Conference debates future of Welsh broadcasting

Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones is Professor of Media and Creative Industries at Aberystwyth University’s Department of Theatre, Film & Television, and Director of the Mercator Institute for Media, Languages and Culture.

Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones is Professor of Media and Creative Industries at Aberystwyth University’s Department of Theatre, Film & Television, and Director of the Mercator Institute for Media, Languages and Culture.

09 November 2017

Conference debates future of Welsh broadcasting

An Aberystwyth University academic is chairing a high-profile conference on the future of Welsh language broadcasting Thursday 9 November 2017.

Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones - a Professor in the Media and Creative Industries at the University’s Department of Theatre, Film & Television Studies at Aberystwyth University – is giving the opening address at the conference organised by the Dathlu’r Gymraeg network as well as chairing the panel on the future of S4C.

Participants at the Conference held in Cardiff include the newly-appointed Welsh Government Minister of Culture, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas; the new Chief Executive Officer of S4C, Owen Evans; the Chair of the UK Government’s Independent Review of S4C, Euryn Ogwen Williams; the Editor of BBC Radio Cymru, Betsan Powys, and the Chair of TAC Welsh Independent Television Producers, Iestyn Garlick.  

Professor Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones, who is also Director of the Mercator Institute for Media, Languages and Culture, said: “This conference offers an important opportunity to debate Welsh language broadcasting in all its contemporary forms, at a challenging time for the creative industries. By bringing together key representatives from the sector together with Welsh language organisations, the aim is to share innovative ideas and develop ambitious strategies for the future.”

Rebecca Williams, Chair of Dathlu’r Gymraeg, said: "We’re looking forward to a day of diverse and challenging debate on the future of Welsh language broadcasting. High-profile speakers from the creative industries and grassroot representatives will share ideas and discuss together a subject close to their hearts.

"We hope the Conference will contribute to the independent review of S4C but we will be throwing the net wider to include alternative broadcasters and means of broadcasting, including at a community level.”