[6] Historically in South Wales the Western Mail has always been associated with its original owners, the coal and iron industrialists.

Often this led to the paper being regarded with a considerable degree of enmity, especially during the strikes in the coal industry of the 20th century.

This association between the newspaper and its owner was so strong there is still a degree of distrust of the paper in South Wales.

[citation needed] In contrast, and particularly following devolution[vague], the newspaper has adopted a populist, localist, pro-Wales stance, mainly in trying to find a Welsh focus on major news stories.

He was later awarded a CBE for services to journalism and became chairman of Western Mail and Echo Ltd.[9] In the 1950s, Donald Woods, who later participated in the South African anti-apartheid movement and who publicised the events surrounding the secret death of activist Steve Biko, was employed as a reporter.