A web media company I work with did some analysis recently on why articles had been rejected by Google News. Whereas just about anything can go on to the web search, Google vets sites before it will include them in the 'news' category. It then checks each article against a set of pre-determined criteria to decide if it's a genuine news article - we can't have bloggers masquerading as journalists now can we?

At least Gordon Brown shows he is a man of the people. Even if he didn't hear the broadcast himself, he knows what will swing the voters of Fife.

One of the most fascinating things about working in media relations is trying to understand how and why news becomes news.

This last week there should have been two main stories: the US election and Gordon's last stand in a Scottish by-election. Instead we had almost blanket coverage of a prank phone call on a radio show. How did that happen?

But, he says, he can't find enough that have existing planning permission.

"I'd like to play my part ... I wish I could get out my spade and start digging," Hoon tells the FT.

Why doesn't he pay a visit to Birmingham then? There is a project right on our doorstep that has been granted a Transport and Works Act Order (the equivalent of planning permission for these sorts of things).

This same cool bag it turned out was even better for carrying a single home-made sandwich into work, so it helped me break the lunchtime habit, loose weight and save money.

M&S on the other hand have lost several hundred pounds in lost revenue. It was perhaps not their brightest marketing idea.

So says the weekly trade title PRWeek.

Quoting top people within the profession it says agencies are finding it tough going because the global economic downturn continues to dominate the headlines.

One London agency was forced to delay a client launch (they don't say what for) because finance journalists were preoccupied with the collapse of Icelandic Banks.

Yeh, right. That's what media relations is all about.

But what might raise a wry smile on the phone, creates an angry customer when it is applied to advertising. Misuse of the language is no longer humorous, it is misleading.

When it is a Birmingham hotel that is upsetting visitors it not only loses them potential customers, it impacts on the image of the city too.

It reminds me of a fairy tale.

Once upon a time a city staged a big race around the streets. In many ways it was a great success, but there was a problem with the weather - so when they counted the spectators, this tale is of what might have happened if someone added a few to make the figures look good?

(We had a related issue with our gas meter reading recently, where the man who came accidentally wrote down an 8 instead of a 6 in the tens of thousands column. Once that was in the British Gas computer it took ages to convince them that the current reading really is less than last winter's figure and, no, our direct debit should not go up by 210 per cent thank you very much.)

I digress. Back to the imaginary motor race...

Believe me Jo, you're not the only one. I read the newspaper three times yesterday and I still don't get this 'short selling' stuff. Thank goodness for children's tv.

Collecting the 'cooking for schools' vouchers is a messy business.

I don't know whether its since my children have been of school age that I have noticed this more, or whether it has been a recent trend - but a growing number of companies seem to think the way to win our hearts and minds is to give things to local schools.

I've seen important staff meetings called to give employees a voice in the future structure of an organisation dissolve into small-minded debates about the tea and coffee fund - because people can't grasp or don't want to face up to the bigger issue.

What's more important? The future shape of public transport, or the colour of the trams? The development strategy for a town centre, or the colour of the lampposts? Both these are based on a true stories.

So the Birmingham Post report of a city council debate on climate change makes very depressing reading.

I started this little bit of research because Gordon has brought his Cabinet to Birmingham today.

It should be excellent news. But how well placed is the city's PR machine to reap the benefit?

Given that ninety percent or more of journalists will start their research on the internet, I thought I'd check out the critical websites...

If Birmingham City Council is busy briefing the media about our great city on the back of the Cabinet meeting, it doesn't show on the web site. That's a great pity.

There is a sort of silver lining - in that our great northern rival doesn't fare much better.

Perhaps those flocking here for the Tory Party conference in a few weeks time might have been tempted to discover the history of the Second City?

But, love Brum as I do, I have my doubts that the Birmingham Story is really that much of a draw. It is the individual threads of history that are usually far more interesting. That's why Cadbury World and the Jewellery Quarter Museum make more sense - both as tourist attractions and business ventures.

What has all this got to do with potatoes?

Not being a follower of any of the Australian soaps this was not a phrase I was familiar with - but the meaning of the ICC delegate who had travelled many thousands of miles to be here was absolutely clear: both he and our family were having a great day out.

As Birmingham continues to compete on the world stage for both tourism and business visitors, it's very useful (and sometimes rewarding) for us local PR people to see the 'product' through the eyes of others.

Our guests from Wales - including an ex-Brummie who had left around thirty years ago - were thoroughly impressed and even casting envious eyes on the canalside apartments. The city has so much to offer compared to their rural abode. Though personally I still prefer the beach near their Welsh home to the one in Chamberlain Square.

Our children loved the boat trip and had a great time at the Myths and Monsters exhibition. They were also fascinated by the motorbike displays in the ICC mall - which is where we met the friendly Australian business visitor.

It's good to see our Midlands MPs doing their best to support local business, but perhaps Lynne Jones had her tongue slightly in cheek when she implied the infamous John Lewis list might be replaced by one from International Stock.

The owner of the Kings Heath discount warehouse, John Cullen, though was totally unphased by her remarks.

"We have supplied London apartments and we do a delivery service," he said, claiming his customers already included some of the great and good from far and wide. "We've had MPs, councillors, titled people all purchase things from this warehouse."

It's certainly a new line in advertising for Mr Cullen to consider: "As seen in Hansard."

If it goes wrong, quite a bit of PR effort can be required to persuade dissatisfied customers to return.

Earlier this year we were advising a venue (not in the Midlands) of the merits of a 'soft' opening. There would be no fanfare, just a few invited guests and critical friends, a chance for the staff to iron out any unforeseen problems. This came back to me at the weekend when I was a customer at a new venue closer to home.

Having read Terry Grimley's preview of 'The Public' in the Birmingham Post, I took the kids along for the opening day. We arrived when West Bromwich's new gallery/venue was just an hour old.