Since August 2001, the Mercator Centre at the University of Wal

Towards a Welsh-Language Daily Newspaper
Angharad Philpott
Since August 2001, the Mercator Centre at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, has
been researching how to effectively found and maintain a Welsh language daily
newspaper. The project is sponsored by the European Commission, The Welsh
Bureau for Lesser Used Languages, the Welsh Development Agency and the
University of Wales, Aberystwyth. The project’s director is Ned Thomas and
Angharad Philpott was its project officer.
The enterprise was sparked by Mercator’s experience of helping to found the
European Society of Minority Language Press, which was founded to promote cooperation
between Europe’s minority language newspapers. It now has 26 members
and has already begun co-operating in the field of advertising and information
technology. It also aims to support the founding of other minority language
newspapers.
The situation and experiences of the society’s members vary quite significantly.
7,500,000 Catalans succeed in maintaining 5 daily newspapers with a circulation
ranging from 4,000 to 90,000. Nevertheless, there are some minorities with far fewer
speakers who also succeed in maintaining a daily newspaper. Perhaps the most
striking example is that of the Swedes in Finland, where 300,000 people succeed in
maintaining no less than 10 daily newspapers.
The experiences of these minorities is evidence that it is entirely possible to found and
maintain a daily newspaper in a way that is quite different from that of more
mainstream press. It is not necessary to have a large company with substantial capital
and a circulation of hundreds of thousands, to sustain a daily newspaper.
Over recent months, the project has visited many daily minority language papers
across Europe and has invited many editorial staff to the Society in Wales. We were

aware that many minority papers share similar problems, and were very keen to
discuss them.
One of the central ways of ensuring the success of these papers is to have a core of
subscribers. Subscription will normally be for a period of one year through an up-
front payment. There are many advantages to subscription. In the case of some papers,
it is significantly cheaper to buy them through subscription as the price for occasional
purchase is higher. Other papers offer free cinema tickets, along with discounts for
other popular goods and activities.
Technology also plays a leading role in the running of these papers. Although they are
printed on paper, many of the production processes are highly computerised, e.g. the
subscription system. It is also possible for journalists to send their work effectively
and efficiently via e-mail, with readers in Finland using the Internet to send
photographs of their children to the newspaper.
To safeguard the papers, there is often a wide ownership. This prevents powerful
individuals or groups, who may not be interested in the paper, its language or
community, from taking over the newspaper. In the case of Flensborg Avis, the daily
newspaper for Danes in Germany, 1,500 out of a population of 50,000 are
shareholders. Also, if any shares in the newspaper are sold, the editor must approve
the buyer.
Apart from Mercator’s initial input into the European Society of Minority Language
Press, it was not possible for Wales to take any further part in it as there is no daily
Welsh language newspaper. Wales has a population of a little under 3 million and
according to figures in the last census (2001), 16.3% (457,000) of the population are
able to speak, read and write the language. 575,000 say they can speak the language,
whilst 797,000 say they can understand the language.
As there is and never has been a daily Welsh language newspaper, much of the
research has focussed on learning whether the people of Wales would welcome such a
publication. Independent research was undertaken whereby people were asked

‘Would you like to read a daily Welsh language newspaper?’ A little over a third of
Welsh speakers said they would want to read such a paper. The project also produced
a questionnaire, which was distributed widely throughout Wales. There was a strong
response to it, with over 1,000 people replying, and with 80% saying they would be
willing to subscribe to a daily Welsh language newspaper if one was available. The
questionnaire also enquired whether people would be willing to collect subscriptions
in their local area or work place. There was a positive response, with 40% willing to
do so. A meeting was held in April and many of these people were invited to discuss
the creation of local networks for the paper. There is an aim to establish groups who
will be locally active on behalf of the paper by collecting subscriptions and assisting
in the recruitment of local journalists.
It is evident that the paper’s content will be a key factor in its success, and we have
spent a significant amount of time researching into exactly what the people of Wales
would like to see in a Welsh language daily paper. News was a popular choice, with
83% wanting to see news from Wales included. 83% also wanted to see international
news, with 95% wanting local news and 78% British news. 84% of people were keen
to see items on political issues, with 77% wanting items on nature and the
environment, 75% wanting to see articles on education and 70% wanting news on the
arts.
Clearly, sponsorship is one of the most significant factors to consider in whether it is
possible to found a daily newspaper. It has already been said that developing a core of
subscribers is key to its success, as it is not possible to depend on the finance provided
by those who buy the paper occasionally. We also hope to ensure a wide ownership of
the paper by encouraging many small shareholders to invest. Income will also be
generated from advertisements and other ventures. It is possible that grants will also
provide some assistance.
The research project has since ended. Our work shows that although it is not possible
to transplant models from Europe into Wales, the experience of these papers
nevertheless show it is not impossible to found a Welsh language daily newspaper.
Research also shows that many people in Wales are enthusiastic about having such a

paper, and who are, in principle, willing to subscribe to it. We have since founded a
company to proceed with the work on a more commercial basis. Our hope is to set up
a daily Welsh language newspaper in the near future.
Angharad Philpott is a member of the newspaper company who currently works in
Treforest, Pontypridd. She was previously a project officer with the research team
into of the Welsh language daily newspaper in the Mercator Centre, Aberystwyth