Pa ystyriaeth sydd wedi'i rhoi i ddarparu cyllid brys i gefnogi cyhoeddwyr newyddion cymunedol annibynnol yn ystod yr achosion o coronafeirws?
The Welsh Government is continuing to support organisations across sectors, across Wales with existing and new schemes during the coronavirus outbreak. We have launched a £500m Economic Resilience Fund to help ‘plug the gaps’ in the support schemes already announced by the UK government, and announced an £18m fund for organisations in the creative industries, culture and sport sectors, which are feeling the immediate impact of COVID-19. This includes £1m for Creative Wales of which £150,000 has been awarded to the Books Council of Wales to lend vital support to the publishing industry during this difficult time.
In April 2019 the Welsh Government launched the Independent Community Journalism Fund to provide revenue grant funding for publications who are members of the Independent Community News Network in Wales (ICNN). We are aware that these publications rely on advertising from local businesses to survive, and in these unprecedented times continued publication could very quickly become unsustainable. The Minister for Economy and Transport is currently considering how best to support the sector and details will be available shortly.
The Welsh Government, through Mentrau Iaith Cymru, supports a network of 52 Papurau Bro (community local newspapers) throughout Wales, with over £97,000 in grant funding to be targeted at supporting the Papurau Bro in 2020/21. Mentrau Iaith Cymru is continuing to work with the network of Papurau Bro, Gwe Cambria and Bro 360 on projects through this difficult period and will continue to provide help and support for those who seek to continue publishing during these uncertain times.