Dear Members of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee,

I live in Wales, near Aberystwyth, and have had a long standing interest in UK and Welsh media policy. I co-authored a book on the Media in Wales (UWP, 2005), and have written much on the topic over the years. I am aware of the work of the Committee and recognise that it has given issues to do with Welsh media and communications policy much attention over the years.

I attach a document relating to the broad issues of Media Policy. It has been produced by a group called 'Media North' details of which can be found at: https://medianorth.org.uk/

The issues it deals with range more widely than the remit of the Committee, but many do touch on them, as well as providing context for discussions about media policy more generally. Media North considers that media policy is a deeply political issue and that not all parties or people will agree on everything that we outline here. It is document designed to encourage discussion, not to close off issues. We have produced it because we think that this issue should be of major concern to all political parties in the UK, and that, unfortunately, it is still only, at best, peripheral.

We hope you find the document of some interest, and if you want to follow this up, please contact me, or Media North.

Yours faithfully,

Tom O'Malley