November 05, 2026 - 1044 views
Bayside Radio is set to expand its local journalism and strengthen its connections with communities across the region after securing £56,090 in funding from the UK Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Coast Community Radio and Media CIC, which operates Bayside Radio, is among six news organisations in Wales selected to receive support through the Government's £6 million Local News Fund.
The funding will allow Bayside Radio to build on its established local news and community information service, extending its journalism through new partnerships, greater audience insight and enhanced digital publishing capabilities.
The project will focus on bringing more community voices and stories into local news coverage, working alongside organisations and groups which make an important contribution to everyday life across Conwy County and the North Wales coast.
By developing new partnerships, Bayside Radio aims to identify stories which might otherwise go unheard, improve the way local information is gathered and shared, and make its journalism accessible to more people through radio and digital platforms.
Operations and Content Director Simon Wynne said: "We're extremely grateful to the DCMS for recognising the work we're doing and giving us the opportunity to take our local journalism further. It's a real team effort and I'd like to thank everyone at Bayside for their hard work in helping us reach this point.
"We also owe a huge thank you to the many local organisations and groups who have worked with us over the years, sharing their stories and helping us develop our news and podcast content. Those relationships are at the heart of what we do, and we're looking forward to building on them."
The award forms part of the UK Government's Local Media Action Plan, which recognises the importance of trusted local news as audiences increasingly turn to online platforms for information.
The £6 million fund is designed to help local news organisations adapt to changing media habits, invest in new technology, reach younger audiences and develop sustainable business models.
Six organisations across Wales have been successful, with grants of up to £125,000 available. Other recipients include Wrexham.com, which will develop an artificial intelligence tool to identify potential news stories, and Bylines Networks, which will invest in strengthening its network of local publications.
Media Minister Ian Murray said local media remained among the most trusted sources of news but acknowledged that changes in the media landscape had forced many organisations to reduce their operations or close.
He said the Government wanted to support thriving local media which reported on the issues and perspectives that mattered to communities, providing trustworthy information.
Through the Local News Fund, the Government hopes to encourage newsrooms to innovate, adapt to the online world and continue producing high-quality journalism.
For Coast Community Radio and Media CIC, the award represents an opportunity to build on Bayside Radio's role as a source of local news, information and community engagement, while developing new ways of working with the people and organisations it serves.
The station has established itself as a community-focused broadcaster for Colwyn Bay and the wider North Wales coast, combining locally produced radio programming with news and information through its website and digital channels.
The new project will build on that work, giving greater prominence to local organisations, community initiatives and the people making a difference across the area.
