Goverment funding for new local news start-ups could help avert a “crisis” in Welsh media, the National Union of Journalists has claimed.
The NUJ has launched its media manifesto for Wales, which says grant support should be given from an independent or “arms-length” Welsh Government funding body for news start-ups.
Qualification would depend on the start-ups being based in areas with limited or no local news coverage which “demonstrate a sustainable editorial and business case”.
The union has also demanded plurality of regional media ownership and media outlets to be based in the communities they serve, and has further called for devices such as the Localism act 2011 to be used to protect against the closure of historic newspaper titles in Wales.
The manifesto adds more research should also be conducted what constitutes a minimum acceptable level of news provision for local communities to address a “Welsh democratic deficit”.
Its publication follows a conference held at the University of South Wales on the future of media across the principality, and also comes after former South Wales Evening Post editor Spencer Feeney warned the Swansea-based Local World daily risked becoming a “branch office” of Cardiff’s South Wales Echo following Trinity Mirror’s takeover of the regional publisher.
Paul Scott, who represents Welsh members on the NUJ’s national executive council, said: “A number of pressures on the media sector has led to a diminution in the provision of quality journalism in Wales and has led to an escalating democratic deficit. We believe a laissez-faire approach to media policy is unsustainable.
“This crisis in the Welsh media requires intervention and democratic leaders must accept there is a need to tackle today’s unsatisfactory and uncomprehensive coverage of Welsh life.
“As Wales and its institutions strive to achieve greater influence and autonomy, it becomes incumbent on us all to preserve, protect and promote a critical, professional and curious media.”
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Chambers of Trade and Commerce should get behind this NUJ initiative because diversity of media outlets means businesses get better value for their advertising money. Monopolies put the adverts where they want them to go, not necessarily where or what the advertisers want; and they charge!
Diversity puts editorial power into the hands of journalists not the suits. Journalists should be treated like professionals, not part-time cleaning ladies. Under corporate publications, reporters are more frightened about losing their jobs and being blacklisted so they think twice about speaking out.
Diversity is about giving local communities a real voice, not some syndicated tosh from Cincinatti.
Media people, who are supposed to be good at communication, should be lobbying councillors, MPs, fellow journalists, the man at the bus stop, the EC Commission (give us a grant and we’ll urge the public to stay in Europe!), television companies (they are supposed to be responsive to what goes on in their “region”as part of their licence).
I could go on, but you get the picture.
On the other hand…you could just sit on your backsides and crack jokes about it on HTFP.
Me? I’ll write to Jeremy Corbin.
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