Writing in the current Institute of Welsh Affairs Agenda magazine Mr. Black points to a marked reluctance on the part of Welsh politicians to start up a blog so as to engage with the on-line community. In fact he reports that the number of Assembly Members who have toyed with the medium has halved in the last twelve months from a dozen to just six. Only four Welsh MPs have a blog and one of those has not posted anything for nearly a year.
"There is an anti-blogging trend amongst some politicians, who view the medium with suspicion and would rather it went away," says Mr. Black. "Quite why that is I personally do not understand. Politicians put a lot of material out to the public all of which is open to misinterpretation and can be twisted against them. Whether it is speeches, articles, press releases or just the occasional comment on-line, we have seen opponents swoop with glee on any mistake and use it to their own advantage. The risks involved with blogging are much the same but the benefits are great too. Why would any politician turn down the chance to get their views across unedited to hundreds of people each day?
"Personally, I blog for a number of reasons, chiefly that I enjoy it, however, it is because I believe that it is my duty as a politician to engage with the wider electorate that I persist with it. I am able to use my blog as a campaigning archive, to pursue themes over a period of time and to debate them with those who wish to comment on the posts. I have used it to generate news stories in the dead tree press and I have made use of the opportunities it provides to advance internal arguments within the party as well.
"Despite the reluctance of many Welsh politicians to get involved the blog scene itself is very healthy as is evident from blog aggregator sites such as Welsh Political News found at http://www.politics-wales.co.uk/. As well as politicians we also get blogs by journalists, sometimes writing on behalf of their media outlet, sometimes in a personal capacity. Many bloggers are members of political parties but not elected politicians whilst others do not write about politics at all. Some such as Richard Brunstrom, are senior police officers.
"The consensus is that it is a lively but challenging community in which vigorous debate takes place about the many issues facing Wales and its government. Between them they add to the sense of debate about the Country and its future, something that is missing on the mainstream media.
"The new media may be revolutionising the way we fight elections and pursue our politics but it is the blogosphere that is hosting the necessary discussions on how we make the most of our new devolved democracy. What is more these conversations are open to all. There really is a welcome for all in the virtual valleys and hillsides of Wales, no matter what language you wish to write in."
