The British General Election barely registers on the street. It’s the mainstream media which is writing the narrative, creating overnight superstars, capturing the public’s attention, and driving opinion polls in all directions. What’s to learn? Read on ›

Unlike the BNP, self-respecting political parties don’t hold their Emergency General Meetings in East London’s notorious Elm Park pub. I know. It is where I roughhoused, before I made a bid for respectability and left. My memories of the place are bitter-sweet. Read on ›

Social media is looking less glossy after bruising encounters with business, personal and political reality. Here’s three glimpses of how it’s no longer so hip, cool or influential. Read on ›

Warning: this post is counter-revolutionary. A recent BBC’s Culture Show celebrated how WikiLeaks exposes anything which comes its way with no chance of legal comeback. Supposedly this will usher in a revolution in openness. Here’s the case against transparency in defence of trust. Read on ›

The British National Party (BNP) is thrashing the mainstream parties – but only online. This says as much about the internet as it does about politics, and I don’t think the mainstream should overdo its response. Read on ›

This piece comes with a health warning. It is a bit rude about a very prevalent fashion. I want to diss the idea that PR online strategies must be nice, non-judgmental, inclusive, blah blah. Read on ›

I watched the England game last night at the local Stammtisch. Every time Germany touched the ball the Swiss drinkers booed. They banged the table in delight when West Ham’s Pat Upson scored. They were sure the Swiss referee would favour us. (Why was that good?, I remembered to ask myself.) They said it was just like in 1966 when West Ham and a Swiss referee humbled Germany at Wembley. It was England’s glory last night in Berlin. They loved it. So last night on Zurich’s Gold Coast I toasted England’s revival under Italian leadership – with my Swiss neighbours. Read on ›