Changes to WalesHome.org for 2010

TODAY we announce two big changes to WalesHome.org.

First of all, we are extremely pleased to announce that Rob Williams is joining the WalesHome.org team as co-editor. Rob has written a couple of times for the site, including a forensic dissection of the state of Welsh media which went on to be one of our best-ever read pieces. You may have already known Rob prior to his involvement with us, as he works for The Independent’s website and has his own blog, The Mabiblogion.

In addition to editing duties and development, Rob will become our second columnist, taking a monthly Saturday berth along with David Melding AM in our renamed Sixth Columnist slot, which replaces the Essay column. You will see the other columns grow in character over the coming months, but most noticeable will be the introduction of Public in place of International. With over 50% of the Welsh workforce employed in the public sector and with it facing its most crucial year in decades, we felt this was too big an issue to ignore and we want to give those working the public sector a platform where they can discuss their hopes and fears as Wales faces up to the inevitable changes to come.

We will also be introducing Exchange in place of Business. This new column will be looking at how we are communicating in this transformed age, what changes lie before us, and if any money can be made from the new enterprises that are being spawned. We will also be using Exchange to spot and test the new technology and techniques that are coming through. It will be, to all intents and purposes, WalesHome.org’s R&D department.

We won’t be stopping there. We have no fewer than three new strands planned for the first half of 2010, including a product that we think could excite those of you who are into social media. We are also confident that, with fresh blood on the team and by making sure our doors are wide open to new ideas, there will be more plans in the pipeline. And we’ll be looking for your views on the changes we’re making, because we regard you as partners and not consumers. It’s that approach that helps us to remember that it’s all about the content.