This blog is now over a year old, and it's just under a year since Blamerbell Briefs (aka Ciaran Jenkins) published his last post -and what a year it has been in the Welsh blogosphere.
Whereas in England there is a clash between the elitism of the old media and the elitism or anti-elitism of the new media, on the whole here in Wales we seem to have a healthier and perhaps more mature situation, in which politicians, political editors, (anonymous) civil servants, lobbyists and anoraks can and do rub shoulders, interchanging views, ideas and topics, without such mediocre pretentions, tensions or rivalries between professionals and amateurs.
In retrospect 2007 seems to me to have been the year when the Welsh blogosphere cut its teeth. There was some fighting at times, but by now I think most of us have got to know eachother a bit better and learned to be generally a wee bit more relaxed about the whole blogging thing.
Today it's been a slow news day for the Welsh Press, yet for political blogs in Wales it's been as busy as usual (just take a look at the Welsh Political News aggregator), a fact which I think speaks volumes as to how far the blogging scene has come in Wales.
This in itself I believe reflects how Welsh politics has become more interesting (for anoraks at least) with the death of Labour's hegemony in Wales last year -the recent local elections being that deceased hegemony's funeral service.
Anyway, that's my two cents on the subject (in other words I've lost my train of thought now that my stomach has woken up). As ever, feel free to leave your own take on the matter in the comments thread.
Monday, 12 May 2008
The Welsh blogosphere: Life after Blamerbell
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12 opinions:
I agree with all this Sanddef, and I repeat my belief that you are the best political blogger in Wales. The traditional media seem ever more obsessed with hype and with setting the agenda, rather than reporting unobjectively and airing comprehensive analysis.
The Welsh blogosphere succeeds in countering that. It is also a sign of health that not only are there many blogs, but also that people read a number of them. The wide range of thought and comment available, and the numbers willing to absorb ideas from across the political spectrum can only be a good thing for Wales.
You are absolutely correct about the current state of blogging in Wales.
My blog may only be 3 months old but I've had nothing but support and constructive debate (except the usual fascist morons on BNP related posts).
Before starting my blog I was just read and left comments on blogs like Harry's Place, Iain Dale, Devil's Kitchen etc. The British scene is a lot more shrill and harsh. Interesting comments get lost in a sea of crap.
Thank god for the Welsh blogosphere, even the people I disagree with.
Aw, group hug.
Seriously, it's good to have you back and it's good to have this open forum of discussion and debate populated by all shades of opinion, and with opinions worth reading.
I blogged a while back about the potentially distinctive characteristics of the Welsh blogosphere. I suspect it will contract and expand from time to time, go through bad phases as well as good, rancourous as well as enlightening. But it will remain an innately meritocratic space, where anyone can participate and where quality of argument rather than status, financial clout power wins out.
That is a very good thing indeed.
As a reader and new blogger I think that welsh political blogging has become an important
part of the scene in welsh politics and long may it continue.
Also the welsh blogs often act as additional news source with bloggers flagging stories up that the mainstream welsh media doesn't.
I think the welsh blogosphere, although a term that I find a bit odd, is quite a civilised place. However, I do think it lacks politicians of all stripes really contributing, and I also think the media does not givers bloggers sufficient credit or indeed opportunities to enter the debate. I really think that bloggers should be asked on things like am:pm, cf99, the sharp end and dragons eye for example.
I do think that Blamerbell’s neutrality made it a central tenet of the welsh blogosphere where battles could take place, although there are many great blogs across the spectrum in Wales, they all present a viewpoint. I think there has also been a great benefit from the apparent demise of the ‘arsembly/seneddwr’ type of gossip blog, who I know full well are written by people down the bay working for politicians. I really think that such blogs reinforces the ‘senedd bubble’ element to it, for which I am happy to admit I was part of at one point.
From a personal point of view I have been blessed with a regular stream of comments and challenging views, which is exciting and the reason why I decided to blog post me getting sacked from my previous role. One thing I haven’t been up to scratch on is leaving comments on other people’s blogs enough, mainly because I am so bloody busy.
Ords you prompted me to see how long I had been blogging. I missed my birthday,it was April,my goodness that went quickly.
Blammer encourageed me as did MOF and yourself.
may be we should have abloggers meet and see who we all are,that could be spooky.
Anyway I raise a glass to everyone -heres to another year raising hell
My initial introduction to Welsh Bloggery was from making the occasional comment on Blamer's blog.
Unfortunately, due to my personal and sometimes opposing views, I have had the honour of being banned from a number of Welsh blogs. I wonder if I still hold the record. They clearly don't like the idea of free speech.
Despite this, I have been made most welcome on other blogs and was 'invited' to start my own. This was at the suggestion of one of our more esteemed bloggers, Normal Mouth, who suggested that I start my own instead of "hanging around" his. How kind of him.
Despite these welcomes I have had to resort to subterfuge and adopt this cunning disguise on this blog as I'm actually still banned from here.
Your pal.
nonny.
Actually the only comments banned from this blog are spam comments.
That's nice to know Ordo.
I must confess that I have been a troll but never a spammer.
Now, if you would just withdraw your unjustified allegation that I am a racist I'm sure that a more friendly and constructive atmosphere may ensue.
It takes a big man to say that he was wrong.
Your pal.
johnny.
Interesting article but I don't think Welsh bloggers should rest on their laurels. We need to step up a gear if we want to have any real impact on Welsh political thinking. By stepping up I mean we need better investigative journalism and blog scoops that make the news.
Comment is not enough.
The blogosphere is more advanced in the US and we can and should learn from them (even if the Welsh paradigm is different).
O/T .. don't much like the design of your site Ordovicius... it is confusing and cluttered.
By stepping up I mean we need better investigative journalism and blog scoops that make the news.
I disagree. Blogging isn't about 'scoops' or 'making the news'.
he blogosphere is more advanced in the US we can and should learn from them
Again, I disagree. It's a completely different situation.
don't much like the design of your site Ordovicius... it is confusing and cluttered.
Yet again, I disagree. It is anything BUT cluttered. As for being confusing: it couldn't get any simpler.
Well, it's good that we can disagree. That is the beauty of the blogosphere. Long may it continue though I have fears that they will soon find ways to censor it.
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