For the record: 01/06/09

Compiled by Ian Burrell

"Our traditional model is bankrupt, unviable, finished. The newspaper industry hasn't changed much since the hot metal days," David Montgomery looks on the bright side

Throw in the towel

So farewell then, Arline Usden, who leaves that most refined of magazines, The Lady, after 18 years at the helm. If this wasn't distressing enough for her colleagues, they've also had to come to terms with the recent arrival at the magazine's offices near Trafalgar Square of a Dyson Airblade dryer in The Lady's ladies loos. Under previous arrangements, staff were given a freshly-laundered handtowel each morning (the editor was given two). The Dyson has caused such stress - some ladies mistaking it for a seat - that the hand towel system has had to be reintroduced until staff have had their Dyson training. Yet more upheaval from new technology.

Dropping trousers

Only in adland. After the appearances on The Apprentice of Johnny Hornby of CHI and then the whole McCann Erickson lot, another agency has managed to get themselves on telly. But the Newcastle-based One Best Way have had to go a little further to get their, er, exposure, by spending a week in the buff for Virgin 1's forthcoming doc The Naked Office. The experiment, (it's due to be screened next month if you can face it), has apparently improved the company's internal comms no end.

Treated royally

Channel 4 may have axed its Soho House outpost (with free champagne and canapes) from this year's Edinburgh TV festival but at least someone is being well looked after by the broadcaster. The talented playwright and actor Kwame Kwei-Armah (pictured below), best known for his appearances in BBC1's Casualty, has been touring the globe for an exciting sounding project that explores how the countries of the Commonwealth have changed since the Queen embarked on her seven month Royal Tour in 1953. Kwei-Armah is retracing a regal journey that clocked up a mighty 44,000 miles.

Ian Burrell discusses media matters at independent.co.uk/iburrell and twitter.com/ianburrell