There was also a good session at Saturday's  conference on how media interacts with politicians.

There was disagreement about the role of blogs with Kevin Maguire of The Mirror pointing out that although the blogs might claim to have broken the John Prescott/Tracy Temple story there were lots of blogs circulating incorrect stories about Prescott at the same time.

My contribution to the debate? Blogs are not a threat to the mainstream media or shouldn't be. The mass media have huge resources and a trusted brand as a result.

Blogs such as this have grown a trusted brand through not pedalling unsubstantiated gossip and serving a particular market extremely well, not competing with the Mirror or Sky News.

The biggest issue for the press is their pursuit of ever more shocking headlines to grab readers which have gone from attention grabbing to just incessant SHOUTING.

So we see screaming headlines each day of 'asylum crisis' or 'pensions crisis' or 'trains crisis' or....

You just know that when crime figures are released showing a fall in crime the press will pick up on the element of crime that has shown a rise and do a 3 page special on its shocking impact on Britain.

This kind of coverage doesn't inform or entertain. It was interesting to note that at the end of last year London's murder rate fell to a ten year low but this wasn't news, it warranted just two paras in the Evening Standard.