Cyfrwng Conference 2007
The Cyfrwng 2007 Conference was hosted by Swansea University on the weekend of the 13 and 14 of April 2007. A timely theme was chosen to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Wales voting in favour of devolution, ‘Devolution and the Development of Media in Wales and Scotland’. Over one hundred delegates were welcomed to the James Callaghan Building with several travelling from Scotland with the intention of exchanging the two nations’ experiences and findings.
The conference keynote speaker was the journalist and BBC Ten O’clock News anchor, Huw Edwards. The broadcaster from Llangennech was in conversation with Rhys Evans, deputy head of BBC Wales News, and the session focused on the changes in the reporting of political news about Wales over the past decade. The session was open to the public and all proceeds from the evening went to the charity Shelter Cymru.
The aim of the conference was to give a platform to all aspects of the media and the developments in these fields since devolution with several panel discussions were held during the two days. The conference opened with presentations by John Geraint, Green Bay; Lowri Gwilym, S4C; Clare Hudson, BBC Cymru Wales and Elis Owen, ITV Wales under the chairmanship of Professor Kevin Morgan, Cardiff University. The constructive and open nature of their subsequent discussion was also evident in the afternoon sessions; discussions on screen drama since devolution with some of Wales’ leading producers and scriptwriters, and the questions which arise when attempting to define a National Theatre after devolution in the company of some of the leading commentators in the field under the guidance of Professor Hazel Walford Davies.
The Saturday was also a full day of questioning and probing, with radio being placed under the microscope during the first session of the day, looking specifically at the interactive developments seen in the field and concerns about diversity within the commercial radio stations.
During the day, a variety of papers by academics were presented dealing with matters as diverse as the press since devolution to media literacy, and from audiovisual policy to the way in which new media creates original ways of creating Welsh communities and each paper stimulated a lively debate. Additionally, a session aimed specifically at post-graduate students was organised to provide students with advice; Sue Jeffries from Skillset Cymru gave a presentation about the career possibilities within the industry for graduates and Professor Rob Stone from the Media Department at Swansea University gave a presentation about the options available to those who wish to venture into the academic world and want to publish work on aspects of the media.
There were also two discussions about the Assembly’s relationship with the media. Under the chairmanship of Professor Tom O’Malley, Aberystwyth University, there was a lively discussion with Leighton Andrews, Labour AM; Alun Cairns, Conservative AM; Jenny Randerson, Liberal Democrats AM; Dafydd Elis Thomas, Assembly Presiding Officer; and Tim Hartley, S4C about the way, in their opinion, the work of the Assembly is presented to the public by the media. After lunch there was an opportunity for journalists to express their opinion about the task of reporting the work of the Assembly. Chair of the discussion, Professor Kevin Williams, Swansea University was joined by Spencer Feeney, South Wales Evening Post; Patrick Hannan, BBC Wales; Mark O'Callaghan, BBC Wales; Aled Price, Y Byd and Martin Shipton, Western Mail as they considered an apparent breakdown in communication between the Assembly and the media.
The final event of the conference was the Cyfrwng Award 2007 Evening with Professor Dai Smith, Swansea University presenting the Cyfrwng Award 2007 to Professor Peter Stead in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the advancement of mass media in Wales and on an international stage. The conference dinner was held at the Mermaid Restaurant, The Mumbles.
The organisers wish to thank all the conference sponsors for their support and the delegates for attending and ensuring that the discussions were productive and valuable. Cyfrwng 2007 was a conference which supported Fair Trade to the best of its abilities.
The Cyfrwng 2008 Conference will be held at Aberystwyth University on 1-2 May 2008.
