Why haven’t Welsh speakers taken to Foursquare?

Posted on 15/09/2011 by Rhodri ap Dyfrig

I had a bit of a ding-dong with @berrydm earlier on Twitter about Foursquare and Welsh language usage on the platform. See below for a rundown of the tweets.

David Berry couldn’t see why Welsh speakers don’t just go out there and use platforms like 4sq in Welsh and make the space their own. I agree wholeheartedly with the need for Welsh to” align itself with these digital technologies” – Welsh should be used in as many domains as possible, including social media – but I disagree with the need, or perhaps the wisdom, of forcing to do so with 4sq in particular.

Here’s why:

The issue of early adopters (or the Welsh Digital Illuminati!)

David Berry suggests that foursquare can be made a space where the Welsh language is used if the ‘Welsh Digital Illuminati’ rally round and start leaving Welsh tips. I agree in principle that this is how you make Welsh language use on a platform normalised. A stubborn few hardcore users making a language visible on a platform, and getting the ball rolling, reducing the sense of talking in a vacuum. With Twitter and Facebook this development happened organically. People loved to use those platforms and saw that their friends were using them and so on. What I saw with Foursquare initially was that those usual Welsh speaking early adopters were there, but were either using English or not leaving tips at all, and just checking in (using English by default).
Berry suggests that Welsh speakers should rush to try to colonise a platform before English, but this is just impossible. The amount of people that speak English compared to Welsh (as well as those bilinguals who defer to English as their default online) will always mean that Welsh language use of a platform will come much later and much slower.
There are only so many Welsh speaking people adopting new digital technologies early and who have the desire and will to use Welsh on those platforms. The number of new digital platforms is increasing all the time. It becomes a resource management and prioritisation issue. If the platform does not seem to be getting traction, then concentrate energies on something else, where time and effort can yield greater value for both the person creating content on that platform and end-user. People haven’t put all their eggs (or any eggs!) in the 4sq basket.

English and the invisible mass audience

When confronted with the opportunity to leave a tip on Foursquare, the user would usually have some idea in their mind of an audience. This could be their followers, as well as other unknown 4sq users who may check-in in the future. Most Welsh speakers, I would hazard, would leave a tip in English in order for their message to be understood by the widest possible audience.
But why leave a tip in English on 4sq when the same person would happily tweet in Welsh/bilingually when using another platform? I think it has to do with message frequency, permanence and a known audience. A tweet is one message amidst a busy flow giving the tweet less weight perhaps than a tip on Foursquare. The linguistic choice is therefore not dwelled upon too much. A Welsh speaking Twitter user also has a much wider range of followers that it knows do speak Welsh (as well as possibly knowing that tweets are aggregated on platforms like Umap), meaning that they can imagine their audience in a much more concrete way than 4sq.

Reviews vs Game Layer

I started dabbling with Foursquare when it first launched. At the time, the tips elements of 4sq were not really how it was being pushed. It was the game layer that was the talking point which is non-linguistic in essence (although having automatic tweets of location etc in English only is a turn off). Even though Crowley has tried to shake this off, that is still how I perceive it.

Has anybody really taken to Foursquare in Wales in a widespread way?

I gave up on Foursquare for several reasons: I found the game layer to be a little pointless; I found the social/serendipity element to be non-existent in my area (Ceredigion); I didn’t want to share my location in public; I found the take up of it didn’t reach a point where I thought ” I want to be part of this”; I found that tips on sites such as Qype and Yelp already provided me with deeper and better reviews for places I wished to go; and lastly: I didn’t want one other reason to get my phone out wherever I went!
I haven’t seen a large amount of people whom I know beyond those who adpoted 4sq early that have started using 4sq. With 10m users worldwide (but no stats on actual usage by these accounts), and although much lauded as a competitor to Twitter, it is still hasn’t really managed to break out to mainstream use. I believe that most people are just too wary of publicly visible geolocation, or can’t see the point. The online review market is already fragmented, and in my opinion we don’t have enough Welsh speaking online reviewers who wish to use these platforms.
One prime example of where 4sq should work in Welsh but didn’t is the Eisteddfod. But alas 5 checkins an no reviews.

Usefulness and population density

How useful is 4sq in areas where there aren’t many regular users? I have looked at the tips in Aberystwyth today and still find them a bit on the weak side . In my opinion Qype and others have cornered the market on comments and reviews for places and Aberystwyth has a much wider variety and depth of tips. So the local and social serendipity aspects are weakened in areas where there is not a particularly high population density, as are many Welsh speaking areas.
Instead of using 4sq Welsh language Twitter users have started their own simple Twitter based platform that shares reviews through the hashtag #adolygiad: Adolygiad.com. This to me would suggest that there are people who wish to write reviews online, but don’t want to use platforms such as 4sq and Yelp which make it difficult, if not impossible, to find all Welsh language reviews in one place, or have a Welsh interface (Qype at one point did allow you to tag Welsh language reviews).
I don’t think it’s a coincidence either that 3G is so non-existent in Wales outside areas of high population density. Granted, 4sq is not heavy on data, but it may be the case that smartphone uptake is lower in these areas due to mobile data issues.
On usefulness, I agree that if there was a lot of Welsh language information on 4sq that it could be used for other platforms to build upon, but the kind of density of activity for you to be able to build something viable upon it would be very difficult. I think that only Twitter and Wicipedia would have enough content to make any apps that use their APIs viable. 4sq would take a long time to do that, and would ultimately still be patchy in its coverage.

Interface and Descriptions

Most places are named and described in English, which is understandable as that is the language of the interface. However, when you know that the place is commonly referred to in Welsh, or there is a Welsh name, it grates. It grates doubly if you can’t edit it. You have to be ‘first in’ or a superuser to amend the name of a place. Not a dealbreaker but certainly not much of an incentive to continue with it. The platform disincentivises use in any language other than English. Some platforms (such as Quora) remove Welsh language content as inappropriate language. As you can guess, I’ll never use Quora again, though’m not sure what 4sq’s policy is on this to be honest.

Would a distinctly Welsh language version of 4sq make the right environment for review exchange? Would there be enough uptake? Many have said that they would like to see a Welsh language review site, or something along those lines, but nobody has built it yet. I’m sure it would be great, but whilst other platforms exist it makes it a very tricky commercial proposition.

I haven’t seen any Welsh language tips on 4sq that I can remember, but I might try to leave a few to see what kind of reaction they get.

So, there are some thoughts. It would be good to hear yours. Thanks to @berrydm for prodding me to write.

Some very interesting thoughts from Geert Lovink on online comment culture

Posted on 04/09/2011 by Rhodri ap Dyfrig

A fantastic interview with Geert Lovink on anonymity, comments as public sphere (or otherwise) and the double edged sword of comments that are both repulsive and sought after.

http://networkcultures.org/wpmu/geert/2011/09/04/interview-with-me-on-comment-cultures-for-galileubr/

Comments are on the rise as never before but at the same time they are dispised, looked down upon, ignored, filtered and switched off.

It could very well be that the current era of mass commentary on the net will come to a close. [...] It is a question whether comments in the near future will be a public as they are right now–if they exist at all.

A global renaissance of the forum software would be a great thing for internet culture.

Is online commentary and debate in such a bad place? How can online commentary be brought back to an even keel?

#eisteddfod : cyfarfod darlledu IWA

Posted on 04/08/2011 by Rhodri ap Dyfrig

Rhybudd iechyd! Cynnwys heb ei olygu na’i wirio â Cysill…

11:00 Yn y cyfarfod am drio blogio rhai nodiadau o hwn…

Ar y llwyfan Hywel Wiliam (gynt o Ofcom), Keith Jones (BBC), Huw Jones (S4C) – cadeirio GTD.

GTD yn cyflwyno, rhoi darlun du o sefyllfa’r cyfryngau a’r wasg yng Nghymru. Ein gallu ni i gynnal trfodaeth gyhoeddus ddim yn cyfteb ag anghenion y sefyllfa. Heb weldd diwedd y peysau ariannol: efalli dim ond y cychwyn. Newidiadau technolegol yn symud yn gyflym, a defnydd cyfryngau newydd yn enwedig ymysg yr ifanc. Am gael trafodaeth felly oedd yn ehangach nac un sianel yn unig.

11:08 Hywel Wiliam – cyd-destun y farhcnad gyfathrebu

Ofcom newydd gyhoeddi dogfen am y farchnad gyfathrebu yng NGymru.
Faint sy’n defnyddio bandeang? Cynyddu lot yn fl. dwetha. 71% yn defnyddio band eang yng NGhym. Y cynnydd mwya.
Hefyd cynnydd yn y defnydd o ffonau clyfar. Yng NGhymru, lan i 30%. Ond ydyn nhw am weithio – 3G ayyb.
Band eang: Ofcom wedi cyhoeddi map o argaeledd band eang fesul sir.
11 allan o 22 sir gyda 20% o bobol sy’n methu cael band eang mwy na 2MB. Fideo yn ddbynnol ar fnadeang wrth gwrs.
26% yn Sir Gar methu cael band eang cyflym.
Band eang symudol: dibynnu ar 3G. Peth gwelliant wedi bod yn y fl. ddwetha. 17% o ardaloedd yn gallu cael 3G gan 4 darparwr erbyn hyn.
Datblygiadau am ddigwydd – rhyddhau sbectrwm yn enwedig 800MHz, arwyddocaol o ran 4G ac LTE(?)
Llywod Cymru yn cynnig sybsidi ar gyfer cael band eang os na allwch chi gael 2MB.
Big up i’r App Tywydd!
Mwy o bobol dan 25 yn gwylio teledu dros y we nac ar y teledu.
Teledu HD yn tyfu 26% fyny i 30%.
Cwestiwn beth sydd ar gael yn HD yn broblem. Hynny yn newid pan fydd
Gwariant ar deledu yn Saesneg wedi disgyn 13%. Gwariant ar deledu y pen yn £66 yng NGhymru bron dwbl hyn yn Lloegr.
Radio: DAB – 29% yn berchen ar set DAB yng NGhym o’i gymharu a 37% yn Lloegr. Diddorol gweld apps yn datblygu ar gyfer radio – potensial.
Radio Cymunedol am dyfu: cyfyngiadau’r dalgylch yn codi cwestiynau am pam mor addas ydi o ar gfyer Cymru.
Deddf Cyfathrebu ar y ffordd, ond pryd? Ddim yn glir. Amserlen yn cyflymu post-NOTW? Efallai golygu bod llai yn y ddeddf. Angen lonio nawr i gwffio congl Cymru.
Adnewyddu trwyddedau ITV yng Nghymru’n dod lan. Pwysig bod hwn yn parhau.
Adnewyddu Siartr y BBC a goblygiadau mawr i Gymru. Eto angen dechrau lobio’n fuan.
Teledu Lleol: i ba raddau bydd y model yn addas yng Ngyhymru? Sut allwn ni gymryd mantais.

11:19 Huw Jones – heriau i S4c?

Cwestiynau yn hytrach na atebion

4 pennawd:
sefyllfa’r iaith
sefyllfa’r cyfryngau torfol
cwestiynau i S4C fel gwasanaeth
S4C fel sefydliad

sefyllfa’r iaith
– colli 3k siaradwyr Cym net bob bl. yn ol BYIG.
– pwy sydd yn gwylio: 73% o Gymry Cym dros 65 yn troi at S4C bob wythnos; 35-44 yn 38%.
– gyd yn gysylltiedig a chwestiwn sut ma mesur llwydiant, pan ma’n weddol amlwg bydd adolygiad yn y dyfodol am fynnu gofyn cwestiynau am ddefnydd a gwerthfawrogiad.

Sefyllfa cyf. torfol
– analog bron a chael ei ddiffodd; darlledu cyhoeddus wedi colli gwylwyr, ond nifer wedi arafu cwymp drwy gynyddu nifer o wasanaaethau sydd ar gael More 4 ayyb – un sianel sydd gan s4c, am bod pob sianel yn golygu cost ychwanegol.
– cyf. newydd yn newid defnydd pobol o’r cyfryngau torfol, yn arbennig ymysg pobl ifanc. Nid dim ond cwestiwn o faint o amser mae nhw’n dreulio, a faint llai ar deledu, ond bod nodweddion cyfryngau newydd yn creu disgwyliadau newydd. Cwestiynau ieithyddol pwysig fan honno. Sut mae defnyddio iaith leiafrifol arlein mewn parth sydd a chyrhaeddiad rhyngwladol.

S4C fel gwasanaeth
– yn wasanaeth Cymraeg, i bobol sydd yn dymuno byw bywydau drwy gyfrwng Gymraeg. Ond hefyd pobol sydd yn dymuno byw yn ddwyieith. Beth yw eu disgwyliadau nhw?
– beth am bobol sydd ddim yn byw bywydau trwy gyfrwng Gym, – sut all S4C ddod mewn i’w bywydau nhw?
– Cyw yn cael ei weld fel llwyddiant, ond mae’n gymharol ddrud.
– cwestiwn: faint o gyllid s4c ddylid ei roi ar gyfer cynulleidfaoedd penodol
– creadigrwydd a gwreiddioldeb: dim amheuaeth bod rhaid iddo fod yn wreiddiol a gwahanol. R’un peth yn wir ar gyfer yr iaith. Dim ond trwy gynnig pethau na ellir eu cael mewn ieithoedd eraill byddd iaith yn ffynnu.
– wedi bod yn gyfnod lle mae perthynas â chynhyrchwywr wedi bod yn annodd, ond gobeithio y daw sefydlogrwydd yn fuan.
– beth yw’r berthynas rhwng cyfryngau newydd gyda’r gwasanaeth teledu craidd?
– beth gaiff S4C wario arian arno?
– cyhoeddi mas o law ganllawiau ar gyfer cronfa ddigidol. Sut all S4C sbarduno’r maes hwnnw? Fforwm CN yn helpu gyda hyn

S4C fel sefydliad
– 2013 mwafrif cyllid yn dod gan Ymddiried. y BBC felly angen creu strwythr newydd, atebol, a chryf.
– eisiau atebolrwydd ddeuol, dilys i ymdd y BBC o ran sut mae arian S4C yn cael ei wario – cytundeb o flaen llaw
– hefyd lle bydd hynny yn cael ei ategu gan bresenoldeb aelodau awdurdod S4c sydd wedi ei ategu gan aelodau o’r BBC
– angen i awdurdod S4C weithredu yn annibynnol o fewn fframwaith atebolrwydd i’r ariannwr.
– awyddus i gydweithio gyda;r BBC yn lleol ac yn Brydeinig i greu arbedion. Asesu cynigion i weld os ydyn nhw’n ychwanegu gwerth at yr hyn sydd ar y sgrin.
– y drefn o ariannu drwy;r drwydded ond yn mynd tan 2015, cysur bod gwelliant gan y Llywod yn y mesur CC y bydd y cyfrifoldeb terfynol yn cael ei ddal am sicrhau bod cyllid digonol ar gyf S4C. Sut bydd hynny’n gweithio, cawn weld.
– bydd adolygiad DCMS yn gofyn llawer o gwestiynau, a rhaid sicrhau bod popeth yn iach ac yn effeithiol fel y gall fod yn adolygiad cadarnhaol.

11:33 Keith Jones

Pryder wedi bod o fewn BBC dros ariannu S4C. Arg. Patten wedi clywed y neges yn glir o sawl cyfeiriad. KJ yn meddwl y bydd modd dod i gytundeb all gadw annibyn ymarferol S4C.
- PAtten: BBC wedi ymladd i gadw annib ei hun, felly dim bwriad i fygwth anibyn S4C.
- gresynu nad oes digon o son am anghenion y gynulleidfa hyd yma.
- sefydlu perthynas rhwng awdurdod s4c gyda ymddiredol y bbc fyddwn ni: bydd perthynas S4C a BBC Cymru yn parhau
– wedi anelu at gefnogi strat rhaglenni s4c yn y modd gorau posibl: newyddion, PYC ayyb.
– wedi dechrau edrych ar sut i ymestyn y berthynas tu hwnt i’r golygydol: cydweithio i arbend arian, cyn belled ein bod yn ddigon
– y gynulleidfa’n malio dim am bwy sy’n anfon y signal i’r lloeren, eu diddordeb nhw yw’r rhaglenni.
– peth rhwystredigaeth na fu modd creu uchafbwyntiau creadigol ar y cyd
– dychmygwch ddigwyddiad mawr cyfryngol allai uno cynulleidfa BBC One gyda rhai S4C. Potensial mawr.
– prosiect ymchwil i ddeall natur y gynulleidfa: cyhoeddi yn fuan (S4c, bbc, BYIG)
– technoleg yn newid perthynas y gynulleidfa a’r darlledwr: her i ddarllwedwyr sydd a’u gwreiddiau yn y byd analog.
– os ydi cfeisis Wali yn bodoli yn y, rhaid gofalu rhag edrych am wwrsi yn y gorffennol yn unig
– yn y byd analog mi allai darlledwr gael sbectrwm a blaenoriaeth – cwmniau masnachol fydd yn rheoli llwybrau at y deunydd
– her yn amlwg i ddarlledwr cyhoeddus – allwn ni ddim cymryd amlygrwydd cynnwys yn ganiataol
– hergreadiogl: sut allwn ni wneud cynnwsy yn ddigon atyniadol ar y llwyfannau yma
– her ariannol: arbedion o 20% yn dalcen caled. sut byddwn yn gwasanaethu ein cynulleidfa mewn 6 bl.
– 1m o bobol yn troi at ein rhaglenni bob chwarter awr
– rhesymau i fod yn obeithiol: galw am wasaaethau cyfryngau safonol Cymreig mor uchel ac erioed,
– BBC wedi gorfod edrych ar flaenoriaethau,
– rol genedlaethol: creu a hybu creu deunydd o’r safon ucha
– methrin gwerth cynhoeddus, cynnwys unigryw, cynnal safon
– bydd rhaid torri rhaglenni bydd pobol yn eu colli. Yr her felly yw diffinio eu rol genedlaethol yn fwy manwl nac erioed o’r blaen. Methu bod yn bopeth i bawd, ond gallu tanio dychymyg cynull, lle bynnag y bônt.

11:45 cwestiynau:

Arwyn i KJ: rhywsredigaeth na fu mwy o gydweithio: pam na wnaethoch chi fwy i feithrin hynny? Ydy o’n rhywbeth ddyla’ch olynydd ganolbwyntio arno?

Wedi chwilio am rai syniadau sy’n gweithio ar draws y ddwy iaith. Angen mwy o hynny ar y cyd, lle mae cynulleid. yn gorgyffwrdd. Dod â gwylwyr

HJ: rhywun wedi dweud “oni ddyla Cariad @ Iaith fod wedi dechrau ar BBC a throsglwyddo i S4C”.

Cwestiwn: GO wedi dweud bod y cyfryngau Cym wedi mynd yn ddosbarth canol, sut mae adennill y gwylwyr dosbarth gweithiol?

HJ: Gyndyn o dderbyn ei fod yn fater o ddosbarth. Fasa gwasan teledu sy’n cyrraedd dosb gweithiol C’fon a Chaerdydd yn wahanol. Angen edrych ar raglenni as groesi ffiniau dosbarth.

KJ: profiad Radio Cymru yn ddiddorol. Yn y 90au wedi edrych yn fwriadol arno, a chadw llygad beirniadol. Teimlad ei fod yn tueddu i droi yn ei unfan, ac ar gyfer math arbennig o siaradwyr Cymraeg. Newidwyd Radio Cymru, a bu cryn brotest. Credu eu bod wedi bod yn gwbl iawni wneud be wnaethpwyd. Dyletswydd i bawb, pwy bynnag ydyn nhw, a be

GTD: a fyddai modd i Radio Cymru a Radio Wales barhau fel gwas cenedlaethol dan amgylchiadau toriadau o 20%?

KJ: pwyslais i warchod priod bwrpas y gwas cenedlaethol.

GTD: a fyddai pwyslais y BBC yng NGhymru yn wahano i BBC ym Mhrydain.

KJ: penderfyniadau yn nwylo Cymru o ran toriadau

11:55 cwestiynau pellach

Hywel Williams: falch o weld Llywod Prydain yn defnyddio’r gair ‘digonol’ ond angen gweld beth mae hynny’n ei olygu. Ei hyder yn DCMS yn gymharol isel. Bydd o’n eu herio’n eithaf caled ar beth yw natur ‘digonol’.

GTD: faint o broblem yw clash yr holl amserlenni deddfau cyfathrebu, siartr BBC ayyb?

HW: amseru am fod yn bwysig, a bydd angen meddwl am newidadau dros dro. Angen gweithio mas beth fydd yn flaenoriaeth i ni a pheidio gadael hi nes papur gwyn – cysylltu â gwleidyddion cyn hynny. DAB a RAdio Cymru yn enhgraifft o sut mae

o’r llawr: yw hi’n deg bod S4C yn cael eu torri’n ôl mwy na’r BBC?

GTD: toriad i raglenni Saesneg yng Nghymru wedi bod yn 33% cyn y toriadau newydd yma.

KJ: toriadau ddim yn newydd. Ddim yn cofio blwyddyn lle na bu toriadau yn y ddegawd dwetha.

Iestyn Garlick: S4C wedi pasio toriadau o 34% a mwy i’r cynhyrchwyr, sydd uwchben y 24% i’r sianel.

Dyna ddiwedd y sesiwn. Diolch am ddarllen!

Ethan Zuckerman on curation (and many, many other things)

Posted on 07/07/2011 by Rhodri ap Dyfrig

Totally floored by this blog post from Ethan Zuckerman. Great stuff.

Here’s a thought on ‘curation’:

Like everyone else, I’m experiencing a shift in how I get news about the world. In the pre-web world and early web days, news of the world came primarily through curated media – broadcast television, newspapers, magazines. There were – and are – reasons to distrust curators, but there’s a critical aspect of their work I believe we need to preserve as we move towards new models for organizing news. Curators implicitly tell us what they believe we need to know about the world. High quality curators often have a broader view of the world than individuals have, and well-curated media often demands we pay attention to people, places and issues we might have otherwise ignored.

On the other hand, curators invariably have biases, and the ability to seek information that appeals to our own interests and preferences is one of the most powerful capacities the modern web has put in our hands. Search lets me learn a great deal about things I care about – sumo, African politics, Vietnamese cooking – but it’s quite possible that I miss topics that I needed to know about because I was paying more attention to my interests and less to curators. We need mechanisms to ensure that search gets complemented with serendipity.

We need mechanisms to ensure that search gets complemented with serendipity, in any specific language, not just those of the majority.

“Trydar y Cymry! The Welsh Language Thrives Online”: cyfweliad ar Global Voices

Posted on 06/07/2011 by Rhodri ap Dyfrig

Llun gan foomandoonian ar Flickr

Plyg bach: dwi wedi gwneud cyfweliad am y we Gymraeg, trydar, blogio ac ati ar wefan Global Voices. Ewch draw i’w ddarllen a gadwch sylw plis!

Diolch o galon i Ayesha Saldanha, sylwebydd GV a brodor o Gaerdydd yn wreiddiol. Roedd yn bleser ei chyfarfod yn ddiweddar.

Fel mae’n nodi ar waelod yr erthygl, dwi am drio cydlynu chydig o leisiau Cymraeg/Cymru i fynd draw ar Global Voices. Mae’n hen bryd i’n lleisiau ni gael platfform rhyngwladol. Mae’n stori ni cyn bwysiced â stori neb arall.

Mae Global Voices yn wefan a sefydlwyd yn 2005 gan Rebecca McKinnon a’r hynod wych Ethan Zuckerman (sydd efo lot o bethau diddorol i;w ddweud am iaith a’r rhyngrwyd) er mwyn pontio rhwng diwylliannau trwy gyfieithu straeon, a chyfieithu diwylliannau, fel ein bod yn deall ein byd yn well. Cymuned o flogwyr ydi o yn y bôn heb olygyddol unedig, sy’n ceisio rhoi platfform eghangach i gyfryngau amatur.

Os oes unrhyw un eisiau helpu fi i sylwebu / cyfieithu cofnodion sy’n haeddu sylw ehangach / neu wneud crynodebau misol ar yr yr hyn sy’n digwydd ar y rhyngrwyd Gymraeg a Chymreig yna plis cysylltwch. Mi faswn i’n werthfawrogol iawn o unrhyw help.

#Cyfrwng2011: Dyfodol S4C

Posted on 17/06/2011 by Rhodri ap Dyfrig

12:43 Cwestiynau

Ivor Davies: Cymru yn copio pethau Saesnig, hyd yn oed yn ein rhaglenni. Pan rydyn ni’n gwneud rhywbeth sy’n wahanol, rydyn ni’n cael llawer mwy o lwyddiant. e.e cyfres y Tywysogion
ID: Protest fawr S4C gynharach eleni ond prin iawn oedd y sylw iddo.
ID: bosibl i weithio i gyd-gynhyrchu dramor.
Ioan Bellin (NUJ) : cyn toriadau a ddylen ni gael adolgyiad llawn o S4C? Ydyn nhw wir yn credu gallwn ni gael nnibyniaeth a digon o arian ar ol 2015?
GLL: bydd adolygiad gan DCMS yn 2014
GLL: sawl adolygiad mewnol wedi bod, ac yn digwydd ar hyn o bryd.
GLL: does dim sicrwydd tu hwnt i 2015
IG: TAC wedi gofyn ers y dechrau am adolyg llawn allanol
IG: angen i S4C “gallio” ynglyn a’r holl adolygiadau mewnol
IG: peidiwch a beio cwmniau am wneud rhaglenni sydd yn “copio” ond edrychwch at y briff gan s4c
GLL: mae na glamp o gronfa o dalent a chreadigedd yn S4C
Rhys Jones: 4 wedi son am rol y cyfryngau newydd, ond ydyn ni tybed yn euog fel cenedl o gael ein swyno gan y cyfryngau newydd, a’n hytrach bod angen i ni ganolbwyntio ar stori?
Angharad Mair: ategu pwynt RJ; bwysig ein bod ni’n edrych nol, a ddim yn ail-ysgrfennu’r hanes. Tipyn o’r cyffro a chreadigrwydd wedi dod o gystadleuaeth rhwng BBC ac ITV ar ddechrau S4C,
AM: sefydlwyd cwmniau gan bobol oedd yn ITV a BBC. Nid yw creadigrwydd jest yn dod o tu allan i’r bobol sydd wrthi rwan.
AM: i nifer o bobol ifanc, mynd mewn i gwmni sy’n cynnig gwaith yw’r ffordd orau o gael ymarfer creadigrwydd. Nid pawb sydd eisiau dechrau cwmni.
EP: erbyn 1983 roedd na 50 o gwmniau yn darparu. Dadlau dros amrywiaeth yn y sector. Angen darparu gofod i gwmniau micro ac unigolion gynnig syniadau yn uniongyrchol.
IG: un o’r pethau craidd mae TAC yn ceisio sefydlu ydi arian arbennig ar gyfer newydd ddyfodiaid a chwmniau llai. Yn y pen draw y syniad sy’n mynd i yrru’r sianel yn y pen draw.
Robert Beveridge (Edinburgh Napier Uni): “themes coming through was a wish to see an independent s4c. Want them to think through the scenarios: Bbc trust might not exist before long. Trustee for Wales finds herself in a conflicted position. Budgetary constraints: possible scenario that bbc gives up Welsh lang b/casting entirely. In that context, would s4c be able to achieve independence?”
Gareth (Rondo): mae peryg edrych nol ar gyfnod dechreuol S4C, am bod llawer mwy o arian yno i gyflenwi llai o oriau. Cwmniau o wahanol meintiau yn rhoi cyfleoedd i syniadau newydd. Peryg cyffredinoli. Peryg anghofio llwyddiant cwmniau yn y sector y tu hwnt i Gymru.
G: eisiau gweld gallu s4c i gynnal oriau yn parhau yn y dyfodol. Enghraifft dda oedd darpariaeth Canwr y Byd lle roedd BBC ond yn gallu darparu slot bach, gan olygu colli’r gwobrwyo am nad oedd amser.
IG: ymateb i RB – if BBC Wales gave up making Welsh lang progs, would S4C get those funds from the licence fee directly?
IG: continually get mixed messages re: what independence means to gov and bbc
GLL: eisiau ecosysem sydd yn cynnig plwraliaeth a dewis i’r gwylwyr
IG: Examples of cooperation already e.g. Welsh
HM: shouldn’t see bbc existing in the future as it does now. Shouldn’t be seen as something fixed.
HM: creative ideas today are much more likely to come from users than just from producers
HM: new media tech never transform industry, but add to media environment: interactivity and participation is key to the way digital media is transforming the media currently

12:35 HM

a lot of the rhetoric re: internet is unlimited access to info
but the first causalty of the internet is journalism
a serious info deficit to be addressed: not just in politics but a broader cutlural role
burgeoning national inst. such as NTW etc, but paradoxically less time to cover them
the way that cult. texts are circulating is changing: authority of b/cast orgs is being challenged
raises q’s on future of b/cast orgs: media orgs having to let go as they engage with soc media
one of defining feature of govs in Wales has been collaborations: although competition bet S4c and bbc, one should also discuss ways of collaborating
with the growth of no’s of Welsh speakers lang policies have shifted from emphasis on rural heartland: raises tensions and issues
lang and its culture has become more cosmopolitan: has S4C responded to this?
Mario Basini has argued that division of language is unhealthy and that bilingual channel might be healthy, not poss in 80s but maybe now
accountability to dcms seems an anachronism: little interest in its future
seems obv. to HM that WelshGov should have more input
Welsh Gov should assume greater control over b/casting, which rasises issues over governance of bbc
Welsh Media Commission has been raised as a poss, funding Welsh and Eng in a contestible way.

12:27 IG cwestiwn enfawr. Ddylen ni orfod gofyn y cwestiwn o gwbl o ystyried y frwydr i’w sefydlu?

toriadau yn anorfod, gan bod gweddill cymdeithas
y ddêl BBC / DCMS yn warthus. Dêl i orfodi gorfodi BBC i gymryd y World Service. “drive by shooting” BBC oedd y targed, saethodd y BBC yn ol ond cafodd S4C ei ddal yn y crossfire
Mae yna dal arian ar y bwrdd, ac yn ddigon i gynnig gwasanaeth yn yr iaith Gymraeg. Felly, oes mae dyfodol, ond am ba hyd?
Tu hwnt i 2015: angen i sianel fod yn berthnasol a hanfodol
33 o gwmnia yn cyflenwi S4C: TAC yn cynrychioli 30
TAC yn cynrychioli cwmniau bach, canolig a mawr ac sy’n barod i ymateb i’r her
cryn feirniadaeth o’r polisi S4C am gwmniau mawr – y cwmniau mawr sy’n hyfforddi gweithu y dyfodol – mae nhw’n bwysig hefyd
Cymru yn wlad sydd a’i golygon ar Lundain, yr Alban ddim gymaint felly.
Angen i S4C ymwneud gyda chynyddu mynediad at ddemocratiaeth (mwyafrif pobol Cymru’n darllen papurau Lloegr)
Bryd i Western Mail stopio cyfeirio at S4C fel beleaguered, diffyg gwylwyr etc
Angen: sefydlogrwydd, anibyniaeth a 100% o’r arian i fynd i’r sector gynhyrchu
Methu derbyn sefyllfa lle mae rhaid negydu cyllideb yn flynyddol post 2015
Nid arian y BBC ydyw, ond arian y drwydded.
Rhaid peidio anghofio bod S4C a BBC mewn cystaldeuaeth: annibyniaeth ariannol a golyg yn hanfodol
“Os lwyddwn ni yn hynny, oes mae dyfodol i S4C”

12:26 EP yr allwedd: sicrhau deilaog cyson a pharhasu gyda’r gynulleidfa. Ond angen i wylwyr, roi o’r neilltu difaterwch ac ymun yn y drafodaeth.

12:19 EP falch bod hwn ddim yn post-mortem

cyfle i godi o’r rhigol ac ail-flaenoriaethu ac addasu
er ei bod yn hanesydd nid dilyn llwyddiannau blaenorol yn slafaidd ddylai ddigwydd
ond, mae rhai gwersi i’w dysgu
polisiau diweddar wedi lleihau nifer cwmnioedd – yn erbyn ysbryd y sianel i geisio creu sector annibynol ar ddecrhau’r sianel
hyn wedi creu sector anhyblyg
[Gallwch chi weld dadl lawn EP yma: http://www.clickonwales.org/2011/06/imagining-a-new-s4c/ Mi wna i geisio ychwanegu unrhyw sylwadau sydd yn wahanol]

12:11: GLL annodd iawn trafod S4C heb gyd-destun ehangach y byd darlledu

chydig o bryder bod pobol dal yn cyfeirio at Mrs Jones Llanrug yng nghyd estun cynulleidfa
angen meddwl am wyres Mrs Jones, er bod Mrs Jones dal yn gwylio
canran uchel o siaradwyr Cym ddim yn gwylio. O bryder. Ydyn nhw’n gwrando ar Rad Cym, darllen Golwg hefyd? Angen cyrraedd nhw
Sut ydan ni’n mesur y gynulleidfa a gwerthfawrogiad a chyfraniad y gwerth i’r genedl?
Edrych i’r dyfodol: cwtogiad i £65m yn sylwweddol ond sail y gwaith at 2012+ ydi’r gwylwyr
Isio edrych at iaith sydd yn ddealladwy yn syml ac yn addas ar gyfer cartrefi sydd yn gymysg oran iaith
Sut mae mesur yr effaith a dy;anwad ar yr iaith? Angen gwaeddi am y llwyddiannau.
Dydi iaith Twitter a FB ddim yn iaith Emrys ap Iwan. Angen addasu i hynny.
Nifer o ddatblygiadau cyfryngau digidol, fel apps a thwf gwylio ar Clic.
Pobol isio cyfrannu nid jest gwylio – y brodorion digidol (gweler gwadiad Suw Charman o’r term hwn: http://charman-anderson.com/2010/03/02/report-digital-natives-a-myth/)
Angen i S4C ddeall diwylliant arlein.
Nodi bod nhw wedi ffurfio Fforwm Cyfryngau Newydd a clustnodi arian ar gyfer buddsosddi mewn cyfryngau digidol (Gwadiad: dwi ar Fforwm CN S4C)
Ceisio gweithio ar fanylion sefyllfa cydweithio BBC a sichau bod y manylion yn iawn o ran y pwyslais ar annibyniaeth.
Angen cadw’r hawl i gomisiynu cynnwys heb ymyrraeth o’r tu allan.

12:08 Cyflwyniad gan Ruth McElroy (Prifysgol Morgannwg)

“nid edrych yn ôl ydi’r bwriad. Gofyn yn ôl cyfrol Steve Blanchard a Simon Morley ym 1982 “What’s this channel for?”. Beth fydd ei le yn y tirlun darlledu newydd?

12:07 Ar y panel: Garffild Lloyd Lewis (S4C), Elain Price (Prifysgol Abertawe), Iestyn Garlick (TAC), Hugh McKay (Y Brifysgol Agored)

Cyfrwng: Media Politics and Media Studies in Small Nations

Posted on 16/06/2011 by Rhodri ap Dyfrig

Dyma rai nodiadau o’r sesiwn uchod (wnai ddiweddaru wrth i fi fynd…):

Devolution and the Media in Scotland

David Hutchinson (Prifysgol Glasgow Caledonian)

Y Wasg

pryder am drosglwyddiad cyhoeddiadau gwasanaeth cyhoeddus i’r we yn hytrach na mewn papurau newydd
oherwydd standing committee yn Holyrood, penderfynodd MSPs wrthod am y rheswm y byddai’n wael i sector y wasg
ond dim pwer i wneud unrhywbeth amdano

Darlledu

tebyg i Gymru, ond dadleuon hefyd am opt-outs o’r rhwydwaith, ac a ydyn nhw’n gwneud cyfraniadau i’r rhwydwaith
BBC Alba – spend per Gael is double that for S4C
Scottish B/cast Commission – ymateb y BBC: “8.6% i ddod o’r Alban” Mark Thomson – canlyniad uniongyrchol o waith yr SBC.
SBC – wedi gofyn am sianel ddigidol i’r Alban. Blair Jenkins wedi dweud “If we were starting afresh it would be a no-brainer”
Sianel Alban – panel wedi argymell i’r ffi drwydded gael ei top-sleisio i’w
Sianel Alban – a ddylai BBC Alba rannu lle sbectrwm?
Canlyniadau: Holyrood fwyfwy a diddordeb ar draws y cyfryngau; ond heb arian na grymoedd pa mor ddifrifol ellir cymryd eu barn; arian digonnol oherwydd y grant bloc yn broblem dal i fod
mwyafrif SNP yn rhoi pwysau ychwanegol i ddatganoli elfennau o rymoedd dros gyfryngau
Hutchinson yn codi amheuon dros gwerth ddatganoli cyfryngau os nad oes arian hefyd.
Mi fydd darlledu yn dod yn un o brif faesydd dadl rhwng Holyrood a San Steffan

Media, culture and national reconstruction in stateless nations: the case of Catalonia

Josep Angel Guimera ac Ana Fernandez Viso (Prifysgol Awtonomaidd Barcelona)

astudio strwythr a pholisiau cyfathrebu yn Catalonia
y wladwriaeth a grym dros telegyfathrebu a rheoleiddio sylfaenol dros gyfryngau
Generaltitat yn gyfrfiol dros datblygu a gweithredu rheoliadau sylfaenol ar gyfer y cyfryngau; sinema; diwylliant a iaith Catalaneg; ei gyfryngau cyhoeddus ei hun
Ond mae amwyster am y competences hyn = lle ar gyfer dadleuon
cyfryngau wedi cymryd rol fawr mewn reconstruction cenedlaethol, a’r llywod. wedi gorfodi’r wladwriaeth i drosglwyddo grymoedd ddarn wrth ddarn

Rhesymau dros geisio gwneud Catalan Communication Space?

Yr 80au

Normaleiddio ieithyddol
- sefydlon nhw eu cyfryngau eu hunain *cyn* iddyn nhw gael y grymoedd wedi eu trosgl. i wneud hynny
Adeiladu sffer cyhoeddus i Gatalonia
- sefydlu CCRTV yn 1983 – rhan o hyn mi wnaethon nhw ddechrau rhoi trwyddedau radio lleol
Ymgais i gynyddu hunan-lywodraeth

90au

hyrwyddo a thrwyddedu cyfryngau lleol
deddf sinema Gatalaneg

00au

dechrau prosiect pilot ar ddefnyddio frequencies FM heb ganiatad Sbaen, gan gynnwys ‘trwyddedau prawf’ – gorfodi Sbaen i newid eu polisi trwyddedu a rheoleiddio
adeiladu sector gyfryngau preifat Catalaneg
wedi dyfarnu Mux digidol i grwp preifat Cat – ceisio creu grwpiau amlgyfrwng Cat
mwy o ddeddfau ieithyddol oedd yn effeithio ar gyfryngau (puntCAT, sybsidi,

CCRTV nawr yn gyfrifol am 4 gorsaf radio, 7 sianel deledu, 1 sianel lloeren, 11 gwasanaeth gwe . Catalaneg yn unig.

Cyllideb CCRTV €357.5m yn 2010; €110.7m ym 1989

85% yn sybsidi yn y 6 mlynedd ddiwethaf.

Cyfryngau preifat: sybsidi yn arf polisi allweddol

€107m rhwng 2005-2010

ariannu sianeli teledu, radio, y wasg a gwefannau – lleol a cenedlaethol

Heriau?

toriad 30% i sybsidi cyfryngau preifat

CCRTV yn wynebu toriadau – dim ffigwr

lleihad mewn incwm hysbysebu 20%-30% i’r rhan fwyaf (50% i’r lleol)

Ydi’r system gyfryngau preifat yn gallu bodoli heb sybsidi?

Dadl hefyd am gynaladwyedd darlledu cyhoeddus.

Oes angen paradigm polisi newydd yn Catalonia?

Media Studies in Catalonia: research, publishing … competing?

Enric Castello (Prifysgol Rovira i Virgili)

What is small?

“Population, territory, economy, political history” (Hjort and Petrie, 2007) Cinema in Small Nations

Small is not so much related to the condition but to the context and framing of that nation. One is small in comparison to others.

Marusic and Marusic (1999) wedi trafod lle cyhoeddi o genhedloedd bychain yng nghyd destun cyfrol ymchwil meddygol Croateg.

Wastad penderfyniad ar ba iaith ma rhywun yn ddefnyddio i gyhoeddi. axis arall ar draws hynny sef agoredrwydd diwylliannol (h.y. trafod materion mewn cyd-destun rhyngwladol – “intl journal of…”; “journal cenedlaethol …” neu journal am bynciau cenedlaethol)

National is banalised in the centre vs national is determinant in perihpery (e.g. sub-state)

Universal case studies vs case studies ‘just’ understood in national framework

How do you frame local in an international context? When is focus of study not wide enough to ‘generalise’?

Papers in int. journals rarely mention the national context of their research, when in fact they are rarely international, but transpose a ‘national’ study as universal.

Cynydd mawr mewn niferoedd yn gwneud PhDs astudiaethau cyfyrngau.

Iaith cynnyrch ymchwil: dros 50% yn Catalaneg. Gweddill yn Sbaeneg. Ychydig iawn yn Saesneg. Ymchwilwyr Cat isio cael Catalaneg fel iaith gwybodaeth.

Impact rhyngwladol yn isel o gymharu a lefelau Ewropeaidd fodd bynnag, ond yn gwella.

Cyfnodolion: cyhoeddi abstracts yn Saesneg. Niferoedd yn tyfu.

Un enghraifft: cyfnodolyn yn Saesneg am gyfryngau trwy lygaid Catalaneg: http://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/journals/view-journal,id=162/

Cyd-destun ‘bach’ yn gyfle…

arbenigo
cymryd perspectif global
pwynt dechreuol da i gyfeirio at y gymuned academaidd ryngwladol
lle amgen i ganolfannau gwyddonol sefydledig
rhaid gadael y Liga Espanola i chwarae y Championship

Sylwadau o’r llawr

Barn y cyhoedd am y system gyfryngau Cat yw bod safon CCRTV yn well na sianelau preifat.

Pam felly sybsideiddio cwmniau preifat? Tyfu sector audiovisual y prif reswm. Nhw wedyn yn gallu bwydo CCRTV.

Trio creu diwydiant cyfryngau preifat sydd yn gallu cystadlu gyda’r cyhoeddus, ond yn parhau i ariannu’r cyhoeddus i lefelau uchel iawn. Trio gweld ar hyn o bryd sut mae datrys y ddau obaith incompatible hyn.

Pwysigrwydd creu’r sffer cyhoeddus yn Cat yn wahanol iawn i’r Alban. Cyd-destun gwleidyddol

Hasn’t been a debate about the nature of the communications sphere in general in Scotlan. More specific cases and often reactive. A lot of discussion still to be had in terms of relationship between possible moves to

Radio Ceredigion – rhai ymatebion i’r cais i newid fformat

Posted on 15/06/2011 by Rhodri ap Dyfrig

Chwara teg i Ofcom, ma nhw di gwneud cyfieithiad neis o’r ymateb anfonais i atyn nhw yn gwrthwynebu newid fformat Radio Ceredigion.

Diddorol yw darllen nodyn pellach gan Radio Ceredigion yn ychwanegol i’w cais gwreiddiol eto’n ceisio cyfiawnhau eu ‘dwyieithrwydd’ drwy ddweud bod blocio rhaglenni yn Gymraeg a Saesneg ar wahân wedi methu. Iddyn nhw, yr unif ffordd o wasanaethu buddiannau’r di-Gymraeg yn y Sir yw i leihau’r Gymraeg ar yr orsaf i lefel lle nad yw’n ymyrryd a’r Saesneg. Dyna chi olwg wyrdroedig ar gynrychiolaeth leol!

Ar ben hyn, maen nhw’n honni y byddant yn penderfynu ar gynnwys nid ar sail iaith ond ar sail teilyngdod. Yr hen gneuen na glywson ni gan Syr Emyr Jones Parry ond yn ddiweddar iawn ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth. Mi wyddon ni’n iawn ble mewn penderfyniadau o ‘deilyngdod’ sut mae grym yr iaith fwyafrifol yn dod mewn i’r hafaliad.

A’r ymateb cryf gan Fwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg sydd yn cynnwys beirniadaeth o anallu Ofcom i sicrhau gofynion cryfach am ddarpariaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg ar radio masnachol.

2.2
Mae’r Bwrdd ac Ofcom yn cytuno bod ‘cynnal busnes cyhoeddus’ mewn perthynas â gwaith Ofcom yn cynnwys gweithrediad swyddogaeth Ofcom o drwyddedu darlledwyr radio. Mae’r Bwrdd o’r farn ei bod yn briodol ac yn rhesymol ymarferol i Ofcom sicrhau, wrth weithredu’r swyddogaeth hon, bod darparwyr radio yng Nghymru yn cynnig darpariaeth Gymraeg mewn achosion priodol.

2.3
Mae Adran 314(7) Deddf Cyfathrebiadau 2003 (DC 2003) yn diffinio ‘deunydd lleol’ y mae gofyn i ddarlledwyr radio ei gynnig. Er na chyfeirir yn benodol at iaith credwn y gellir dehongli’r diffiniad a gynigir i gynnwys deunydd yn yr iaith Gymraeg.

Os felly, mae’r pŵer gan Ofcom dan Adran 314 DC 2003 i sicrhau bod gwasanaethau lleol yn cynnwys deunydd Cymraeg, lle bo Ofcom yn ystyried hynny’n briodol. Gallai Ofcom ddefnyddio’i bŵer dan Adran 314(2) DC 2003 i ddiwygio’i ganllawiau ar ddeunydd lleol, fel y gellir penderfynu a yw trwyddedai yn cyflawni dyletswyddau o ran iaith o fewn trwydded.

2.4
Hyd yn oed os nad yw Ofcom, fel mater o bolisi, yn dymuno dehongli Adran 314(7) DC 2003 i gynnwys deunydd Cymraeg na diwygio’i ganllawiau ar ddeunydd lleol i gynnwys deunydd Cymraeg, credwn y gallai, fel nodir uchod, ddefnyddio’i bwerau eang dan Adran 87 DD 1990 i gynnwys amodau i ddarparu yn y Gymraeg o fewn trwyddedau darlledwyr radio, ble ystyrir hynny’n briodol.

Ymateb llawn Bwrdd yr Iaith Gymraeg

Mae system fethedig trwyddedu masnachol Ofcom wedi gwanychu a gwanychu o ran beth yw ystyr darpariaeth leol ac o ran cynrychioli diwylliant a iaith lleol. Mae’r gwanychiad hwn wedi creu aneglurder yn yr hyn sydd i’w ddisgwyl gan orsafoedd o Ofcom a’r hyn gall y cyhoedd ddisgwyl o orsafoedd. Yn ei dro mae hyn wedi golygu bod y llinellau ffawt wedi agor rhwng dyheadau masnachol a dyheadau cymunedol.

Mae hi’n hen bryd i Ofcom sortio’r llanast ma. Ac os na all Ofcom wneud hynny am na allant wneud yn wahanol i weddill Prydain, yna datganoler yr holl bwerau dros drwyddedu radio i Gymru.

Mercator Workshop June 2011 – my phd work in progress presentation

Posted on 09/06/2011 by Rhodri ap Dyfrig

Ddoe mi fues i’n cymryd rhan mewn gweithdy a drefnwyd gan Sefydliad Mercator oedd yn edrych ar yr ymchwil gyfredol ym maes cyfryngau ieithoedd lleiafrifol. Mi roddias gyflwyniad byr ar fy ngwaith i geisio rhoi golwg fras ar lle ydw i yn y broses. Roeddwn yn cyflwyno yn Gymraeg ond gyda gwybodaeth gefnogol ar y sgrin yn Saesneg (roedd y mynychwyr di-Gymraeg yn cael cyfieithiad ar y pryd hefyd). Dyma’r cyflwyniad gyda rhai nodiadau ychwanegol:

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Yesterday I took part in a workshop organised by the Mercator Institute which looked at the current research in the field of minority language media. I gave a short and rough presentation on where I am currently with my phd, 10 months in. I spoke in Welsh but with English supporting visual material, for the ease of those having simultaneous translation. Here’s the presentation with a few extra notes:





Mercator Mehefin 2011 on Prezi

Theatr Felinfach Conference ‘Imaginging a New S4C’ (translated post)

Posted on 06/06/2011 by Rhodri ap Dyfrig

A few people who don’t understand Welsh mentioned that they would like to read the take I had on a new S4C, so here’s a rough translation. A bit later than the original post sorry, but even with translation help, these things take time to do.

[Grammatical Health Warning: this blog post was translated from this original Welsh language post using Google Translate as a tool to speed up the process. Subsequently, some of the phrasing and expressions may be a bit wonky. I hope that the wonkiness doesn't affect the communication of the ideas too much.]

Saturday before last I went to Theatr Felinfach after being invited to give some ideas about the future of S4C in the digital context. I did not want to be so bold as to offer a full manifesto but rather to raise questions that could feed into further discussion. The article written by Euros on Click on Wales notes that I focus on the idea that more young people use social networks than television, but I felt that my message was a little different. I thought it was best to publish what I said anyway, in case there was some wider value to it. I’d be delighted to hear any comments.

Set a few challenges, raise some questions

I’m not trying to offer solutions to the business of producing television programs. There are plenty of other people who have long experience of the industry that can do that so much better. But I want to set some challenges or raise some questions of the Welsh broadcast system from the perspective of the enormous changes to every aspect of our lives brought about by the advent of the internet , and especially the way it has disrupted media business models as they had been developed up until the turn of the last century.

Online media is an integral part of the media landscape today. This is not the for the Welsh and particularly Welsh language media. Yet. How can we change that?

Welsh developments in the field has been hampered until now
there is institutional inertia across all Welsh language media providers (and arguably English language media providers in Wales)
not enough is being done to streamline arrangements so that it can adapt to the needs of digital media and the audience that is ready for it

Do we need more TV companies or a stronger digital sector?

the digital media sector is very weak, and exists mainly as poorly funded wings of companies whose main focus is other media/creative industries
S4C has a role in growing the digital media sector
if we want a dynamic media we have to develop companies that can adapt to produce for online

Do we need a comprehensive S4C.com or S4C as a digital brand across the internet and an investor in others?

trying to create one Welsh-language portal is a folly. Trying to compete as a homepage with the force of the BBC is impossible.
Better to try to spread the S4C brand across the web and across where audiences gather. Working diagonally rather than vertically.
Can begin to do this by creating a steady stream of investment for content and services online

Can S4C take the role of enabling and investment rather than commissioning?

are commissioners the right people to make decisions about the value of certain types of media in the age of the internet?
Perhaps S4C can begin using new arm’s length models to invest in projects slowly
There is no need to fund long online series to fill a schedule. Series can be developed incrementally and at their own pace.
It’s one thing to say they will promote the dreaded UGC, or unpaid content, on their website, but there’s no mention of trying to invest in anyone or any structures to help create that UGC

How can an organization like S4C change from one of grand actions to being an organization of small actions as well?

Maybe only 200 pounds is needed to start a small project online. Is it possible to develop a model to germinate media. Investing small, and invest more when they see success?
Models like this are totally alien to S4C but many of the successes of the web have grown from small beginnings.
If a success is on the cards, then broadcast platforms can boost it through harnessing broadcasts ability to speed up attention

Are there are ways of freeing up online content?

There is an urgent need to begin negotiations to ensure that Welsh material can have the freedom and conditions favorable to be distributed on-line
There is a need to re-examine the terms of trade for online content in Welsh
TAC / Equity / MU etc agreements were designed for the end of the analogue age. They are long overdue a re-assessment.
Thinking about how it is possible free up certain types of products online so that it can be re-used. Creative Commons licenses is one possibility. A new balance between fair royalties and the freedom to create, remix and share is essential.

How Can S4C provide a space to experiment, fail, explore new methods of production?

no one has a map for making the most of opportunities and challenges of media as it stands. We must therefore create a space in which to feel our way and see what works in Welsh

If we want to create new forms of civic value, we need to improve the ability of small groups to try radical things…our best chance for finding good ideas is to have as many groups as possible try as many things as possible.

Clay Shirky

How can S4C think beyond mainstream television whilst continuing to produce mainstream television?

not the displacemen of one technology / medium with another, but adding media upon media that will work together in new and complex ways
linear TV is still vitally important, but we must make enough space for the rest to breathe and develop

Is there a prime means of creating a Welsh media on the internet?

we must try to find what works for us as Welsh speakers.
The possibilities are endless, but almost nothing had been examined. Too often we simulate the Anglo-American models.

How can digital S4C help build an audience?

in the same way that S4C had to build a Welsh language audience for its new channel in 1982, we must build an audience for online material in Welsh

Criticizing present realities is important but insufficient. It can be hard to picture what the future would look like, and so to be making things, as examples of future creative diversity, in the here and now, offers a powerful and tangible form of inspiration to others – and challenges the apparent inevitability of the present.

David Gauntlett

the number of examples of online services in Welsh is limited. Without good examples, how to create the necessary continuity, the positive feedback loop?
S4C has a big role to play in promoting others who do work that matches their brief of providing Welsh public service media
I’m not talking of media literacy lessons here but trying to develop people with enthusiasm and energy to try something and drive them forward through encouragement and perhaps developmental innovations such as intensive technology courses. eg http://www.apdyfrig.com/2011/02/17/awydd-gwneud-cwrs-dwys-24-awr-mewn-technoleg-newydd/

Are we doing enough to be part of IPTV?

develop apps with new IPTV commercial funding
secure the place of Welsh television and interactivity within IPTV, specifically with YouView

S4C is a purposeful intervention in the television market in order to be a tool in the survival of the Welsh language. The media has changed so much, you need a new kind of interference?

it must be understood that although figures may be much lower than television users at present, that intervention in the online media market is crucial now
Welsh production companies and individuals within those companies already doing much more than S4C to try to push online services, but are held back.

How can S4C create a closer, more honest connection between itself and its audience/users?

A natural gap has existed between the television audience and producers in the one to many model. It will not be easy to change this type of organizational relationship.
So it may be better to leave it and focus entirely on trying to jump over television to the creation of other services that may overlap with TV, and that can reduce that gap
In order to do this, you might have to create these services outside of S4C as an institution / channel altogether.
S4C is in a comfort zone in terms of broadcasting. Intervention must be created that will force them to come out of this.

Is S4C as a broadcaster a suitable structure for online media and new methods of co-creation?

S4C has had almost 30 years to grow. It has perhaps over-grown as an institution (not in terms of content, I hasten to add).
It has not grown to do more than one thing. It has grown up around one thing: mass television broadcasting.
I would argue that S4C (and not the S4C Authority) does not have the ability within the organization to adapt.
So I would argue that there exists a need to create a small body / company, under the Authority who can be a means to implement policies and aspirations that are non-televisual in nature .
This sister body needs to be a way of educating S4C and work across all of the channel’s activities and other bodies in the same way.
I do not think either that there is sufficient expertise within the channel. Nobody is responsible for strategy or online content in particular. There are people who operate those elements, but they have no power, no cross-departmental brief, with a basis in content.
Take a look what the Basque broadcaster EITB did : re-assessing every post in the channel in order to incorporate online; appoint a head of dept. for online

It must create partnerships – but what kind of partnerships and what will they cost?

S4C is and island. It has been an island for over a decade. We need to zoom out and see S4C as an archipelago of islands (as it was to start?).
in a digital age it does not make sense to have digital publishing funds issued by the Council books, funding for technology development by the Language Board and funding resources online education by the assembly government department. All apart, and none cooperating.
Is there a way to re-assess the gross funds available for digital material in Welsh and to co-manage it with a strategy between S4C and other Welsh commissioning / grant-giving / contracting institutions.
This is not easy – partnering on projects is sometimes as difficult as pulling teeth to organizations that have rusted to the ground. It must find some sort of institutional WD40. I don’t know what (or maybe who) that is yet, but we need something to be a buffer when well-established institutions come head to head to cooperate.

So those were the points I made. Thanks to Eurosfor the impetus to put them together for an event. There was a good crowd, and I thought that the students there had very interesting ideas.

I’m not absolutely certain about the validity of all of the above points, but I think they are worth discussing, and hope they can instigate discussion. It would be great to hear your comments, if you agree or disagree with anything.

Dyfeisgar

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