The media penalty

It was good to see a balanced article from Duncan Higgitt @ Wales Home that tries to flesh out some wider societal factors in how the electorate is changing but isn't so to speak in Wales. There are a number of factors that I think both sides of the Labour/Plaid divide are willing to truly face up to - the media.

It is certainly not my intention to play down local campaigning, only today I was canvassing with Ron Davies and without that personal contact with Ron himself, no media coverage would have won those voters over to Plaid. However, I feel we shy away from the debate as to how the (lack of) Welsh media inhibits our political culture.

Firstly, the Labour side. There is no mystery to why there is no real desire for Labour in Wales to put things onto a firmly Welsh footing, regardless of some of Senedd Labour being comfortable with that. Peter Hain will not utter two setences this campaign without mentioning another Government in another parliament. Labour only even present devolved policies in the context of how bad the Westminster Government. Interesting that free prescriptions and bus passes were not used in such a way when Labour was in power in Westminster.

The simple fact remains is that the UK focus of the media and the Welsh electorate's consumption of that media benefit Labour, Tory and Lib Dems. It affords column inches, television and radio time - and that in turn even filters down into the little Welsh focused media we have. Even the Lib Dems must be glad of this focus, mainly because at least in Westminster what they are doing in Government actually is received by the Welsh electorate.

Which leaves me to the Plaid side of this divide. Anecdotal evidence from the Westminster election (an extreme example granted) was that Plaid hardly featured in the election media they consumed, apart from the passing reference (with notice paid due to my nagging) to "something about the debates".

It is very difficult for us to truly publicly put forward this issue. Ultimately, much of the levers of change are out of our hands, it is to Plaid's great credit that it has grown since devolution and the fact is that public opinion is clearly on the side of those who want more autonomy for Wales. I am not sure if it will be enough for us all to be 'winning the argument' but not winning more seats.

Perhaps I have some knowledge of this, but bet if you blind tested Plaid's manifesto against Labour's manifesto, particularly their Westminster manifesto, your Labour voter would probably agree with more Plaid. That is my view of course, so has not really been tested (or could be given it would be very difficult to 'blind' the test).

My concern is that the media focus means the amplification, the ability to kick up a stink, make headlines, drive the debate is not available to us as a party.

That is not meaning to be negative, it is an inherent positive. Plaid come across very well when it gets a chance; Question Time etc. My concern is that sometimes our very best work can exist in a vacuum away from people's eyes and ears.

I don't have all the solutions and I am talking about the societal and generational challenges we face, rather than anything Plaid are doing wrong. However I believe it is disingenuous of our enemies and many commentators when they judge our progress or otherwise without talking about the elephant in the room - the blanket media coverage we cannot get.

Scotland provides a rather fine example of this effect in reverse. A media that is plentiful, scottish and the broadest audience. Devolution of broadcasting, the federalisation of the BBC and even Plaid making the case for people to consume Welsh media (there is strong case in terms of relevane to people's lives given devolution's journey) are things that are tangible in this endeavour.

I know this is a bit 'no shit sherlock' but I think it's fair we are all honest enough to admit the handicap we face at times, particularly when people say that 'people don't want to hear from Plaid', "a tiny minority support independence" (funny 2/3 support more powers is spoken about) when reviewing polls and/or elections.