Covid-19 and Wales: Analysing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on UK press and media coverage of devolution

Covid-19 and Wales: Analysing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on UK press and media coverage of devolution

The Covid-19 pandemic has unprecedentedly exposed the United Kingdom's constitutional differences. Throughout the health crisis, the public has received confusing messages and communications, inopportunely, which have created significant pressure on the UK state and its ability to govern effectively. Some people living in Wales would still feel insecure when the Prime Minister spoke of rules for the British people, without making it explicitly clear that they only apply to England. Also, Wales suffers from a staggering overreliance on Anglo-centric sources, weak indigenous media and significant dependence on UK broadcasters' news coverage - which complicates its populace's understanding of devolution.

This research aims to record and analyse press and media reportage of devolution in the Covid-19 pandemic during and post-pandemic; specifically focused on whether this historic period will alter the nature of future media coverage of devolution in the UK. It is also interested in identifying the factors, via the thoughts of journalists and the Senedd's communication staff, that impact devolution coverage. UK broadcasters' propensity to inadequately, and often incorrectly, report on devolution is long-standing. However, the relative autonomy exercised by the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland vis-à-vis lockdown decisions has heightened awareness and focus on devolution. Previously an esoteric topic in British politics, devolution currently has renewed importance and presence in the public sphere. Accordingly, it warrants academic attention, but academic literature on the subject - particularly journalistically - remains comparatively scarce. Moreover, as a native Welsh speaker, there is potential to write and publish the work bilingually.