The Fourth Estate of another place

It is important to raise this issue prior to the end of the campaign because I don't want it to be written off as a whinge or special pleading. It is important to also make clear this is hardly a revolutionary new viewpoint.

The Welsh media landscape is clearly not fit for purpose for a functioning democracy.


I'm not an instinctive BBC-basher, I am a wholly satisfied license fee payer on the whole. But I am have grown increasingly angry at the way the corporation covers Welsh politics. My blood boiled when we had a BBC Question Time in Newport that included a question about who John Terry was shagging, but not one question on a devolved issue. It made my blood boil that the referendum panel show they hosted feature a pretty unscreened audience who were a rabid in their approval of abolishing the assembly.

On the day of the referendum, a vote that impacts on all parts of the UK, we had wall to wall of the Barnsley by-election, which wasn't even a competitive seat, without any coverage of the referendum. Now we have the London media giving reams of coverage to the AV Referendum with but barely a passing mention to elections in Wales and Scotland.

To me there are a number of things that can be done - the BBC has to be the beginning, but not the end. Firstly, Wales needs it's own six oclock news - one which focuses on global, devolved and UK events, but through a Welsh lens.

Secondly, Wales has to have a monthly question time devoted to devolved matters with only Welsh representatives on the panel. No more Kelvin Mackenzie/Janet Street Porter etc talking about England only policies beamed from Swansea. I think a monthly show is a fair ask.

Thirdly, Plaid must make devolution of broadcasting a massive priority. The fact is that any new democracy needs a free and fair media that reports on the things happening in said nation. Wales is being let down. I believe that devolution will flourish if we have a media that transmit this focus to the Welsh people.

It is unacceptable that many Welsh voters are not consuming any news that will inform them of the Welsh Assembly election. This is particularly important and doable when we have a state funded media outlet in the BBC.

To put my Plaid hat on - it is a massive issue that Plaid cannot put across their ideas through the media that Welsh people primarily consume. While there are no easy answers with the printed press, there has to be pressure being put on the BBC to properly reflect this democratic deficit.

And let's be clear, the lack of Welsh focus suits the other three parties very well. No token 'England only' mentions will disguise the fact that all news was focused on the three Westminster parties talking about NHS Reforms.

I also think we need to look at any way we can encourage local media companies to set up media outlets - online, radio, print or tv to provide Wales focused news and comment.