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By the turn of the twentieth century the development of heavy industry as an employer in the valley was nearing its peak. The population of the Parish of Aberdare had grown three fold since the first print works had been established in 1854. Aberdare as a town now looked to its presses for a new publication - a paper that dealt with local issues.

‘The Aberdare Leader’ had been established in 1902 by William Pugh and John Lewis Rowlands, young men described as being ‘prolific readers and diligent students of English literature’. In their first editorial they said the paper would ‘instruct the masses in the duties and privileges of citizenship, and induce them to take a livelier and more active interest in matters pertaining to their immediate social welfare’.

The first print run was just 1,000 copies. That was quickly increased to 1,500 the following week as the paper won an instant following. By end of 1902 ‘The Aberdare Leader’ with a circulation of 3,200 copies had bought out the failing ‘Aberdare Times’.

Rivals soon appeared, the short-lived ‘Cynon Chronicle’ of 1915 and more seriously ‘The Aberdare and Mountain Ash Weekly Post’ in 1906. However this too was to be bought out by ‘The Aberdare Leader’ in 1919.

Launched initially as ‘The Aberdare Leader’, it was later followed by ‘The Mountain Ash Leader’ as the paper’s news coverage spread further down the valley.