This is a copy of my weekly blog which I write for work and is published on the council's intranet.  The views I express in this log are my own, professional, views as the Head of Communications but do not necessarily reflect those of the authority itself.

I’m back from my little bit of leave – so firstly I must say thanks to Catherine for looking after the log in my absence.

Her entry was very interesting.

I suspect many of us don’t give the website much of a second thought – it’s just ‘there’ working away, doing its thing in the background.

However, as you will now know it’s actually a bit of a powerhouse and very important to us and the residents of Leeds.  In many ways, they have come to rely on some of the things it will actually do for them.

Regrettably, like an antique black and white TV, it might look good, but the technology behind it is on its last legs.

That’s why colleagues from my team are working on plans for a new site and what they need in terms of the infrastructure to run it.

Watch this space for more detail.  I’ll update you when there is more news.

Thanks also for your contributions and comments to my last log – the one where I was talking about the Independent’s front page story about job ‘losses’ and what I considered to be its serious lack of fact-checking.

Many of you pointed to Google News as a source for the supposed 650 posts ‘being axed’ and some of you said a search of our press release database from 2009 revealed the figure from one of our own statements.

That may be true – but I am disappointed in you.

Only one person who pointed me to a search page finished their email message with the words “… but it’s a shame the reporter just relied on Google.”

Exactly.  That was the whole point I was trying to make.

It is completely unacceptable that a journalist does a quick search on Google (other search engines are available!) and then prints whatever they find without checking with us first.

Now – I may be jumping to conclusions here dearest and loyal readers, but the fact that only one of you thought it important to highlight their concern about the use of Google as their primary source – worries me.

Does that mean you think this is acceptable, common or inevitable practice?

If so, then my depression about the state of current journalism in the UK just cranked up another notch.  Maybe I’ve got that wrong and no doubt you will be straight onto Outlook to send me your thoughts.

As ever they are more than welcome!

Of course, having been away from the office for over a week, I’ve missed lots of the exciting things that have been going on.

My team assures me that they did do some work and I can’t find any empty packets of Custard Creams (although someone did buy some mini flapjacks) which disproves their claims.

So, I thought I’d end on a ‘personal’ note.

During my 10 days of leave I went back to my old college to present a lecture to 50 or so communications and media students.  It was also an opportunity to meet up with my former radio colleague Mary Stanley whom I haven’t seen for 12 years.  She and I worked together at a radio station on the south coast before she eventually was drawn to the bright lights of TV news and got herself on the tele.

We spent nearly two hours reminiscing about ‘the good old days’.

Mary is convinced that my time in public sector communications is limited and that I will “return to broadcasting one day”.

It took almost all of my energy to persuade her that I seriously doubt it.  The broadcasting sector in the UK is not a patch on what it was when I first started, the money is terrible and the resources available in the commercial sector at least are woefully inadequate.

Besides, the challenge of working for the public sector at such an interesting time and being in a fantastic city like Leeds is much more attractive right now.

Well, at least that’s what I thought until I was clearing out the loft last week.

I found a box full of old photographs of me during my radio career.  There was one of me doing my first live broadcast from Stonehenge in Wiltshire and several of me at the station I ran on the Isle of Wight.

The memories came flooding back and I did wonder what I might be doing now if I was still working in radio.

Then I had an idea.  To combine my love of public sector communications and my passion for broadcasting perhaps I should … set up a council radio station!

There’s plenty of talent in the organisation and each ‘presenter’ would only have to fill an hour-long slot.  Of course, the breakfast show would be the most prestigious programme and we’d need a ‘big name’ member of staff to take on the likes of Messers Evans and Moyles.

As a bit of fun email me your suggestions.

Then of course there’s the name for our new radio station.  I thought “Leeds Radio” – that would cause a stir among a certain group of people!