2012 has arrived! It feels like just yesterday I was writing my last editorial column of the year wishing you a safe and wonderful festive season. I do trust that you had just that! So it's back to the grind as many of us return to our respective workplaces in drips and drabs. Here at Bizcommunity, we're going at full throttle today as most of our staff report back to work. I can assure you that there are exciting times ahead in the marketing and media industry. Look out for the 2012 Biz Trends initiative which will be running until the end of January. News that you might have missed: Algeria's government adopts controversial media law; according to MISA, media conditions in Malawi worsens in 2011; Reporters Without Borders reports that 66 reporters were killed worldwide in 2011; in Gabon, authorities suspend opposition media outlets and Project Inspire Africa premiered in Uganda. Here's to the start of a great new year! Evan-Lee Courie (@evan1985) Responses to this column welcomed in our online editor's column archive. Send all your Africa marketing news to africanews@bizcommunity.com and opinion pieces to contributors-africa@bizcommunity.com, also take a look at our guide "How to contribute to Bizcommunity, from op-ed pieces to news". Follow Bizcommunity on Twitter @Bizcommunity and join our Facebook page.