Captain Devo
Aliens are threatening to take over the world and Britain is facing an intergalactic invasion.
Who can save us from impending doom?
The answer, in the world of Marvel's latest Captain Britain cartoon strip, is Super Gordon Brown.
But wait a minute, when three cabinet ministers are aliens in disguise, when you're truly staring disaster in the face, what do you do if you're Super Gordon Brown's special adviser?
Well you do the most natural thing in the world apparently - you notify the Scottish First Minister.
No mention of Rhodri Morgan, granted but if proof were needed that devolution has started to reach the parts other political processes hasn't reached, here it is.
But it hasn't yet, the BBC learns today, reached all of its parts. A report written for the BBC Trust finds a lot of good things to say, particularly about the impartiality of the corporation's reporting. But it finds a lot to criticise too about the way in which news and current affairs programmes broadcast on the network have so far told the story of devolution, of living in a changing UK.
It's thoughtful and detailed. A 136 stories on health and education analysed during a four week period - every single one dealt with England alone. 208 Westminster MPs interviewed in stories relating to devolved issues, 27 Scottish MSPs, one AM.
The report lets some of the more stark statistics do the talking.
Now feel free to do yours.
I'm Betsan Powys, BBC Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~54~RS~)
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Noticed that "Radio 5 - White Van Jive" this morning (5.00am) was at VERY GREAT pains to describe the post 16 training policy proposed in ENGLAND (heavy emphasis) and then go on to refer to that in Wales - John Griffith's new apprentice programe for the valleys (not Mr. Surrrgooour's). A first!
Also noticed Adam Price (r4) saying "I pay the BBC fee at the present...Hey, Adam's about to start a campaign of non payment unless...we get WALES at SIX? Hey Betsan, grab that chair NOW! Order more frocks!
Though Micheal Lyons (r4 lunchtime ) was totally bland and evasive. No change there then...
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I have always noticed the BBC as been biased in its allocation of share of broadcasting not just on polictics but on every news worthy story on the main news show as far as in concerned Saint David’s day was a perfect example either make the main news more fair or break up the BBC into WBC SBC and EBC respectfully.
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I completely disagree with Jason_Cardiff as it seems to me that the BBC is a most fair organisation. I would not want to see the BBC broken-up in the way that he has suggested.
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I think there are two issues here, covering Welsh Affairs in Wales and covering Wales in the UK as a whole. The BBC in Wales does a reasonable job in reporting life here, the problem is on UK wide news. Things which are England only are reported as if they were UK wide, though that is slowly changing. While reporting of Welsh events on the UK wide news is patchy at best. While the coalition talks were going on in Wales it was scarcely mentioned on the news let alone the in depth coverage it deserved. Its part of the educational remit of the BBC to inform its viewers and listeners as to what is happening in the UK and the wider world. I would love better coverage of Scottish and Northern Irish affairs from a point of view of Wales, ie what are their devolved administrations doing.
Within England coverage of local events is also very patchy, so not only do you get a massive English bias but you get a massive London bias within that. A good example of that would be that a one day strike on the tube could be no 2 or 3 item on the UK news while a West Midlands wide bus strike would get no mention or if lucky an in passing mention. Its a matter of news values.
If the BBC is bad then the print media is far worse. Finding coverage of Welsh Affairs in the Times is almost impossible, gone are the days when all the broadsheets had Welsh correspondents based in Wales. For the most part its stringers working from agencies.
Given that the Welsh Press is so weak, compared to the Scottish Press, and that such a small proportion of the Welsh Population get Welsh News the wider coverage of Welsh Affairs on the BBC UK wide is vital.
Then there is the matter of Welsh representation in general programming. OK Torchwood and Dr Who are great, but why was Belonging never networked? I'd put it down as an eminently networkable program. I hope we see more programming set in Wales as well as produced from Wales on the BBC.
Then we come to ITV, the signs aren't good. The regional franchises are shadows. We need ITV Wales to have a genuine independence.
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Felicity Canton While that is your view Research found that 37% of people believed that BBC news reports were often not relevant to where they live.
And that also included people from all parts of the UK the report showed that the further you moved away from London the more people questioned whether the BBC (Main news) was relevant for them of 136 stories on health and education analysed during a four week period - every single one dealt with England alone need I say any more or is that as you call it fair ?
And isn’t the BBC already broken up to a certain level BBC Wales ? Though i did list the breakup as an alternative if the BBC could not be more fair as Scotland arecurrently looking into.
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Jason_Cardiff
I agree with Felicity Canton- you name some research- would you be so kind as to give the reference as '2 out of every 3 cats' prefer the BBC the way it is...research is of variable quality as you well know..
Many thanks
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Whilst heartily agreeing with the demand for Wales centric output (in Wales) from the BBC, the whole debate does not affect me in the slightest as living in the centre of Cardiff (top of Queen St) I only receive BBC West and equivalents. My Welsh based news is received via the internet.
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invisibleJay_Cardiff
The BBC Trust commissioned the review into coverage of the UK nations it comes after concerns were expressed by viewers and listeners in public meetings and audience research.
So this not some research I have plucked from thin air it was reported on the Main news and BBC Wales news it can also be found on the BBC news online.
The National Union of Journalists of Wales have agreed this unfairness as to change also First Minister Rhodri Morgan and the BBC as come under frequent criticism by politicians and members of the public.
True research can change from day to day as does peoples minds but 136 stories on health and education analysed during a four week period - every single one dealt with England alone.
Think that says it all don’t you.
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I am shocked - SHOCKED I tell you by the sheer ineptitude of Ms Powys grasp of the modern print media.
"Captain Britain and MI:13" is NOT a 'cartoon strip' but a Comic Book limited series. Really, If you cant trust BBC reporters to get there important facts right then who can you trust?
And not only that but you then go and lower the tone of your article by discussing some BBC trust reprort!
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All very well complaining ...but can BBC Wales really afford to pay Johnathan Ross to re-locate to Llandaff? And learn Welsh? And yet still cover the staff bar bill in the Butchers?
"Devolution is a large processed cheese" etc. (Prof. R. Davies)
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As far as I know Jonathan Ross as nothing to do with BBC news the question is should be the main news be fair to all parts of the UK North England Scotland and Wales and of course the answer is yes it does .
Would Wales want Jonathan Ross I hope not I would like to see more home grown stars getting the chance rather than bringing in existing stars.
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At last someone has noticed that the two most frequent words that end the first sentence of a news item on education, health or heaven knows what else on BBC Radio 4 News, "Today" or "PM" are .... "in England". Presumably because they assume "BBC Wales" covers anything political west of offa's dyke so they don't need to.
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The BBC needs to make some improvements on the service....
It provides a necessary service.
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