Presenter James Williams sets out what viewers can expect from Politics Wales...
At the turn of a new decade, we want Politics Wales to be essential viewing for anyone with an interest in the issues facing Wales over the next ten years and beyond. Brexit, poverty, health, education, climate change – the list goes on.
Ultimately, every political programme aims to hold leaders to account. But, at the risk of sounding overly pious, here in Wales, a country of which commentators often talk about a democratic deficit, it really is essential that programmes like ours put politicians on the spot.
During the election, we took the decision to dedicate entire programmes of Sunday Politics Wales to one-to-one interviews with leading candidates. As a relatively new presenter, it initially felt pretty daunting. But when it came to it, I could’ve easily filled another half hour. In an era of fake news and pithy soundbites, we hope the audience agrees there is increasing value in longer-form interviews. It is an approach we intend to continue with the new programme.
Our biggest challenge will be attracting new audiences beyond the politically-engaged. How will we do that? Well, if there was an easy answer we’d all be doing it. But what we hope to offer is an easy, conversational style – it’s Sunday morning viewing after all – and for people to come away having learned something in the half hour they’ve spent with us. If they haven’t, then we’re obviously not doing our job properly.
In the first programme, we will welcome the First Minister Mark Drakeford. He’s had a year in the job, and I’ll be challenging him on his record and what he’s going to do about the problems still confronting Wales. We plan to interview other party leaders and senior political figures in the coming weeks.
But, from time to time, we want to get off the news conveyor belt and look in more depth at the issues that affect people in Wales. Areas of Welsh life that required political attention in 2010 by politicians at all levels still haven’t been addressed in 2020, according to some voters. What needs to change to make sure that isn’t the case come 2030?
There may not be any easy answers, but we’ll aim to make sure we ask the right questions.
