The nature of news consumption is changing, and in Wales how people interact with media is markedly different to the rest of the UK.
News provision in Wales has been historically poor at a national level and our efforts to address this deficit by launching The National Wales in March 2021 were ultimately undone by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the then developing cost of living crisis. Newsquest who published the title withdrew its financial backing as the company attempted to make savings across its UK operations.
Whilst the service proved popular, and received critical acclaim, external economic factors put paid to its longer-term plans. News of its demise was met with a great deal of sadness.
So what does the future hold?
There is clearly a deficit when it comes to independent news provision in Wales, the need for an independent, quality news service that can operate at a scale alongside the major players in the Welsh news landscape, The Daily Mail, The Sun. Wales Online and particularly the BBC has never been greater.
The economic climate has led to a contraction of news provision in Wales at a time when news consumption habits are changing rapidly. New business models are required along with the development of new working practices and the new set of skills needed to satisfy Wales’ varied audiences and communities.
We’ve created Talking Wales, a publicly owned company to deliver the independent news service Wales so desperately needs. We have been assisted by Cwmpas Wales, formerly the Wales Cooperative Centre, to incorporate as a Community Benefit Society, a cooperative that reinvests any profits generated for the benefit of the community it serves.
It will be owned by you, its audience, its employees and those who see the value in a strong independent Welsh media. As a cooperative it will be wholly transparent, publishing annual reports and accounts overseen by an arms-length independent board. It will be a for-profit company with all of those profits being used to invest in new services and support the development of new community-based news ventures across Wales.
Talking Wales will serve the interests of Wales not the interests of shareholders or company directors who seek to profit from news.
How will it work?
Talking Wales will do precisely that, it will be a platform to discuss and report on the events and issues that affect the day-to-day lives of Welsh citizens. It will lead to a discussion about the future of Wales.
The days of the news website are numbered so Talking Wales will operate in a range of formats across several platforms, digital radio, online, print, and social media and making the best use of video to keep the public informed.
We’re building a service the public of Wales will value. One that provides challenge and scrutiny and most importantly a space to discuss the issues matter in Wales.
Your support is greatly appreciated and valued, and you can help us during our pilot phase by clicking the donate button below.
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