Google + has changed

Google + has had a redesign. The new look is sleeker and easier to navigate, not that the previous version was difficult.

If you are not on it but interested in social media then get an account and explore.

PR tip: how to keep on top of the news

Information overflow has become a cliche. But like all phrases that have become overused there is some truth to it. News doesn't stop although it does repeat itself during the day.

Not only does a communicator have to stay on top of the sector, or sectors, they are dealing with they also need to have a general sense of the news flow.

This means reading one national newspaper every day is nowhere near enough.

There are lots of tools to help: RSS feeds, readers and news aggregators.

The obvious way to keep up with general news is the BBC website. It is widely read and BBC television news is seen by opinion formers and the public. Keeping an eye on the national newspaper websites is well worth doing. After that, it is about reading specialist publications and sites.

Google doodle - Saul Bass

A brilliant doodle incorporating many of Basses iconic images with the Google brand.

Helen Mirren's PR hit

Helen Mirren's frustrated outburst at some drummers has proved to be a PR hit.

Here of some reasons why it might have got a favourable reaction:

• A member of the public filmed the whole thing so this wasn't a PR story that was placed
• Having loud noise interrupting a stage play is bound to annoy the cast
• The press like Helen Mirren
• The public like Helen Mirren
• She quickly explained why she did it and made the point she likes drumming
• The play is booked out so there was nothing to gain from putting the story out

The news website paywall problem

Today, the Times has an exclusive article by Lord Lawson calling for Britain's withdrawal of the European Union.

A summary of the piece can be read for free here, here and here.

With one national newspaper editor saying that their main rival is the Huffington Post and not other newspapers, it seems that making money from news online is going to be harder and harder.

The UK local elections: PR heaven and hell

The results of the UK local elections have been announced this morning.

For UKip's media head this is heaven. Even if journalists write disparagingly about the party, they cannot deny its success.

For public relations professionals in the other parties it is more difficult. The Labour party did well but not brilliantly, the coalition parties had a bad night. Attempting to explain the results away is no easy task. The stock response to the press will be that governing parties always do badly at local elections.

Are reports of the death of newspapers greatly exaggerated?

According to the guru of media training Tom Maddocks the answer is yes.

You can read why he thinks so here.

Tom is spot on about news migrating to the web and the power of newspaper brands.

The challenge that remains is how to generate revenue from news on the web. For the time being, the jury is out on whether a pay wall is the best way.