The sad and unexpected passing of David Bowie’s has to be part of this weeks news cycle, and apart from his incredible musical legacy and his being the soundtrack of my life, we explored the ability that in today’s open and leaky digital world, where we believe everybody knows everything about everybody, that it still possible to keep a secret and keep it for a long time.

Phil of radio HK3 also reflected that when he first heard the news on Twitter he didn’t trust it, thinking it may be a horrible hoax and waited for the BBC confirmation before broadcasting it.

This led us to explore the veracity of online and offline news sources, who believes what about which source and to explore Twitter’s ever-growing role as the news tool of choice for CEO’s around the globe, the British Royal Family, the Pope and many others through which first announcements and breaking news stories are made, which will then find their way into traditional media outlets and the way that narrative, language, grammar and structure changes across the various on and off-line media.

The reality of today’s world is really no different from what it always has been, we can still choose what we say, to whom, where and when and that the philosophy that you shouldn’t say anything online that you wouldn’t go down to the local market and shout still holds up.

As always communication starts with understanding the person you want to communicate to, knowing where she or he hangs out, what they’re listening to and trust and only then choosing the appropriate media and messages style to deliver the message.

Have a listen now (15 minutes 46 seconds)…

and here’s my favourite David Bowie song Space Oddity, I first heard it when I was really young and have loved it ever since.