Ian Monk | The Tabloid Agenda

Ian Monk is founder of Ian Monk Associates and a former executive at the Daily Mail and The Sun

Ian Monk: Mandelson shines a light on spin

Lord Leveson's inquiry into media ethics provides more dark insights into the interface between spin and journalism.

Ian Monk: Olympic team is beating the odds

Seventy-seven days to go* and the Olympic razzmatazz builds up despite a cacophony of dissenting noises in the media.

Ian Monk: Cowell gambles on candid approach

The upside for Simon Cowell in the publication of Tom Bower's 'unauthorised' biography is its compelling case against evidently baseless rumours that he is gay.

Ian Monk: Media obsession damages politics

They lined up like performing animals, pasties and pies stuffed uncomfortably into their mouths as they smiled rictus grins.

Ian Monk: Football gets its priorities right

Football and real human tragedy, not the shallow cliches of penalties blazed over the bar in shoot-outs, have always walked hand in hand.

Ian Monk: Horses and hounds can change careers

Welcome to the tale of the horse and the hound. Pause for a moment at the bar to consider the seminal roles played by animals in forming perceptions around two of the biggest media stories of the year.

Ian Monk: The Sun shines on UK press industry

Three cheers for the rising of The Sun on Sunday and for Rupert Murdoch's undiminished appetite for a fight.

Ian Monk: The mob is now judge and jury

John Terry, Chris Huhne and Fred Goodwin are all innocent - OK?

Ian Monk: 'Rogue captain' line could sink company

As a PR strategy, it hit the rocks in less time than it allegedly took 'Captain Coward' to abandon his stricken cruise liner.

Ian Monk: A landmark year for Brand Britain

The year ahead may see seismic shifts in perceptions of our country. The Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee will provide a global showcase for Brand Britain - if we can at least agree that we are Britain and not the widely used UK.

Ian Monk: Clash of agendas at Leveson Inquiry

The credibility of many newspapers, traditionally the scourge of reputation, is coming under savage fire at the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the print press.

Ian Monk: Could honesty be the best policy?

I recently renewed my acquaintance with a wise man who has packed more into half a lifetime in corporate PR and reputation management than most of us could ever hope to. His great success in PR followed a previous career as an award-winning internati...

Ian Monk: Place your bets on lottery PR clash

Is anyone taking bets on the outcome of the current PR spat between the National Lottery and Richard Desmond's Health Lottery?

Ian Monk: Press freedom fight gets fiercer

As official inquiries into press regulation begin, there are growing signs of unease and compromise from all sides. It is a stand-off worth watching by all involved in media relations.

Ian Monk: Foxy Knoxy scores uneasy PR coup

A brilliantly executed PR campaign looks to have played a seminal role in winning freedom for Amanda Knox. If that is the case, its success will rightly prompt pride in the power of our trade. It may, at the same time, cause a twinge of concern as to...