Y Byd
Encyclopedia
Y Byd was an attempt to launch the first Welsh language
daily newspaper. It was scheduled to be published five days a week, from Monday to Friday, as of Monday 3 March 2008. However, on 15 February 2008, the proposed newspaper's owners, Dyddiol, abandoned the plans, citing 'insufficient' funding from the Welsh Assembly Government
.
Publication was initially held up by the need to find sufficient subscribers, causing several delays to proposed launch dates. Prior to the cessation of its plans, £300,000 worth of subscriptions had been placed and staff were being employed. The company was hoping to attract 5,000 subscribers ahead of the planned launch. The paper was due to employ 24 people from headquarters in Machynlleth
and receive funding from Powys County Council
.
The editor for Y Byd was due to be Aled Price, a former BBC Cymru journalist, with Catrin Rogers, a local newspaper editor in London, deputising.
The paper would have cost 70p
daily, with Friday's copy — which would have included a weekend supplement — retailing at £1.20.
's Rhodri Glyn Thomas
, announced a subsidy grant of £200,000 to Welsh language newspapers and magazines every year for the next three years. However, the grant was considerably short of £600,000 (for the first year) hoped by the owners of Y Byd.
Prior to this announcement, a review into the Welsh-medium press by the Welsh Language Board
concluded that there was not enough evidence for a viable daily newspaper in the Welsh language.
On 15 February 2008, a statement by Dyddiol announced that plans for Y Byd had been abandoned.. In the statement, Ned Thomas, the chairman of Dyddiol criticised the Assembly government for not meeting a pledge to expand funding and support for Welsh-language press. The editor of Y Byd, Aled Price resigned following the funding announcement by Rhodri Glyn Thomas
.
The company is now said to be considering other options for Welsh-language press.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
daily newspaper. It was scheduled to be published five days a week, from Monday to Friday, as of Monday 3 March 2008. However, on 15 February 2008, the proposed newspaper's owners, Dyddiol, abandoned the plans, citing 'insufficient' funding from the Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
.
Publication was initially held up by the need to find sufficient subscribers, causing several delays to proposed launch dates. Prior to the cessation of its plans, £300,000 worth of subscriptions had been placed and staff were being employed. The company was hoping to attract 5,000 subscribers ahead of the planned launch. The paper was due to employ 24 people from headquarters in Machynlleth
Machynlleth
Machynlleth is a market town in Powys, Wales. It is in the Dyfi Valley at the intersection of the A487 and the A489 roads.Machynlleth was the seat of Owain Glyndŵr's Welsh Parliament in 1404, and as such claims to be the "ancient capital of Wales". However, it has never held any official...
and receive funding from Powys County Council
Powys County Council
Powys County Council is the governing body for Powys, one of the administrative areas of Wales. It has three area committees — one for each of Brecknockshire, Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire to which the council delegates its functions. The council offices are located in Llandrindod...
.
The editor for Y Byd was due to be Aled Price, a former BBC Cymru journalist, with Catrin Rogers, a local newspaper editor in London, deputising.
The paper would have cost 70p
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
daily, with Friday's copy — which would have included a weekend supplement — retailing at £1.20.
Y Byd abandoned
On 5 February 2008, the Welsh Assembly minister for the Welsh language, heritage and culture Plaid CymruPlaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
's Rhodri Glyn Thomas
Rhodri Glyn Thomas
Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM is a Welsh politician. He has been the Plaid Cymru National Assembly for Wales Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr since 1999.-Education:...
, announced a subsidy grant of £200,000 to Welsh language newspapers and magazines every year for the next three years. However, the grant was considerably short of £600,000 (for the first year) hoped by the owners of Y Byd.
Prior to this announcement, a review into the Welsh-medium press by the Welsh Language Board
Welsh Language Board
The Welsh Language Board is a statutory body set up by the UK Government as part of the Welsh Language Act 1993. It is now an Assembly Sponsored Public Body...
concluded that there was not enough evidence for a viable daily newspaper in the Welsh language.
On 15 February 2008, a statement by Dyddiol announced that plans for Y Byd had been abandoned.. In the statement, Ned Thomas, the chairman of Dyddiol criticised the Assembly government for not meeting a pledge to expand funding and support for Welsh-language press. The editor of Y Byd, Aled Price resigned following the funding announcement by Rhodri Glyn Thomas
Rhodri Glyn Thomas
Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM is a Welsh politician. He has been the Plaid Cymru National Assembly for Wales Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr since 1999.-Education:...
.
The company is now said to be considering other options for Welsh-language press.
See also
- List of newspapers in Wales
- List of Celtic language media
- Lá Nua - Irish language daily, based in BelfastBelfastBelfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
(7,000 circulation)
External links
- Y Byd website
- Y Byd website
- Welsh language paper is unveiled, BBC News OnlineBBC News OnlineBBC News Online is the website of BBC News, the division of the BBC responsible for newsgathering and production. The website is the most popular news website in the United Kingdom and forms a major part of BBC Online ....
, 20 June 2007