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I’ve been taking a close interest in the extent to which Eastern European leaders, especially Dimitry Medvedev, have been making attempts to position themselves strategically in the UK media - an FT comment piece here, an interview on Today programme there.

Why bother? Well, the likes of Medvedev need to work their international audience in order to get things done globally, so explaining their actions and pitching a more positive narrative that challenges the old KGB villain-type image will help.

They’ve gone a stage further now with a social media strategy, an interactive video blog that enables Medvedev to give something of his personality (we’ll see whether that’s a good thing or not!) and get into a dialogue. Full marks for trying.

Pulling back, its fascinating to see how international figures use foreign media to play back into their homeland. US globetrotting political consultants like Sawyer Miller were masters of this. Check out how the firm used the US media in the Philippines to unseat Ferdinand Marcos.

They figured that the domestic TV channels, being state controlled, were unlikely to play fair so they used the US TV networks and the likes of the New York Times, which were recieved along with so much US culture, out in the Philippines, and to influence the White House, who at the time were protecting Marcos.

Currently there’s a mini-power game taking place amongst Russian political officials and exiled oligarchs. Whether its billionaires ingratiating themselves into Western society or looking to expose dodgy dealings in their home nation.

In this spirit its fascinating to see the bid for the Evening Standard by ex-KGB agent and Russian billionaire, Alexander Lebedev. He’s known to be an opposition figure in Moscow, a critic of the regime.

It was thought that the days of a rich man looking to own a national newspaper, funding large losses, in return for access and prestige was ebbing away as multi-media strips away the power of the old brands. Perhaps there’s now a new generation of rich men seeking that sort of trophy?

Guido makes an amusing comparison with a figure from years gone by.

The Travelogue (in addition to being the title of albums by both Joni Mitchell and The Human League) is one of the great traditions in writing. From ancient sagas, through to Kerouac’s pseudo fictional ‘On the Road’ and Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s ‘Long Way Round’ (and Down), travel stories have always been a part of our culture. They capture the imagination and take us as virtual passengers on epic journeys.  The Travelogue is journalism in its true sense, it is a journal or diary of events; one that educates and informs.

It seems to me that a blog provides us with the perfect platform for travel writing.  Not only are we privy to the grand tour but the immediacy of the blog means that we can follow the trip as it happens.

I have two colleagues writing Travelblogs as we speak; one in Russia and the other in New York.  You can follow Liz Dewhurst’s adventures on Madison Avenue here at PR Media Blog.  Michael Cooper and his mate Scott are telling Slavic tales at Mike and Scott’s Russian Blogski.  These are two modern takes on a great writing institution.  No pressure then guys.