News of the Wales

[Harold Schiffman]

News of the Wales...

It would be easy for one to sneer at tbe row between Rhodri Glyn
Thomas and Cymdeithas. Indeed sneering seems to be the position of
choice both Glyn Davies and Peter Black which reeks of opportunism.
Loath be it for me to defend all of Plaid's behaviour since the
formation of 'One Wales', i still believe on the policy of a Welsh
Language Daily Newspaper they are not only correct in that they are
making tough decision but correct decisions. Cymdeithas make some very
valid international comparisons, but ultmately you cannot expect a
government run newspaper. While i believe it is crucial to the
development of the civic society needed in Wales that we form a free
thinking Welsh-based media to accompany devolution's development, the
WAG cannot be offering a free cakewalk for a Welsh Daily Newspaper to
not offer a workable business plan.

Of course, there is the argument that the WAG have bailed out other
cultural entities to a far larger sum then what potential bidders for
the WAG newspaper cash want, but then i am not here defending that
either. Ultimately the 'cultural' enterprises so cherished by the
powers that be in Wales have to tighten their reins like everybody
else. During my time working for Irene James i produced a briefing on
the policy problems i found in the One Wales document, and essentially
there are two set of committments being put into one budget stream. If
anyone can disagree that we need more investment to bring down waiting
times in the NHS rather than set up a 'Welsh Daily Newspaper' or
indeed a 'Welsh Federal College' then please leave your name in the
comments.

My AM in Torfaen, Lynne Neagle voted against the government whip
twice, once over the funding for disabled children and once for the
her opposition to the local government settlement. Why do i highlight
these? because if we are talking about priorities then these should be
them!

I am ambivalent as to whether a Welsh Language Newspaper is a
worthwhile cause, and the amount offered represents 'support' for it
but not bankrolling it. This is the correct approach, and it is
actually a great opportunity for the Welsh Language Lobby to make
their critics eat some humble pie. If they truly believe that there is
enough demand for a newspaper then show the WAG and the critics you
can get a readership, they will have a much stronger case to get
further funding with a growing or sustainable readership. Otherwise, i
dont see how the hands out fatalism of blaming the WAG for not
bankrolling an independent newspaper that at most will give a service
to 20% of the population will ever be met with anything but
opposition.

Andrew Neil makes the valid point in this weeks Media Guardian
actually challenging the perception that people want 'welsh' or
'scottish' media in a national sense. The decline of the 'scottish'
media even with such progression of devolution is certainly a lesson
to those committed to a welsh language daily newspaper.One final
point, there will be those who state that having a daily national
newspaper will fall under the welsh language 'rights' agenda, which is
quite frankly rubbish. Even services that are deemed more 'essential'
than a newspaper, they are woefully underused.  The Welsh Language
Newspaper should sink or swim of its own back, but then it appears
anyone in the corridors of power isnt allowed to even come close to
saying that truism for fear of being called a racist.


http://southpawgrammarwales.blogspot.com/2008/02/it-would-be-easy-for-one-to-sneer-at.html



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