NUJ calls for inquiry into Corgi cash
The union's Welsh Executive Council calls for a urgent review into Newsquest's funding for the Welsh-language news service which is now closed.
The Welsh language news website was set up after being awarded a £100,000 annual grant by the Books Council of Wales, but was shut by Newsquest after just five months. The Welsh language current affairs magazine Golwg360 had had its annual grant of £200,000 halved, to provide Corgi with the £100,000.
The letter from Nick Powell, chair of the NUJ’s Welsh Executive Council, to Dawn Bowden, deputy minister for arts and sport, said:
“The NUJ has written to you twice with questions about the process by which Newsquest was granted public money for the Welsh-language news service Corgi Cymru from the Books Council of Wales. Our disquiet grew following Newsquest's decision to end The National, especially given the decision to entrust money to them again despite its earlier failure with the subbing hub at Newport.”
The letter went on to urge the minister to “instruct the Books Council of Wales to take urgent action to ensure that monies are repaid and that Golwg is adequately funded to provide a full Welsh language news service”.
David Nicholson, NUJ national executive member for Wales, said:
“This is the second time that Newsquest has been given public funding in Wales and the second time it has pulled the plug on its projects. The NUJ has called on the Welsh government to investigate how Newsquest received funding from the Books Council of Wales, what safeguards were put in place and whether the money the company received will be repaid.
“This sorry episode demonstrates a need for Wales to have an independent media foundation to ensure that public money used to support journalism is used in the most effective way possible, and to promote and protect public interest journalism.”
The letter in full:
The NUJ has written to you twice with questions about the process by which Newsquest was granted public money for the Welsh-language news service Corgi Cymru from the Books Council of Wales. Our disquiet grew following Newsquest's decision to end The National, especially given the decision to entrust money to them again despite its earlier failure with the subbing hub at Newport.
Since the news that Newsquest have now decided to cease Corgi Cymru the NUJ calls on the Welsh Government as a matter of urgency to ensure that a review takes place on how Newsquest were allowed access to public money. This review should also look at why the Books Council of Wales got itself into the position of splitting its previous budget for Golwg 360 between Golwg and Newsquest.
The NUJ believes that in future any request by Newsquest for public funding in Wales should be subject to scrutiny by yourself as Minister and by the relevant Senedd committee.
We also urge you to instruct the Books Council of Wales to take urgent action to ensure that monies are repaid and that Golwg is adequately funded to provide a full Welsh language news service. It should be a matter of priority that the Golwg 360 website is not threatened and indeed is restored to the position it was in before its funding was halved.
We have also copied this letter to Delyth Jewell, MS, as Chair of the Senedd’s Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee.
Yours sincerely,
Nick Powell,
Chair, Welsh Executive Council,
National Union of Journalists.