Rejected petition Devolve Media to Welsh Parliament
Wales’ “democratic deficit” means that Welsh audiences often get information that doesn’t apply to them.
This democratic deficit must end!
Media and interpersonal communication are the principal sources of political information. Peoples’ perceptions and judgements depend on mass media messages, they are our primary source of information about politics.
The effectiveness of the Senedd elections in May 2021 depends on the visibility of Welsh issues in the news.
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Political discussions influence peoples’ assessment of parties and candidates. Media coverage of political actors plays an important role in shaping peoples’ political opinions and slanted message flows in the media can affect political outcomes.
The mainly London (UK) media set up with its one-sided messaging or confusing messaging about one “Nations” democratic performance has a negative effect here in Wales.
According to 2016 Welsh Election Study analysis by Cardiff University, the Daily Mail is read more regularly by four times more people in Wales than the Western Mail.
“people are not regularly exposed to news about Welsh Assembly matters, despite the fact that it is responsible for key policy areas such as health and education," Dr Stephen Cushion, of Cardiff School of Journalism.
A recent opinion piece in Nation Cymru highlights the ongoing problem here in Wales:
Why was this petition rejected?
It asks the Senedd to do something that it is not able to do.
The Government of Wales Act 2006 establishes the extent of the Senedd’s power to make new laws and amend existing law (also known as legislative competence). Schedules 7A and 7B of the 2006 Act set out the issues which are ‘restricted’ or ‘reserved’ - i.e. areas where the UK Parliament, not the Senedd, can legislate.
Amendments to these Schedules, and therefore to the powers and subject-areas devolved to the Welsh Parliament, can only be made by the UK Parliament and not the Senedd. Petitions to the Senedd must concern an issue on which it or the Welsh Government can take direct action and, therefore, we are not able to accept this petition.
Further information about the powers and responsibilities of the Senedd can be found here: https://senedd.wales/en/abthome/role-of-assembly-how-it-works/Pages/Powers.aspx
You may wish to consider petitioning the UK Parliament regarding this matter instead: https://petition.parliament.uk/
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards
Rejected petitions are published in the language in which they were submitted