People’s views and opinions are influenced by what they see and read online. The psychologist Albert Bandura developed the Social Learning Theory, which suggests that people imitate behaviours they observe in their environment. Media content, including online articles and social media posts, serves as a reference point for many, shaping their behaviours and attitudes.
We are witnessing unprecedented misinformation and content designed to seed division and hate being shared online.
The false information relating to the identity of the person responsible for the most terrible of crimes being shared online was cited as a factor behind the riots that followed the tragic murder of three young girls in Southport last year.
The ability of individuals to share and consume news online, primarily via social media, has opened the door to a world where misinformation flourishes.
Research shows that most of this misinformation comes from a specific direction, the right. The reasons for this are numerous and complex and have been researched thoroughly. This article by Professor Steven Livingston of George Washington University outlines some of the leading causes. Written in 2023, the references to the influence of billionaires are pretty prescient.
As the piece states, “Media literacy programs or fact-checking will not address the underlying causes of social discord and distrust. At least not alone”.
Wales has never had a greater need for trusted and honest news and information services that provide news and information in relatable, accessible formats.
But the need doesn’t end there. The news landscape has changed little over the years. Reporting on things that were said or had happened, first in print and then online. As an industry, it has been poor at innovating; the world has moved on as it has largely stood still.
So, what’s the answer?
We want to take a new approach to news and create a service that discusses and disseminates the issues that matter to people the length and breadth of Wales—taking sometimes complex subjects and making sense of them.
We want to discuss these subjects and share information in understandable and accessible formats across multiple platforms. We also want to embed ourselves in communities across Wales, developing community news hubs where people can bring their stories and concerns and receive support to share those stories in their own words.
Why has the cost of a tin of baked beans doubled since 2019? Why are waiting times for ambulances and treatment at A&E so long? How financially secure are our local primary and secondary schools? People are questioning devolution in Wales, the increase in its members post the Senedd elections in May 2026 and the costs. But what exactly does it do? How is our council tax spent? How does the Welsh economy fare compared to other countries?
News isn’t just about what a government says it’s doing and what it wants to do and an opposition parties view on that. People need to know what our governments at the UK, national, and local levels have done and are doing, how they are spending our money, and what they’re doing to improve our lives and communities.
People often express their feelings at the ballot box, and as turnout figures show, many feel engaging in the political process is pointless.
Our mission is to help create a better-informed Welsh society by raising awareness of the actions of local, national, and UK Governments, helping make sense of the Wales our citizens live in, and reaching communities that don’t currently engage with public interest news.
Starting small and learning as we grow, working collaboratively with community organisations, Talking Wales can make a difference.
Visit our homepage to learn more.
Huw Marshall
Founder – Talking Wales