The National (Wales)

Welsh daily newspaper (2021–22)

The National

Type| Daily newspaper
Format| Compact
Owner(s)| Newsquest[1]
Editor| Gavin Thompson[2]
Founded| 1 March 2021; 4 years ago (2021-03-01)
Political alignment| Apolitical[2]
Ceased publication| August 2022
Headquarters| Wales, UK
Website| www.thenational.wales

The National was a Welsh daily news website owned by Newsquest and compact newspaper. Gavin Thompson was the editor,[3] while three journalists – audience and content editor Michael Sweet and reporter Gareth Axenderrie have been taken on to work for the title;[4] Rachel Nurse, another reporter, died in October 2021.[5] Unlike the Scottish outlet of the same name, The National took no political stance and claimed to simply be "pro-Wales".[2] It became a weekly newspaper from 17 April 2021,[6] but ceased print in November of that year. Its closure was announced in August 2022, and the website was taken offline by the original operator.

## History

[edit]

The National was founded by Huw Marshall, who wanted to "challenge the dominant incumbents who provide news from a UK perspective".[7] Thompson said the media landscape in Wales struggled to match that of Scotland, where the public have the choice between several national newspaper titles as well as Scottish editions of UK papers. He said, "Wales doesn't really have that in the same way and we really feel it should. It's really been very stark during the Covid pandemic where a large number of people take their news from sources that are writing it from an English perspective."[8]

The National launched three days after another Welsh news website, Herald.Wales.[9][4]

Within three weeks of launching, The National had 430 paid-up subscribers and announced a target of 1,000. Thompson stated that if the paper reached this target, a full-time political correspondent would be hired.[10]

The newspaper began being published weekly from 14 April 2021,[6] but on 13 November 2021, editor Gavin Thompson announced that, after just seven months, the newspaper would cease to be published in print form, but would continue as a website.[11]

It was announced on 25 August 2022 that The National would close down due to declining subscriptions as a result of the economic crisis.[12] Thompson announced the paper's closure on 31 August 2022.[13]

After the website's closure, the domain was purchased in 2023 by an unknown party and the domain temporarily hosted "explainer" articles likely produced by artificial intelligence (AI). The "sham" site was later relaunched containing further AI-generated content, articles taken from other publications and content from the original operator. The relaunched site was registered in Iceland, while the operator was from Pakistan, and shut down the site when questioned by WalesOnline. Neither of the relaunched sites were linked to Newsquest, the original operator of The National.[14]

## Reception

[edit]

Kevin Ward, the former editor of the South Wales Argus, called The National "a good read, providing you have an interest in Wales and politics". In his review of the paper, he urged it to take an explicitly pro-Welsh independence editorial stance in order to exploit a "real gap in the Welsh media market". He added, "I'll watch its progress with interest, but I can't help but wonder whether the real gap in the Welsh media market – a niche identified by Newsquest some years ago with daily newspaper The National in Scotland – is for a national title that supports Welsh independence, particularly as the cross-party YesCymru movement has seen such a surge of interest in recent months."[15]

## See also

[edit]

* List of newspapers in Wales
* List of newspapers by date

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "New national news title for Wales". Newsquest Media Group. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
2. ^ a b c Tobitt, Charlotte (26 February 2021). "Welsh news online: Two new national websites launched". Press Gazette. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
3. ^ Craig, Ian (5 February 2021). "Argus owners Newsquest to launch new national news title for Wales". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
4. ^ a b Sharman, David (1 March 2021). "National Wales editor vows to work with 'smaller, local publishers'". Hold the Front Page. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
5. ^ Thompson, Gavin (19 October 2021). "The National Wales reporter who brought joy to newsroom dies, age just 23". The National Wales. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
6. ^ a b Thompson, Gavin (14 April 2021). "The National to become a weekly newspaper from Saturday". The National Wales.
7. ^ Marshall, Huw (8 February 2021). "A personal message from project co-ordinator Huw Marshall". New Media Wales. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
8. ^ Fairclough, Steven (1 March 2021). "The National: New online news service launches in Wales". BBC News. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
9. ^ Newell, Carli (26 February 2021). "Welcome to Herald.Wales - The independent voice for our nation". Herald.Wales. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
10. ^ Thompson, Gavin (20 March 2021). "Help us reach 1,000 subscribers and we'll hire a political correspondent". The National Wales. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
11. ^ "Weekly 'The National' newspaper comes to an end after eight months". Nation.Cymru. 13 November 2021.
12. ^ "The National Wales news website faces closure". BBC News. 25 August 2022.
13. ^ Thompson, Gavin (31 August 2022). "Diolch a hwyl fawr - Thank you and goodbye". The National.
14. ^ Gogarty, Conor (11 May 2025). "This man behind 'Welsh' news website isn't who he says he is". Wales Online. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
15. ^ Sharman, David (18 March 2021). "Publisher's new title should consider firmer political stance, says ex-editor". Hold the Front Page. Retrieved 23 March 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Newsquest

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Newsquest daily newspapers in the United Kingdom|

* The Argus, Brighton
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* Exchange & Mart
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* Archant
* GateHouse Media
* American Consolidated Media
* Calkins Media
* Community Newspaper Company
* Halifax Media Group
* Hathaway Publishing
* Local Media Group
* Schurz Communications
* Stephens Media
* Journal Media Group

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