Nation.Cymru takes another big step forward with the appointment of a new editor

Nation.Cymru has taken another big step forward with the appointment of a new editor.

Gareth Ceidiog Hughes is taking the helm at the news site on a permanent contract, which has been made possible by the huge growth in the number of paying subscribers over recent months, which has now topped 800.

He will work from Denbighshire in the north-east of Wales, which means that the site which attracts 600,000 visitors a month will now have journalists in the north, mid and the south of Wales.

Nation.Cymru Editor Gareth Ceidiog Hughes said: “I’m thrilled to be part of Nation.Cymru’s journey at such an exciting time.

“Since its inception, the site has shone a light on subjects that were often overlooked and has given a voice to those who previously went unheard.

“It has already helped change the conversation in Wales, and over the coming months and years, and we will be doing even more.”

Nation.Cymru receives a £20,000 grant from the Welsh Books Council and 800 subscribers on top of that means that the site can now sustain a permanent editor as well as its usual freelance contributors.

Nation.Cymru is also looking for a weekend editor any applications should be sent to CEO Mark Mansfield.

‘Thankful’

Nation.Cymru’s founder Ifan Morgan Jones, who has been the editor of the site for four years since its launch in 2017, said that he will continue to contribute to the site.

“This is a big step forward for the site in terms of the site’s development,” Ifan Morgan Jones said.

“I’m extremely thankful to everyone who has contributed to the site who has made this possible.

“Since it launched in 2017 Nation.Cymru has grown at a tremendous pace. Our audience has grown six-fold in the last year and that increased demand for content meant it could no longer be sustained as a side project on top of my full time work as a lecturer in journalism at Bangor University.

“I would stress however that I am not stepping back from the site – I will continue to contribute as much as ever but having Gareth in his new role will be a massive boost to what we can offer.

“The aim when we set up Nation.Cymru was a truly national news site by the people of Wales and for the people of Wales.

“We’re not for profit, which means that every penny is invested back into the site rather than going to shareholders. We’re also a fully independent company, not owned by a larger conglomerate that can tell us what to do.

“Despite not being able to appoint anyone on a permanent basis until now I think we have already made a splash in the Welsh media and Welsh politics.

“The more supporters we have the more staff we will be able to appoint and the more we will be able to expand our news service further.”