HERE'S Phuketwan MediaWATCH, a lively take on what's happening that is aimed at keeping island residents, visitors, would-be holidaymakers and advertisers in touch with Phuket's growing information world.

NEWSFRONT Latest: The discovery of dangerous box jellyfish in Phuket waters, as reported by Phuketwan, remains the most important topic on the island this week, and probably for many weeks to come. The nightmare is that the box jellyfish spreads to the west coast beaches, preventing tourists from enjoying a swim in the high season. The dream is that the local tourist industry supports marine scientists, researchers and health officials and they manage to contain the menace.

The Phuket Gazette: (Weekly newspaper. Price 25 baht, 52 pages with events calendar insert and four-page advertising wraparound) Behind the glossy promotional wraparound for a Rawai resort, the Gazette's front page reports on a double-murder with a strangely positive headline: Two survive family 'wipeout' attempt. Yes, but two were killed. We wouldn't call that a win-win. (''Do you want the good news, or the bad news?'') Also on the front page, a photograph of a crashed vehicle, plus an article promoting the Gazette Guide. (Many newspapers declare wraparounds as 'Special Advertising Supplements' yet promote their own products as normal editorial. This is considered to be standard procedure. Keep an eye out, though, on Phuket for the publications that do not declare editorial that comes as part of paid advertising deals. Those publications deceive readers, and sometimes collect a fee along the way.) On page three, the lead article tells of a murder, while a photograph depicts a runaway truck. Yes, page three is pretty much a slow-motion replay of page one. The two-page Inside Story reports on the crown of thorns starfish menace to local coral reefs then eventually notes close to the end that this year's outbreaks are small and not as threatening as in previous years. More good news. Around the Region reports the opening of a new and apparently respectable nightclub, The Peach (get it?) in Khao Lak. The Gazette editorial welcomes the new governor, and talks of a second garbage incinerator for Phuket. That kind of instant solution is part of the problem. Education, recycling and minimising waste is healthier, and we think the new governor seems to be very health-conscious. The Letters page run a little longer than usual and covers a gamut of issues, most poignantly from an expat thanking a local hospital for saving his life. First Person, by a sponsorship expert, drips with sales industry jargon to the point where most readers will be challenged to go beyond the first few paragraphs. Our advice to the expert: know your audience and use language they understand. Our advice to the copy editor: take out the jargon. Elsewhere, Bill Barnett's Property Watch column on bottom-feeders provides an astute comment on the credit crisis for the island's real estate fraternity (they are nearly all boys).

Innovation of the Week: HomeWorks opens today.

Island IT: The Age, a newspaper in Australia, reports that guests at two Californian hotels can order food, drinks, wake-up calls, spa treatments, concierge services and transportation, all from a special application on their iPhone or iPod Touch. ''If they don't have either of the devices at check-in, guests are provided with a 16GB iPod Touch that has the 'Hotel Evolution' application already loaded. The application also allows guests to look up information on shopping, nightlife and local restaurants, as well as check their messages. There is an option to request DO NOT DISTURB, room cleaning, or additional linens, towels and toiletries.'' Elsewhere, a Japanese company says it has found a way to charge iPods and other portable gadgets just by walking. But what if all you want to do is lie under a palm tree?

Coming Events: Expect more action from the new governor.



Declaration of interest: Big Island Media, Phuketwan's parent print company, has as small stake in Pulse Media, which produces The Phuket Post, but no influence on the Post's content.