On behalf of the National Assembly for Wales’s Task and Finish group on the Future of the Media in Wales, I would like to invite you to take part in a live web chat with members of the group on Monday 28 November at 6pm.

As part of the inquiry Members believe Wales’s rich blogging and hyperlocal websites should be given the opportunity to have a say on what they believe their place is within the sector and what the future may hold.

The group has already heard from the heads of media organisations such as ITV Wales, BBC Wales and S4C and will soon take evidence from newspaper editors and journalists.

Further information on the inquiry including its terms of reference, evidence received and previous meetings is available to view at this link.

You can also watch previous evidence sessions on Senedd tv. Meetings took place on 13 October, 3 November and 17 November.

This is the first time a National Assembly for Wales committee has chosen to seek the views of the public through a live web chat and we hope you take this opportunity. Web chats are a less formal way of gathering information, are perhaps less daunting than presenting evidence in a formal session and allow people to contribute from wherever they are.

In order to establish an agenda for the live web chat we would appreciate advance notice of any ideas or subject areas you wish to discuss. These can either be emailed to myself, the Clerk of the group, at CELG.Committee@wales.gov.uk or tweeted using the hashtag #mediacyfryngau .

An agenda and formal details of how to join the live web chat will then be issued closer to the date.

If you wish, you may blog about this live web chat and ask for ideas from your own community. The web chat is scheduled for one hour but we will leave open the opportunity to add comments and further suggestions after that hour so people can continue the discussion if they so choose.

I would ask that you confirm your participation as soon as you are able as we would like to finalise numbers and an agenda for people to consider.

6.00pm, Tuesday 13 July

Oriel Area, Senedd 

This year’s annual summer reception will be held on 13 July. Always a popular event, this is an opportunity for PAC members, Assembly Members and other invited guests to mingle, network and celebrate the end of term.

For more information about the event and to RSVP please contact Clare Bath 

The BBC Trust, which is the sovereign body of the Corporation, is obliged under the Royal Charter to review each of the BBC’s services ar least once every five years.  Currently it is reviewing BBC Parliament and the BBC News Channel.  You can find more information here

The Trust is advised on the views of audiences in Wales by the BBC Audience Council Wales and it makes submissions on the Wales perspectives of these Reviews on each occasion.  In preparing its submission on BBC Parliament (including Democracy Live)and the BBC News Channel the Council was keen to hear what PAC members had to say about these services. You can see more about the Council here

The Council has invited any PAC members who would like to do so to join it to discuss these services – and indeed any other BBC services that you might want to talk about – over a light buffet at BBC Broadcasting House in Llandaff at 18.00 on Monday 11 July for about an hour. If you would like to come along could you please let me know by Weds 6th July (chair@publicaffairscymru.org) 

Public Affairs Cymru Annual Dinner – 30th June, Park Plaza Hotel, Cardiff. 

 I’m delighted to invite you to join us at PAC’s Annual Gala Dinner, being held on Thursday 30th June from 7pm in the Park Plaza Hotel, Cardiff. We are pleased to announce that Nick Bourne will be our guest after dinner speaker.

 Tickets are priced at £42 for a single ticket and £375 for a table of ten.  Non-PAC members are welcome to attend, so feel free to invite colleagues and other guests.

RSVP to Lia Murphy detailing any dietary requirements, and you will be invoiced for payment.

I hope to see you there to celebrate another exciting year for Welsh Politics and Public Affairs Cymru.

Michelle Matheron

Chair, Public Affairs Cymru

After the excitement of the election and referendum, PAC is holding an informal get together (Friday 13^th May) for members to catch-up and unwind over a few drinks and nibbles.

Upstairs in Salt, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay is the venue, and it will open from 5pm onwards.

RSVP to Clare Bath if possible but it’s an informal event so just pop along if you can.

PAC will be holding a hustings in the run up to this year’s Assembly Elections to give you the chance to hear from the political parties and question candidates on the issues that are important to you.  This event will feature 4 “new faces” – candidates who have not previously been Assembly Members but who may well become familiar faces over the coming Assembly term. 

So come along to The Cricketers pub on Cathedral Road (upstairs function room) on 19th April from 5.45pm (for a 6pm start) to hear from Mark Drakeford (Labour), Craig Williams (Conservative), Sera Evans-Fear (Plaid Cymru) and Nigel Howells (Liberal Democrats).  The event will finish at 7pm when members may like to stay for a few drinks in the bar. Please RSVP to Clare Bath

14th April, 2 – 4pm, Cardiff

(This is a rescheduled date and time for the event that was due to take place in February 2011)

WCVA’s Voices for Change Cymru project and Public Affairs Cymru have partnered with the Houses of Parliament Outreach Service to bring you a unique opportunity to have you say about engaging with the UK Parliament. The Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr John Bercow will be coming to Wales on 14 April 2011.

We are holding a free event in Cardiff from 2pm – 4pm where you will have the opportunity to listen to the Speaker and take part in a Q &A about better engagement with Parliament. The venue will only hold a maximum of 60 people, so places will be limited to one person per organisation and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. To book a place, please e mail vfcc@wcva.org.uk. Please note – you MUST book a place if you would like to attend this event.

 28^th March, Pierhead, Main Hall, 09.30 – 13.00

Spring 2011 is a unique and exciting time in the history of devolution in Wales. Not only has it seen the people of Wales vote  ‘yes’ to further powers for the National Assembly, but it also sees changes to the Assembly’s Standing Orders, the rules by which the Assembly operates. The changes to these rules can affect how you can engage with and influence the work of the fourth Assembly.

This event will give you an opportunity to do three things:

• find out about the Assembly’s new powers and what that means for you;
• find out about the proposed changes to our processes under the new Standing Orders;
• consider how to increase participation in the fourth Assembly’s business.

RSVP: 21.03.2011 Alice.Randone@cymru.gov.uk 029 2089 8084

PAC has joined forces with the Institute of Welsh Affairs and the Wales Governance Centre and we’re delighted to be co-hosting a conference on 24^th March at the Future Inns in Cardiff Bay.

After the Referendum – Prospects for the fourth term

24th March 2011, 9.00am – 4.30pm, Future Inns Hotel, Cardiff Bay

In the wake of the referendum on further powers and ahead of the National Assembly elections on 6 May 2011 this conference looks back at how the referendum was fought and provides an analysis of the polling data.  It will also ask what kind of National Assembly the political parties are proposing for the next four years. What kind of government will emerge following the election? In the event that none of the parties will win overall control what coalition options they will face? How prepared are they for the negotiations that will follow and what are their policy red lines?

This event is being run jointly by Public Affairs Cymru, the Institute of Welsh Affairs and the Wales Governance Centre.  

£40 (non member) / £32 (members of IWA or Public Affairs Cymru)

For more information and to register please visit the IWA website.

PAC will be holding an informal get together for members on 1^st March from 5.30pm in Mimosa, Cardiff Bay. 

Some drinks and nibbles will be provided and this will be an opportunity for members to meet one another and network.  It will be an ideal chance for newer members to meet people and find out more about PAC but we also want to see those familiar faces as well! RSVP to Clare Bath if possible but it’s an informal event so just pop along if you can.