A nasty jibe at newspapers and broadcasters in Wales from the Constitution Unit of University College, London in their latest Monitor.
The unit is faraway the UK’s premier commentator on the devolution changes we have undergone.
The paragraphs on Wales are written by Prof Richard Wyn Jones and Roger Scully of Aberystwyth university.
To highlight the depth of their concern, they lead with their comments on the media. They refer to “the country’s immature political media, more comfortable with personalised sensation than serious analysis”.
One example is obvious. The Western Mail failed disastrously over its handling of the issue of Tory leader Nick Bourne’s expenses. How many front-page leads did this generate ? Where was the examination (supposing it to be justified) of the expenses claimed by the husband and wife AM who live in Penarth while representing far-flung parts of the Valleys ?
In fact, Tories believe this was simply a destabilising effort by Llais y Sais at the behest of right-wing Tories in Wales. Whether the real target was simply Mr Bourne himself (right-wingers hate him with all their hearts for having replaced Rod Richards), or the Assembly itself cannot be determined.
The latter would not be easily admitted – there would be no easier way to lose lots more readers. And it’s got to be admitted there is no easy replacement for a printed daily newspaper.
The Aber academics don’t name their targets. But the Mail is obvious. The other is presumably the BBC – who sometimes in their journalism, particularly if the Tories are in their sights – seem preoccupied with sensation rather than substance.
Sometimes, the Beeb seems intent on dumbing down so they can rival the Wail – another ancient term of criticism for the Mail. The only justification for re-using that word is because of the “wails” that were engendered to try and get rid of Mr Bourne.
The Aber pair linked their media comments to the complaint that post-election politics has been dominated by the fever over the election of party leaders.
Certainly in the case of the Tories. Except that no election has been called.
For the Lib Dems, we are told that the campaign was “deliciously fractious”. Well, Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central) doesn’t particularly like Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnor). The inexperience of youth is one reason; another is fear that concern for personal votes at constituency level may over-ride the party’s national agenda when coalitions are concerned.
The pair mention, of course, the extremely-quiet start to the Labour battle. But they seemed to have missed the stirrings within Plaid Cymru…
Time to get Y Byd back on the agenda. Ultimately, the media mess (radio and television as well as print) transcends the language issue, but getting it right in Welsh involves overcoming less inertia and is more likely to trigger market forces to sort it out in English.
Can it be right to have a newspaper funded by the taxpayer. Would there be editorial independence?
Somehow I couldn’t see Y Byd making a big noise about the cost of second homes down the bay the taxpayer is paying for our AMs. One doesn’t bite the hands that feeds you.
I don’t want to live in a banana republic.
Do you have a link to the Monitor piece, Clive?
Cheers,
Duncan.
No link I’m afraid, particularly as I’m no longer in the office. But the Monitor is a 12-page document easily sent in the post; from Constitution Unit, UC London 020 7679 4977.
I hope this doesn’t mean Wyn Jones and Scully will never again be mentioned in the Mail ! The prof has made previously-critical comments on the press in Wales.
Mr Jones is rather out of touch with the current political world re funding of publications, particularly as it is developing on the continent.
A number of states are giving financial help to newspapers in minority languages to enable them to overcome the deadly indifference by advertisers to a country’s second (or third) tongue.
Of course there’s a danger over “unbitten hands”. But looking at the appalling mess left to Wales by our “national” press (certainly those that emanate from our imperal capital; and some people would possess worries about the self-claimed “national” in Cardiff), there are FAR FAR more important things than what you call “second homes” in Cardiff Bay.
Indeed, your use of that term indicates, perhaps, a wish to do away with the Assembly entirely. Because, any system of governance would have to pay for accommodation for its legislatures… unless, that is, you pay them so well that they can all costs out of their own pockets, or unless you would prefer they walked to and from the Assembly each day.
If you have politicians, you’ve got to pay for them.
Of course, you could ask the army to do the work …