The Will Hayward Newsletter

In September 2024 Will Hayward left his secure salaried journalism job to launch his own newsletter, driven by the passionate belief that Wales needs more journalism that makes complicated issues accessible. Will believes that a lack of awareness among the Welsh public is a contributing factor to poor governance and public services issues. And he is on a mission to make these complex issues easier to understand.

In just one year, the Will Hayward Newsletter (WHN) has grown into a successful business, with staff and a permanent office. Will has also launched an investigative journalism fund to help young people in Wales conduct deep-dive investigations into issues of public interest. 

The multimedia journalism produced by Will and the team (including original video and photography) is already driving the agenda in Welsh politics and has achieved a five-figure subscriber base on Substack. WHN has secured multiple sponsorship deals, run an advertising campaign across Welsh stations and is on course to turnover an impressive profit in year one. It is now on course to more than double subscriber numbers, turnover and reach by the end of year two, proving that there is a market for local public interest journalism.

Judges’ comments: “A remarkable story of courage and competence. An object lesson to the legacy media.”