A Wales Labour Party Assembly Member (AM) has proposed the issuing of grants to start "super local" television and radio channels run by newspapers, the BBC reported Friday.

Huw Lewis said that it would not take a "huge amount of money" from the government to see Wales become a base for journalistic excellence.

Speaking at a Labour Party meeting in Flintshire, Lewis proposed the launch of 12 local digital television channels as an "arm's length" government body.

"You only have to look at examples like Channel M in Manchester to see that newspaper groups can run excellent and successful TV news and produce top quality programming," he said, according to the BBC.

The National Union of Journalists has labelled the Welsh newspaper industry as "in crisis," in a report to the National Assembly's broadcasting committee.

The assembly government has been requested to respond to Lewis's proposal.