An unexpected summons to the president's table made for interesting dining, writes Marion Scher.

OK - I should have known this wasn't going to be an ordinary week when I arrived to rehearse one of my clients for the speech and found there were 12 large hairy men waiting for me to choreograph a can-can for them for their annual awards event. I was an ice skater/dancer in a previous career, so no biggie ... And as you can imagine, it was quite hilarious.

The next night was our National Press Club Awards and, being a judge of several categories, I dressed in "elegant" dress as the invitation had ordered and drove from Johannesburg to Pretoria to walk up the red carpet at the CSIR Conference Centre. The red carpet, I hasten to add wasn't for us lowly hacks but for our guest of honour, the Newsmaker of the Year for 2009, one President Jacob Zuma.

Firstly for those I haven’t personally wished a happy new year please take this as my wish of all things good to you and yours for the coming year.  A year filled with health and happiness.

This is not just another new year but 2010 and the Soccer World Cup - bringing with it soccer fans, dollars, Euros and pounds – we hope… Being of the half full persuasion I’m always confident that things will go well and I’m pretty sure we’ll give the world a ‘good show’ and they’ll leave South Africa blown away with our country’s beauty and hospitality.

For Media Mentors 2010 means trying even harder to meet clients’ needs. 

The best, most beautiful part of England is steeped in history and storybook tales. Every traveller should see England’s largest National Park,writes Marion Scher WHEN you next think of visiting the UK add on a few days and take a trip to England’s largest National Park – the Lake District, the land of cool, clear lakes, tarns and rivers.

This beautiful part of England, made famous more recently in the film Miss Potter, based on Beatrix Potter’s life and love of the area, has something for everyone. The locals love to point out that among the 12 lakes that make up the Lake District they have the biggest lake in England – Lake Windermere and the deepest lake at Wastwater, all geared for those who like messing about in boats, or those of us who prefer a sunset cruise on a converted Victorian steam powered yacht with a cocktail in our hand. And, of course, there’s fishing for your supper – or dining at one of several excellent local restaurants specialising in the local catch.

Surviving the SA Media - 'Building bridges to make the media more accessible' is finally out!!!  I'm thrilled to say that it will be in the shops from August 11th or can be obtained directly from Knowledge Resources through This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . or call 011 880 8540.

This is like giving birth to a baby that I’ve carried for the last 18 months – a great relief!  I do hope it reaches the intended market and makes a difference to the way communications people deal with the media.

To tie in with the release of the book I will be offering two courses based on its content: 10th November - SURVIVING THE MEDIA - a practical hands on course to give you the skills needed and on the 11th November 'WRITING FOR THE MEDIA' - learning just how and what to write to successfully put your client on the page and in the news. 

We are thrilled to announce that Glynis Horning, a freelane journalist from Durban and Metzi van der Merwe of SABC Radio News are amonst the ten recipients of the 2009/2010 Rosalyn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism.

This will be the last South African intake sponsored by the Carter Center and we are busy looking for South African sponsors to take over this venture and let us carry on reaching people here through these Fellowships.