The number of media outlets in Cardiff is high for a city of its size, reflecting its role as the Welsh capital and the centre of national political, cultural, and economic life.
The city hosts the principal public-service broadcasters in Wales, a cluster of commercial radio stations, a mix of local and regional newspapers, and a growing number of digital-first outlets.
Cardiff's print and print-adjacent media combine long-established titles with newer hyperlocal platforms. The Cardiff Post is a contemporary local news outlet covering community events, policing updates, education, and human-interest stories, while Cardiff Newsdesk is a regional news service focusing on the Cardiff Capital Region, including business, public policy, employment, and local government developments, and Cardiff Newsroom is a broad thematic platform publishing releases and updates across arts, business, environment, government, and community life. Although Cardiff once hosted a larger print sector, the shift toward digital formats has concentrated activity in online-first formats that still perform many of the traditional roles of local newspapers.
Radio has deep historical roots in Cardiff. In 1925, the city was the site of the first radio broadcast in Wales, when station 5WA Cardiff transmitted from Castle Street and aired the first Welsh-language song ever broadcast. Cardiff remains a major radio hub, with BBC Radio Wales, the national English-language radio service headquartered in the city, and BBC Radio Cymru maintaining a strong presence in the city while serving all of Wales. Historically linked to early broadcasting developments in Cardiff, ITV Wales remains in operation, and Radio Cardiff is a community station dedicated to local music, the arts, multicultural programming, and neighbourhood-level news. Capital South Wales is a commercial station blending contemporary music, entertainment, and regional news, and Nation Radio is another major commercial broadcaster offering music, entertainment, and regional news.
Cardiff is the centre of Welsh television production, hosting the headquarters or major facilities of the country's principal broadcasters. BBC Wales produces national news bulletins, current affairs programmes, and a wide range of entertainment and cultural content in both English and Welsh. It is one of the city's largest media employers. ITV Wales provides regional news and programming for the ITV network, including daily Cardiff-focused news coverage.
Cardiff's digital media has expanded rapidly, reflecting broader shifts in news consumption. While they have print editions, Cardiff Newsroom and Cardiff Newsdesk operate primarily online, offering rapid updates and thematic coverage across sectors such as business, environment, culture, and public services. The Cardiff Post is the digital-first local news source, publishing frequent community-level stories. Additionally, there are several Cardiff-based blogs, hyperlocal sites, and social-media-driven platforms that supplement traditional outlets, often focusing on neighbourhood news, events, arts, and civic engagement.
The role of Cardiff as the Welsh capital underpins its media density. The city hosts a disproportionately large share of media employment in Wales.
Recommended Resources
Cardiff & South Wales Advertiser
Serving Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, and the South Wales Valleys, the Cardiff & South Wales Advertiser publishes monthly issues and offers advertising and media packs, as well as a contact page for enquiries. Quotes may be requested through the contact form. Established in 1991, it is positioned as a local advertising platform for business and property developers, and hosts local news, community stories, charity coverage, CASWA-TV content, and other features.
https://www.cardiffandsouthwalesadvertiser.com/
Cardiff DAB is a small-scale DAB+ multiplex serving Cardiff and the surrounding areas. It launched with a multi-site network carrying at least ten stations and offers commercial carriage ads at published monthly rates. Listeners can use a DAB+ radio, while stations can contact Cardiff DAB for carriage. The three-site single-frequency network is intended to cover Cardiff and the nearby towns. Participating stations, published carriage options, monthly fees, and requirements are stated.
http://cardiffdab.co.uk/
Operated by Mainstream Media, Cardiff News Net is an online news aggregator and press release wire branded as "Updating news from the Welsh capital," publishing curated headlines and external links across local Cardiff, Wales, UK, and global business news. It includes an RSS feed, social media links, and a news release service. Most of its news links are to third-party articles rather than original long-form reporting. A section is included for press releases and corporate announcements.
https://www.cardiffnews.net/
Featuring official news and press releases from Cardiff Council, covering council decisions, community projects, public consultations, events, and service updates, Cardiff News Room is the official Cardiff Council news hub. Content types include press releases, council updates, event notices, planning and transport announcements, and topical roundups. Readers can use the category list displayed on the index page to filter releases by subject, follow live updates, or look for "Latest Releases."
https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/
Published by Need to See IT Publishing Group, the online regional news site covers the Cardiff Capital Region, offering local stories. A "Share Your News" submission route and editor contacts are included on the website. Its primary beats include local news, business and finance stories, awards ceremonies, dining out, community services, event reporting, and bereavement support stories, intended largely for residents and stakeholders across the Cardiff Capital Region.
https://cardiffnewsdesk.co.uk/
The local Cardiff city and county news service publishes short community-focused stories. Its index (home) page lists recent headlines, with dates and summaries, and basic site sections (News, About Us, Contact). Its scope includes local news for Cardiff city and county, with community stories, policing updates, events, education, an enquiry form, and local fundraising information. It includes concise headlines with brief summaries and dates; older posts are archived.
https://www.thecardiffpost.co.uk/
The free monthly glossy magazine for Cardiff readers is available as an online flipbook edition, with an active blog and guidance on advertising and artwork on the website. Its content includes magazine features, local news, culture pieces, and a blog with short articles and interviews. To view the flipbook, use the "Read Online" link on the website's index (home) page. Advertising opportunities are available; guidelines on dimensions, and file formats are presented.
https://www.cardiff-times.co.uk/
Updated frequently with short, neighbourhood-level items and rolling headlines, Cardiff Daily is a local online news site covering Cardiff-area politics, community stories, crime, fire reports, sports, opinion, and culture, largely grouped by neighbourhood (Splott, Riverside, Candon, Cardiff Bay, Butetown). The tone and cadence of the publication include frequent, concise updates (multiple items per day), with several items credited to a generic "News Desk."
https://cardiffdaily.co.uk/
Broadcasting on 98.7 FM in Cardiff, Wales, and streaming live on its website, with podcasts and a dedications form, Radio Cardiff is a community radio station. Programme schedules are published on the website, and listeners can send a dedication or song request through the site's dedications form, although submissions are moderated. Email or SMS is available for studio contacts or show enquiries. Presenters, podcasts, schedules, and a blog are featured on the site.
https://radiocardiff.org/
