11 October 2018
Hansh, S4C's entertaining hit online short form service, has now added considerable journalistic bite to its provision.
The Hansh: Dan Sylw reports will give a much-needed bite-size platform for younger journalists to tackle the issues and stories that affect young people in Wales and the world.
Produced for S4C by the award-winning ITV Cymru Wales current affairs team behind the investigative journalism flagship Y Byd ar Bedwar and its sister programmes Y Byd yn ei Le and Ein Byd, it will add a serious journalistic element to Hansh. Dan Sylw is a scheme which for the first time in the welsh language gives new journalists on-the-job training and the skills needed to produce regular shortform current affairs content.
Hansh, which literally means a 'bite' or 'mouthful', targets the much-coveted 16-34 age group with its highly imaginative, razor-sharp and often irreverent videos. It has developed a significant online following since its launch last year, with S4C reporting 4.9 million viewing sessions in the year running from June 2017–March 2018.
One of the young journalists fronting the new content is Liam Ketcher, 22 from Maesteg.
Liam, who joined the ITV Cymru Wales current affairs team in July said, "I am so glad and very excited to have been given this opportunity to create new content for Hansh. The purpose of 'Dan Sylw' is to encourage discussion about the topics that matter the most to young people in Wales. Our aim is to deal with all types of stories, from human interest to reactive to serious current affairs, making them accessible and appealing to the young audience. I'm very much looking forward to learning all the necessary skills for the job and to work with the talented and vastly experienced team here at ITV Wales."
Geraint Evans, Editor of Welsh language programmes at ITV Cymru Wales added, "It has always been vitally important for us to develop and nurture new talent, and it is a pleasure to work with young journalists who are so enthusiastic and eager to make an impression. This scheme gives the team an opportunity to experiment with the content and to tailor their stories for a young audience who consume so much content on-line."
S4C Director of Creative Content Amanda Rees believes that the service will be a valuable addition to the channel's Hansh provision, which is also available in a repackaged programme in the post 10pm slot on the S4C television service.
Amanda Rees added, "S4C plans to develop its digital services significantly in the next few years and this new addition to Hansh shows our intent. We are now providing thoroughly-investigated, well-sourced journalism about the issues and experiences important to young people in Wales in a short form they can easily access. It will help enhance our provision as a must-watch service for the younger generation."
