Ms. Lorraine Landon, Head of Advertising Products and Solutions at Google, shared her insights ahead of the upcoming Audience and Advertising Summit, taking place on September 16-17, 2025, at The Venue Green Park, Johannesburg, South Africa, highlighting the critical conversations shaping Africa’s media landscape.
“The summit’s topic on Building Meaningful Engagement With Audiences is a conversation that is essential for the future of our industry in Africa,” said Ms. Landon. “This event brings together broadcasters, content publishers, and advertisers to explore pivotal themes of data, innovation, and technology.”
Ms. Landon highlighted the evolving media landscape, noting that audience consumption is increasingly fragmented across various devices, including phones, podcasts, and streaming platforms. She emphasised the importance of balancing effectiveness and trust in an era of heightened privacy concerns. “The challenge—and opportunity—is to find innovative ways to monetise content through branded partnerships, sponsorships, and formats that deliver real value to audiences and advertisers,” she said.
Collaboration emerged as a central theme in Ms. Landon’s message. “To tackle industry challenges effectively, content owners, publishers, and advertisers must work together. Strong partnerships unlock new creative and commercial opportunities, benefiting the entire ecosystem.”
She also emphasised the practical value of AI. “AI is not just a buzzword; it’s a creative partner that helps us understand audiences better, make data-driven decisions, and enhance the impact of creative content. Combining human ingenuity with technology can transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.”
The Audience and Advertising Summit promises to be a landmark event for Africa’s media sector. It will bring together industry leaders to discuss innovation, engagement, and growth strategies. Ms. Landon’s insights will set the tone for a forward-looking dialogue on building a connected, prosperous media ecosystem.
Discover how to contribute to the industry’s important conversation here.
