Neath Guardian
Encyclopedia
The Neath Guardian was a local weekly newspaper
published between 1925 and 2009 covering Neath
, Wales
, and the surrounding area. At the time of its closure, it was published weekly, on a Wednesday, in the tabloid format by Media Wales
(formerly Western Mail and Echo), part of the Trinity Mirror
group.
The newspaper had two editions - the Neath Guardian, which covered the town itself, as well as Briton Ferry
, Skewen
, and the communities of the Neath
and Dulais
valleys, and the Port Talbot Guardian, which covered Port Talbot
, Baglan, Margam
and the Afan Valley
.
Both titles were part of the Celtic Weekly Newspapers
series, which still publishes seven other weekly titles across South Wales
. Neither edition covered the communities of the Swansea Valley
, even though some are within the boundaries of the Neath Port Talbot
county borough.
Simon Kelner
, editor-in-chief of The Independent
, began his career on the Neath Guardian, as did BBC World Service
business correspondent Steve Evans, who reported live from the World Trade Center
during the September 11 terrorist attacks, and Daily Express
rugby writer Steve Bale.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
published between 1925 and 2009 covering Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and the surrounding area. At the time of its closure, it was published weekly, on a Wednesday, in the tabloid format by Media Wales
Media Wales
Media Wales Ltd. is a publishing company based in Cardiff in Wales. As of 2009 it was owned by the Trinity Mirror Group. It was previously known as the Western Mail & Echo Ltd.-History:...
(formerly Western Mail and Echo), part of the Trinity Mirror
Trinity Mirror
Trinity Mirror plc is a large British newspaper and magazine publisher. It is Britain's biggest newspaper group, publishing 240 regional papers as well as the national Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and People, and the Scottish Sunday Mail and Daily Record. Its headquarters are at Canary Wharf in...
group.
The newspaper had two editions - the Neath Guardian, which covered the town itself, as well as Briton Ferry
Briton Ferry
Briton Ferry is a town and community in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales. The town encompasses the electoral wards of Briton Ferry East and Briton Ferry West....
, Skewen
Skewen
Skewen is a village within the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, in Wales.The village is served by Skewen railway station.-History:Skewen was once an industrial village. There were a number of collieries around the village . The Crown and Mines Royal Copper Works and the Cheadle and Neath...
, and the communities of the Neath
Neath Valley
The Vale of Neath , one of the South Wales Valleys, encompasses the upper reaches of the River Neath in southwest Wales. In addition to the River Neath, it is traversed by the Neath Canal and the A465 dual carriageway....
and Dulais
Dulais Valley
The Dulais Valley, one of the South Wales Valleys is traversed by the River Dulais in southwest Wales north of the town of Neath.Settlements in the valley include Crynant, Seven Sisters, Banwen and Dyffryn Cellwen which are served by the A4109 road though the valley.The towns in the valley...
valleys, and the Port Talbot Guardian, which covered Port Talbot
Port Talbot
Port Talbot is a town in Neath Port Talbot, Wales. It had a population of 35,633 in 2001.-History:Port Talbot grew out of the original small port and market town of Aberafan , which belonged to the medieval Lords of Afan. The area of the parish of Margam lying on the west bank of the lower Afan...
, Baglan, Margam
Margam
Margam is a suburb of Port Talbot in the Welsh county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, close to junction 39 of the M4 motorway.- History :...
and the Afan Valley
River Afan
The River Afan is a river in southwest Wales whose river valley formed the territory of the medieval Lords of Afan. The town of Aberavon grew up on the banks of the river, and was later subsumed by the larger centre of population known as Port Talbot...
.
Both titles were part of the Celtic Weekly Newspapers
Celtic Weekly Newspapers
Celtic Weekly Newspapers is a series of seven weekly newspapers published in south Wales by Media Wales Ltd , part of the Trinity Mirror group.The titles in the series are:*Cynon Valley Leader*Glamorgan Gazette...
series, which still publishes seven other weekly titles across South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. Neither edition covered the communities of the Swansea Valley
Swansea Valley
The Swansea Valley , one of the South Wales Valleys is the name often given to the valley of the River Tawe area in South Wales, UK. It reaches southwest and south from the Brecon Beacons National Park down to the city of Swansea. Today, administration of the area is divided between the City and...
, even though some are within the boundaries of the Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot is a county borough and one of the unitary authority areas of Wales. Neath Port Talbot is the 8th most populous county in Wales and the third most populous county borough....
county borough.
Simon Kelner
Simon Kelner
Simon Kelner is a British journalist and newspaper editor. Kelner was editor-in-chief of The Independent and Independent on Sunday newspapers. He was appointed in May 1998 to succeed Andrew Marr and Rosie Boycott and ended his tenure in 2008...
, editor-in-chief of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, began his career on the Neath Guardian, as did BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
business correspondent Steve Evans, who reported live from the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
during the September 11 terrorist attacks, and Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
rugby writer Steve Bale.