practitioners and academic researchers. Maintaining a positive brand perception proved to be beneficial for brands based on the outcomes of the study. The outcomes also proved that the participant ranked engagement on the club’s Facebook page as the lowest factor t influence their consumer behaviour. As there are few studies on fans’ consumption behaviour in the sports environment, let alone football in South Africa, it would be interesting to see more studies done in this field in future. / GR2018

Thesis (MComm (Economics)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa faces an epidemic, namely, HIV/Aids, which has grown substantially over the last ten years. It can be regarded as the country with the most alarming statistical figures concerning HIV infection rates. Even though South Africa is a country under scrutiny, given the high prevalence of HIV/Aids, this epidemic also constitutes as a global problem, given that an approximate number of 7400 individuals are infected with HIV every day. The number of Aids related deaths has risen from 100 000 in 1999 to over 400 000 in 2009. Given the concern, and in an effort to combat the fast spread of HIV/Aids, the South African government has implemented various educational and support programs. Marketing efforts are related to the above topic, given that various marketing-related practices have been implemented by non-profit organisations in an attempt to create awareness of HIV/Aids and the related risks. These marketing communication programs are referred to as social campaigns. HIV/Aids social campaigns involve communication strategies which attempt to persuade the target market to ensure that they adhere to safesexual practices, by making individuals aware of the threat that infection poses to their lifestyles. Various campaigns also explore how an individual can ensure safe sexual behaviour. Empirical research stretching back to 1975 has provided marketers with guidelines as to what social communication campaigns, concerning threats to human health, should include regarding an emotional, cognitive aspect. Evidence exists for the need to include emotional cues that would stimulate medium to high levels of fear, rather than low levels of fear, in order to effectively persuade an individual to adhere to a protective behavioural pattern. No research has been conducted in order to conclude whether one type of execution style or specific advertising content would result in significantly increased intentions to behave in the recommended protective manner. This study investigated whether different execution styles would result in significantly different levels of attitude, fear and behavioural intention. This was done by sampling a group of 450 respondents who participated in an experimental study. Three execution styles were tested by means of a post-test self administered questionnaire including items related to variables of the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). The PMT explores the effects that fear appeal would have on attitude change. Not only was it found that different execution styles result in significantly different levels of the mentioned variables, it was also found that one execution style is significantly more effective in evoking these cognitive responses in one race group as compared to another. The empirical results of this study reveal that by discontinuing mass communication, and, in preference, segmenting the market towards which HIV/Aids social campaigns are currently aimed, based on race, these awareness campaigns would be more effective in inducing protective sexual behaviour. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika word gekonfronteer met ’n epidemie, naamlik MIV/Vigs, wat aansienlik gegroei het oor die afgelope tien jaar. Suid Afrika kan beskou word as die land met die mees ontstellende statistieke met betrekking tot MIV-infeksie. Selfs al is Suid-Afrika die land met die hoogste gevalle van MIV/Vigs, is hierdie epidemie ook 'n wêreldwye probleem, gegewe dat 'n ongeveer 7400 individue met MIV besmet word elke dag. Die aantal Vigs-verwante sterftes het toegeneem van 100 000 in 1999 tot meer as 400 000 in 2009. Gegewe bogenoemde en in 'n poging om MIV/Vigs verspreiding te beveg, het die Suid- Afrikaanse regering verskeie ondersteunende en opvoedkundige programme geïmplementeer om hierdie doel te bereik. Die verwantskap tussen bemarkingspogings en die betrokke onderwerp is dat verskeie bemarkingsverwante praktyke geïmplementeer word deur nie-winsgewende organisasies in 'n poging om bewustheid van MIV/Vigs en die verwante risiko's te skep. Hierdie bemarkingskommunikasie programme word na verwys as sosiale veldtogte. Die relevante MIV/Vigs-veldtogte behels sosiale kommunikasie strategieë wat die teikenmark probeer oorreed om te verseker dat hulle voldoen aan veilige seksuele praktyke, deur individue bewus te maak van die bedreiging wat infeksie inhou tot hul lewenswyse. Verskeie veldtogte brei ook uit oor hoe 'n individu veilige seksuele gedrag kan verseker. Empiriese navorsing wat terugstrek tot 1975 voorsien bemarkers met riglyne oor wat die sosiale kommunikasie veldtogte, wat 'n bedreiging vir menslike gesondheid behels, moet insluit met betrekking tot 'n emosionele, kognitiewe aspek. Bewyse bestaan in guns van die noodsaaklikheid van emosionele leidrade wat medium tot hoë vlakke van vrees in ‘n individu sal stimuleer, eerder as lae vlakke van vrees, om sodoende 'n individu effektief te oorreed om te voldoen aan beskermende gedragspatrone gegewe die bedreiging wat bestaan. Geen navorsing bestaan tans met betrekking tot of ‘n sekere tipe advertensie uitvoeringstyl of spesifieke advertensie-inhoud sou lei tot ‘n aansienlik hoër voorneme om te reageer op die aanbevole beskermende gedrag nie. Hierdie studie ondersoek of sekere advertensie uitvoeringstyle sou lei tot aansienlik verskillende vlakke van houding, vrees en gedrag. Die ondersoek is gedoen deur middel van 'n groep van 450 respondente wat deelgeneem het aan 'n eksperimentele studie. Drie uitvoeringstyle is getoets deur middel van 'n na-toets self-voltooiingsvraelys wat items ingesluit het wat verband hou met veranderlikes van die beskermings-motiveringsteorie (BMT). Die BMT ondersoek die uitwerking wat vreesaanlagte sal hê op houding en aanpassing daarvan. Hierdie studie het bevind dat verskillende advertensie uitvoeringstyle bydra tot aansienlike verskillende vlakke van die bogenoemde veranderlikes, asook dat een uitvoeringstyl beduidend meer effektief is in die ontlokking van kognitiewe respons in sekere rassegroepe in vergelyking met ander. Die empiriese resultate van hierdie studie bewys dat bemarkers die doeltreffendheid van MIV/Vigs sosiale veldtogte kan verbeter deur massa-kommunikasie te staak en eerder segmentering toe te pas binne die mark op wie veldtogte gemik is. Segmentering op grond van rassegroepe sal veroorsaak dat bewusmakingsveldtogte meer effektief is met betrekking tot hul invloed op die toepassing van beskermende seksuele gedrag binne die teikenmark.

M. Tech. Graphic Design / Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a congenital syndrome cased by excessive consumption of alcohol by the mother during pregnancy, characterized by retardation of mental development and of physical growth. Lack of public information and intervention is one of the reasons why the syndrome persists in townships and rural areas. This study was undertaken in response to the lack of public knowledge within high-risk communities concerning Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The study hypothesized that embedding persuasive techniques within health communication material would create effective health communication campaigns that would be well received by target audiences.