Welsh Government Expert Panel on Devolution of Broadcasting – Arwel Ellis Owen appointed member and Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones appointed co-chair

Members of a new expert panel to pave the way for the devolution of communications and broadcasting powers to Wales has today been announced by the Welsh Government.

Arwel Ellis Owen, Council Member of the University and the University of Wales will join the panel and Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, Director of the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies will be co-chair of the Panel.

The expert panel, which is being established as part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, will provide recommendations and options to help strengthen Wales’ media, and support the development of plans for an effective and fit for purpose regulatory framework for Wales. 

The panel will advise and provide recommendations and options to support the work of delivering on the commitment to create a shadow Broadcasting and Communications Authority for Wales. 

The Authority’s remit would include aiming to strengthen Welsh democracy and close the information deficit; bring together and coordinate in a structured way the Welsh Government’s existing efforts to strengthen the media in Wales and innovations to support the Welsh language in the digital sphere such as amam.cymru; enhance media pluralism and the use of the Welsh language on all media platforms. It would also be tasked with developing a strong evidence base to support the case for the devolution of powers to Wales.

The Expert Panel will be co-chaired by experienced Welsh broadcaster Mel Doel and Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and the Director of the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies.

The Expert Panel includes Arwel Ellis Owen, former Chief Executive of S4C and member of Council at UWTSD.

Other Members are Nia Ceidiog, Dr Llion Iwan, Ceri Jackson, Clare Hudson, Dr Ed Gareth Poole, Richard Martin, Geoff Williams, Shirish Kulkarni and Carwyn Donovan.

Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones said:

“This is a crucial period for the broadcast and communication media in Wales and further afield. I very much look forward to working with all members of the Panel to present recommendations that will improve the current situation and to create a framework that works for Wales.”

Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, said:

“I am very pleased we can today announce the members of the expert panel which with their wealth of experience and knowledge can help us to explore the establishment of a shadow Broadcasting and Communications Authority for Wales.

“There is a consensus that the current broadcasting and communications framework does not meet Wales’ needs and that action is needed to develop a more fit for purpose framework.

“Ongoing threats to, and attacks on, public service broadcasting from the UK Government, and recent announcements by UK Ministers about the future of the BBC licence fee and Channel 4 privatisation, strengthen the case that the current system is flawed.

“I look forward to receiving the Expert Panel’s recommendations so that we can create a communications and broadcasting framework that works for Wales.”

In the Co-operation Agreement, the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru agree that broadcasting and communications powers should be devolved to the Senedd.

Designated Member Cefin Campbell, MS for Mid and West Wales said:

“This has the potential to be an historic development for Wales, to turbo-charge our democracy.  We believe that decisions about communications and broadcasting matters should be made in Wales, to make a real difference to our young national democracy, our language as well as local community life in all its variety.  

“Establishing a Broadcasting and Communications Authority in our country that can protect, diversify, and enhance our local and national public service platforms will be a crucial step forward. A vibrant local and national media is crucial for reflect the tapestry of life right across the nation – debating, informing, and celebrating all our cultures and communities.  

“Our public interest approach in Wales stands in stark contrast to the London-centric, profit-at-all-costs approach of the UK Government. We believe in a future where there is a democratic, locally-embedded media pluralism that enhances Wales’ national life.” 

Note to Editor

1. The Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies (CAWCS) was established by the University of Wales in 1985 as a dedicated research centre conducting team-based projects on the languages, literatures, culture and history of Wales and the other Celtic countries throughout the centuries and their relationships with other cultures and languages in Europe and across the world.
2. CAWCS is home to Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, the University of Wales Dictionary of the Welsh Language, and the most important authoritative dictionary of the language.
3. CAWCS is located in a purpose-built centre in Aberystwyth, adjacent to the National Library of Wales, and it operates in accordance with the Wales Pledge between the University of Wales and the University of Wales trinity Saint David.
4. CAWCS offers unique opportunities for postgraduate students to work alongside specialists in a dynamic and supportive environment as well as its location on the site of the National Library of Wales, is an internationally-renowned copyright library with excellent research facilities. We welcome enquiries about MPhil/PhD topics in any of our research areas. For more information about research opportunities, or for an informal chat about possible topics, contact our Head of Graduate Studies, Dr Elizabeth Edwards: edwards@wales.ac.uk

Further Information

For more information please contact Arwel Lloyd, Principal PR and Communications Officer, on 07384 467076 / arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk