Written Statement: Further support for broadcasting and media

I am updating members following my Written Statement of 12 May.

I have awarded funding to Aberystwyth University to explore the five pathways to the devolution of broadcasting powers set out in the Expert Panel on a Shadow Broadcasting and Communications Authority for Wales’ report, ‘A new future for broadcasting and communications in Wales’. The project will gather further evidence, through desk research and interviews and engagement with stakeholders, as recommended by the Expert Panel, on each pathway. The funding will strengthen the Wales element of the UK-wide Arts and Humanities Research Council ‘Broadcasting Policy in a Devolved UK’ project led by Aberystwyth University, to ensure a more in depth focus on needs and to identify options for strengthening the broadcasting framework in Wales, aligned to the findings of the Expert Panel.

The Written Statement of 12 May recognised that accurate and trusted news across all channels is critical to ensuring a strong media landscape. I have met with the Wales Public Interest Journalism Working Group to discuss our joint priorities. The Working Group now has a refreshed Terms of Reference and continues to meet to discuss and advise on journalism matters. The £350,000 within Creative Wales’ budget for journalism in 2025-26 has now been fully allocated. This funding is supporting eight projects through the Creative Wales Public Interest Journalism Fund, a contestable fund for project proposals directly delivering against the recommendations set out in Of and For Wales – Towards a Sustainable Future for Public Interest Journalism. In addition, ten individual publications are being supported through a continuation of the arm’s length PING! News CIC Journalism Fund. The Fund, aimed at publications dedicated to serving Welsh communities both in the English and Welsh language across Wales, will pay for journalistic time to cover local news stories, the production and growth of new and existing audiovisual and multimedia content to help drive audience engagement and assist in employing freelancers and growing mobile journalism capabilities. This Fund will also channel funding to the Caerphilly Observer for a Senedd reporter, to allow for the continued provision of Senedd business news content. The content produced by the Senedd reporter will continue to be free to use by eligible news publishers across Wales.

Delivering against our Programme for Government broadcasting and media commitments, these awards reflect my ongoing commitment to supporting a strengthened broadcasting and communications framework for Wales.