Flash Gordon!

It's that time of year again. Yup it's party conference season - and what a week Labour are having! This time last year could anyone imagine Labour being ahead in the polls and even considering a snap election? Gordon Brown and his press team provide the perfect example of how to feed the media with the right messages to damage your opponent. Constant briefings to journalists - who just love speculation - which in turn only causes more unrest for the Conservatives. Give journalists a good story and they have no need to go digging. You can get all the coverage you want!

All publicity is good publicity!

As Boris Johnson launches his campaign to become Mayor of London, surely there is no better example of someone who knows how to use the media effectively. Here is a man who creates the impression of being a bumbling MP and who has been involved in a serives of media furores over his comments about Portsmouth, Jamie Oliver and Liverpool. Yet still the public want more and his TV and radio coverage increases. His ability to bounce back and give the media what they want- a good story - is never ending. It is no accident that he manages to keep his profile to the top of most news programmes' running order. He knows exactly how to play the game.
So is he a serious opponent for Ken Livingstone or just a man who adores the limelight? One thing is certain: if Londoners do decide to vote for him, London will never be quite the same again!