What a time to be working in the news business in Wales

Is this the beginning of the end of distinctive journalism? Does 2009 mark the start of an homogenisation of the industry?

Union voices newspaper concerns - BBC News Wales
A union representing journalists working for owners of the Western Mail and Daily Post says its concerned for "the very survival" of the company.

ITV's flagship regional news programmes in Wales 'not sustainable' - Daily Post
ITV Wales was yesterday given the go-ahead to slash its output this month by broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, while retaining its main Welsh news slots at 6pm and 10.30pm. But regulators warned the UK Government it would have to plan for a new model for public service broadcasting from 2011 to safeguard essential choice for viewers.

S4C suggested that it could commission future English language news programmes for slots on ITV, alongside its own Welsh language news services, presently supplied free by BBC Wales. The BBC also offered to share its regional news gathering infrastructure and pictures with ITV to help to maintain an alternative news service.

Here's the BBC's take on it...

Ofcom: BBC Wales news alternative needed - BBC News Wales
Media regulator Ofcom has warned that the UK government must ensure BBC Wales TV news faces competition as ITV spending on its news service falls.

Where's it all going to end if the Daily Post and Western Mail are, at least behind the scenes, to start to merge internal working, and if BBC Wales and ITV Wales are to start to pool more of their resources?

'papers make the headlines

Trinity Mirror is now pulling back from Wales, merging with its North West region.

What that means for Daily Post readers up here in North Wales - coupled with changes in staffing - as yet remains to be seen.

Add that to the fact the Evening Leader has become a daily title on Fridays [now published overnight Thursday] instead of up to date 'on day' reporting and printing and you can see the local newspaper landscape is changing.

I've worked for both titles and I know how committed the editorial teams are to the communities they serve.

We'll have to wait and see what those same communities make of it all.

K-pow[ed] by the bedside drawers

Had a bizarre super hero dream - dived to save a falling child [don't ask] and smacked into the bedside drawers as I launched myself from sleep to painful consciousness.

When they ask how I picked up the gash on my face, do I tell all I was saving a child or just diving out of bed?

Meaning: Superhero dream
To dream that you are a superhero, represents your above-average talents, ideas, and other hidden abilities that you may not realize you possessed.

Emerging themes

Interesting to see the recurring themes starting to emerge on this blog.

Thanks wordle.net