[ ONE of the major planks in the Aberdeen Press... ]

ONE of the major planks in the Aberdeen Press and Journal's success in achieving a readership of 270,000 - more than any other broadsheet newspaper in Scotland - has been its reliance on parish- pump news from a network of stringers and correspondents in every nook and cranny of its huge circulation area.

But this week the P & J is to elaborate on this theme, by inaugurating fortnightly two-hour long reporters' surgeries in 17 towns and villages in Aberdeenshire, predominantly in local libraries.

Editor Derek Tucker says the P & J is the first daily in Scotland to launch such a concept, and perhaps the first in the UK.

"When people have a problem, they often don't know where to turn. All our reporters have contact books crammed with the telephone numbers of people who can solve these problems.

"What we can do is take complaints quickly and effectively to the people who have the power to make something happen. In terms of getting things done, nobody can touch us."

Plans are already under way to extend the surgeries concept to other parts of the P & J's far-flung circulation area. Nice idea, Derek. One wonders whether the P & J's intrepid newshounds could be armed with stethoscopes to do a bit of GP work on the side?

Guests at the recent Summer Cruise Ball in aid of the Hilton in the Community Foundation at the Hilton Glasgow were happy to dig deep for a worthwhile cause, particularly when the 10 raffle prizes up for grabs included a week's holiday for two in Tobago and five nights at The Drake, a hangout of the stars in Chicago. The Herald's special projects editor Andy MacKay and his wife Theresa won a prize. Alas, not the Caribbean holiday. Instead, Theresa is making plans for two nights at Edinburgh Airport. They can always watch the jets and dream.

Given that weapons and footballers just don't mix, Media Watch was shocked to hear the latest tale about Paul Drury, boss of the Media Now PR firm.

Organising his latest stunt for Phoenix Mitsubishi of Paisley to celebrate its sponsorship deal with Partick Thistle, Drury managed to persuade Jags manager John Lambie to dress up in a Samurai warrior's suit - he was getting a (pounds) 25,000 Shogun, after all. Things were going well until Lambie began a fencing match with deputy manager Gerry Collins, using a valuable Katana ceremonial sword which has been in Drury's family for years.

After eventually persuading Lambie to stop hitting his deputy, Drury was seen wandering off with the family relic, muttering something about whether his Aunt Jean would notice anything different about her beloved Katana.

What's going on with Jeremy Paxman? Two weeks after demonstrating that he was not above telling a few politically incorrect dumb- blonde jokes, and upsetting Woman's Hour presenter Jenni Murray in the process, he sends out another e-mail to Newsnight viewers featuring one of the oldest blonde jokes in the book.

After informing e-mail subscribers about the day's events, Paxman concluded with the following: "As I was coming to work today, I noticed a blonde staring intently at a carton of orange juice. When asked what she was doing, she pointed to the package and said 'look.' I did. It read 'concentrate'."

Stick to the news, Jezza.

And before Media Watch forgets, we would like to congratulate Iain Hogg and Picardy Media Group for being the only Scottish company to appear in a recent Top 50 poll of the UK's top production and new media firms. There, we've said it - so no more press releases about it please!

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