Whether you are a conspiracy theorist or not, you might think parts of the media are out to get Wales, or at least do it down by not bothering to research it properly and treating us as a subject to patronize.
James Martin, ITV cook,visits different countries to investigate their food. In the map used in the programme, Carmarthenshire looks to have been subsumed to Pembs and there's considerable confusion over the whereabouts of Ynyshir... Outcry has lead to the programme getting taken down from the ITV hub.
But more concerning than this, BBC Wales recently launched their drama 'Pitching In', about a campsite in North Wales. This has not gone down well, moving the leader of Cardiff Council to tweet:
and film director Kevin Allen to comment on Facebook:
'However, what I had to endure last night on the iplayer exudes nothing remotely Welsh and fails miserably in expressing anything connected to our culture.'
Now here at FYI, we're big champs of DIY media.Nation cymru is an online platform - one amongst several - that may offer us hope for Wales and its media coverage. Here, new AM Delyth Jewell writes a thoughtful post on the importance of localism in commissioning: https://nation.cymru/opinion/the-pitching-in-disaster-shows-that-you-need-to-make-in-wales-not-just-set-in-wales/
Traditionally, we Welsh are a nation of teachers, preachers, farmers, miners and rugby players. This teaching and preaching DNA can be invaluable in making online media. And in parts of the internet Wales is doing stunningly well in getting its stories and language heard. Here's Jason Evans from the National Library's celebration of Wales on Wicipedia this week:
So if the coverage of Wales on mainstream telly alienates you, then please get creating. Whatever you love about our country, make it, celebrate it, share it and feel most free whenever you like to put it up on FYI...
Come on Wales!
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