Media of Wales
The initial growth of newspaper publishing in Wales was slow in comparison to that of urban England, mainly due to distribution problems caused by poor transport networks and in particular rail links.
[3][5] It covered national, foreign, political and religious news, and also included literary contributions from notable Welsh Nonconformists.
[3][6] 1836 also saw the printing of a West Wales paper, the Cambrian Gazette: Y Freinlen Gymroaidd ("The Welshmen's Charter"), based in Aberystwyth.
[6][7] This became a powerful influence on Welsh life, and through its most notable contributor John Griffith, writing under his pen name Y Gohebydd (The Correspondent), the paper would champion radical causes, including the defence of Nonconformist views.
[6][7] When stamp duty on newspapers was abolished in 1855, the effect was a rise in the number of publications, and most of the denominational papers in Wales originated around this period.
This was followed by the Congregationalists' Y Tyst Cymreig (The Welsh Witness) (1867), the Calvinistic Methodists' Y Goleuad (The Illuminator) (1869), the Wesleyans' Y Gwyliedydd (The Sentinel) (1877) and the Anglican Y Llan a'r Dywysogaeth (The Parish and Principality) (1881).
[6][7] These religious papers were published nationally and reported on home and wider British news, though they also gave leadership on political and social issues.
[7] Outside of Cardiff and Swansea, two other towns in the south Wales, Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare, developed as newspaper publishing hubs in the mid- to late 19th century.
In direct conflict was the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald, whose editorials were Liberal and Nonconformist, in contrast with the support of the Chronicle for Toryism and the Established Church.
[15] It now shares content through social media and has applied for funding from the Welsh Books Council for the resumption of physical publication.
Around Town is a free lifestyle and events magazine which publishes four variant editions that serve Bridgend, Cardiff, Swansea and Rhondda Cynon Taff.
A glossy publication covering the arts, current affairs, topical subjects, history and lifestyle, it was aimed at ABC1 readers.
[19] It faced closure in 2015 after losing its funding from the Welsh Books Council, but was temporarily saved after a newly formed company, MegaGroup Newspapers, bought a half share in the publication.
[22] Planet, a bi-monthly magazine covering the arts, literature and politics in Wales and the wider world, is produced in Aberystwyth.
Known as papurau bro ("local papers"), they are produced by volunteers and generally published monthly, serving a hyperlocal market.
[24] Blogger Owen Donovan operates an extensive network of blogs covering a range of hyperlocal and national events.
[29] Nation.Cymru is a national English language news service established in 2017 by Bangor University journalism lecturer and former Golwg editor Ifan Morgan Jones, alongside its current CEO Mark Mansfield.
[32] Newsfromwales.co.uk is another national online English language business and community news service established in 2017 by local journalist and writer Lisa Baker.
[citation needed] In 2012, the Chancellor George Osborne invited new local television licence bids in order to establish stations akin to American decentralized affiliate broadcasters.
