Navigating the digital landscape with a creative touch

A dedicated multi-media practitioner, Denis Manuel focuses on television and radio broadcasting, stakeholder management, marketing, corporate communications, public relations, branding and social media management. He is also a public speaker.

Manuel hails from Rundu. "I grew up in Rundu, in the streets of Donkerhoek."

He began primary school at Rundu Junior Primary School in 2003 and later transferred to Dr. Romanus Kampungu Secondary School in 2010 for grades eight to 12, which he completed in 2014.

Initially, things did not go exactly as planned because he did not have enough points to proceed to university. However, he did not give up and enrolled at the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) to improve his grade 12 grades in 2016 after taking a gap year in 2015.

He was able to improve his grades at Elite Tutorial College in Ondangwa, which allowed him to then enrol at the University of Namibia (Unam). However, due to limited space for the study he desired, he was unable to get enrolled, leading him to enrol at Triumphant College.



Areas of expertise

Manuel later worked part-time as an assistant production officer for Inch Multi-Media Production in 2017, a company where his brother was a co-founder and the executive director.

"My time at Inch Multi-Media Production was quite interesting because that’s where my passion for media blossomed," he explained.

His expertise is in the development, growth and management of brand perception.

"I can analyse a company's newsworthiness, find interesting and timely themes, and turn them into compelling stories."

He has been in the media industry for over five years. He has produced commercial ads, corporate photography, live news, music promotions and many flagship programmes. "I have a broad understanding of the media industry and its principles."



Wide-ranging skills

Furthermore, he has experience producing shows both inside and outside of the studio and is well-versed in software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Avid, and Final Cut.

"I have worked for Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) for over five years, starting as a news reporter, later becoming an assistant producer, and then being promoted to producer, a position I currently hold."

Working on a part-time basis with various organisations and businesses, his services grew and eventually led to the establishment of his company, Top Notch Media.

The company – 100% Namibian-owned – was established in April 2019 by Manuel and his co-founder, Jose Manuel.

Top Notch Media is a multimedia company that specialises in corporate communications, public relations, branding and social media management, as well as media relations, stakeholder management and marketing.

Their expertise is focused on developing, growing and managing brand perception.



Constantly evolving

Manuel has a bachelor's degree in journalism and media studies, while Jose Manuel, his co-founder, has an honors degree in education and has been frequently involved in coordinating various projects that have been assigned to him.

He has worked with notable broadcast companies such as NBC as a producer, social media manager, and graphics designer, KinoNamibia as a public relations specialist, Ngandu Events as a social media manager, Juvenile Media Podcast and Top Class Namibia as a production officer.

The media industry is constantly evolving with advancements in technology. Notably, keeping up with the latest trends, such as shifts in digital platforms, changing consumer behaviours and emerging technologies, is crucial for staying competitive, and ensuring a steady flow of high-quality and diverse content is essential for attracting and retaining audiences, Manuel advises.