Taliesin News Announces New Partnerships

Taliesin News has expanded its consortium with the addition of a number of new partners to further strengthen its bid for the news pilot in Wales.

Town & Country Broadcasting, Cube Interactive Limited and some of the nation's top academic institutions including Swansea, Newport and Glyndwr Universities are the latest organisations to join the broad alliance.

Taliesin News already consists of leading news provider ITN, Northcliffe Media, Newsquest Media Group, Tindle Newspapers, Boomerang and the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies at Cardiff University, as well as the existing ITV Wales staff.

Clive Jones CBE, Chairman of Taliesin News, said: 'We're excited to have signed up these new partners who add significant muscle to the Taliesin consortium and continue the momentum behind our innovative bid. The unprecedented scale of our alliance means we will be able to deliver a truly multi-platform news service for Wales, the first ever comprehensive alternative to the BBC.'

Through Town & Country Broadcasting, Taliesin News will develop a comprehensive audio service across the radio sector in Wales. Its portfolio comprises local radio stations Radio Pembrokeshire, Radio Carmarthenshire, Scarlet FM, Bay Radio and Bridge FM together with the regional station Nation Radio which covers Cardiff, Newport and Swansea on FM and South Wales on DAB.

Jason Bryant, Executive Chairman, Town and Country Broadcasting said: 'Town and Country Broadcasting's market leading radio stations across Wales are delighted to be part of the Taliesin News consortium which offers a unique news service for Wales.

'We will use our radio experience to deliver a first class, independent national radio news service for Wales, increasing the relevance and quality of radio news to local radio and community radio stations across the nation.'

The new academia partnerships include Swansea University's Media and Communications Studies, Glyndwr University's Communications and Technology department and the Institute of Advanced Broadcasting, University of Wales, Newport.

Professor John Spurr, Head of the School of Arts and Humanities, Swansea University said: "We are delighted with the partnership that has been agreed with Taliesin News. Our students will benefit immensely from working with a national news service for Wales, visits to its newsrooms throughout Wales, and through the expert-led workshops held on campus.

'This arrangement ties in extremely well with Swansea University's skills agenda which aims to provide career-enhancing courses, to improve student employability and to enrich the student experience."

Mike Wright, Subject Leader Communications Technology, School of Computing & Communications Technology, Glyndwr University, said: 'Glyndrw University is looking forward to working with Taliesin News and to creating an exciting relationship which will see students gaining invaluable and 'real' experiences of working at the forefront of producing news across all platforms for Wales.

'Practical workshops and mentoring will also give Taliesin News opportunities to understand the changing patterns on how people want to receive their news, be it TV, print, online or radio.'

Gary Thompson, Director, Institute of Advanced Broadcasting, University of Wales, Newport, said: 'The Institute of Advanced Broadcasting (IAB) is very excited by the partnership and collaborative opportunities which can be developed between the two organisations. We are looking forward to the support Taliesin News will be giving to the pioneering micro broadcasting project in Ebbw Vale.'

Taliesin News already has the support from the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Cardiff University, and will be giving regular seminars to the students at the universities as well as taking on work placements, and organising tours of the studios and offices around Wales.

Wil Stephens, the Chief Executive Officer of Cube Interactive Limited said: 'Cube offers digital media services and production, and is a leading provider of interactive, digital content and services to many major brands. We are very proud to be part of the Taliesin News consortium, and are looking forward to working with the partners and the online community to deliver news to the people of Wales, how and when they want it.'

Taliesin News also recently launched its new website, which focuses on a brand new vision putting news at the centre of a conversation with the people of Wales.

The site offers the public a genuine opportunity to engage with Taliesin News and play a part in shaping the future news service for Wales. Users are invited to interact and can give their views using the Tell Jonathan click through, a confidential direct link to the team designing the bid.

Further information can be found at: www.taliesinnews.co.uk.