[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 888 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 888

 Reaffirming support for increased media diversity, expressing support 
 for the recognition of the month of May as ``Media Diversity Month'', 
    and encouraging appreciation, awareness, and support for small, 
            independent, diverse, and local media entities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 10, 2018

Mrs. Demings submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Reaffirming support for increased media diversity, expressing support 
 for the recognition of the month of May as ``Media Diversity Month'', 
    and encouraging appreciation, awareness, and support for small, 
            independent, diverse, and local media entities.

Whereas the principle that an informed and engaged electorate is critical to a 
        vibrant democracy is deeply rooted in our laws of free speech and 
        underpins the virtues on which we established our Constitution, ``in 
        Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic 
        Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general 
        Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our 
        Posterity . . .'';
Whereas an independent, diverse, and local media that provides exposure to a 
        broad range of viewpoints and the ability to contribute to the political 
        debate is central to sustaining that informed engagement;
Whereas the media entities that control mass communications have emerged as a 
        dominant force in our society and play an outsize role in controlling 
        whether local audiences gain exposure to news and discussions that 
        impact their ability to learn about and debate local, State, and 
        national issues central to the stability and security of our Nation and 
        effectively monitor their representatives;
Whereas Congress recognized the central role of mass communication and mandated, 
        through enactment of sections 307 and 309 of the Communications Act of 
        1934, that broadcast stations comply with a fiduciary public interest 
        standard that encourages source, content, and audience diversity on our 
        Nation's shared telecommunications and media platforms;
Whereas market pressures are constricting the ability of large media outlets to 
        encourage diversity while also threatening the survival of small 
        independent and diverse media outlets that serve diverse audiences and 
        local media markets;
Whereas research by the American Society of News Editors, the Radio Television 
        Digital News Association, the Pew Research Center, and others has 
        documented the continued challenges of increasing diversity among all 
        types of media entities;
Whereas 50 years after the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, 
        better known as the ``Kerner Commission'', concluded that, ``[t]he 
        painful process of readjustment that is required of the American news 
        media must begin now'', people of color and rural populations continue 
        to be underrepresented and stereotyped in the media and, despite 
        comprising over 40 percent of the population, have limited participation 
        in ownership and control of media decision making; and
Whereas the constriction in small independent and diverse media outlets and 
        limited participation of diverse populations in media ownership and 
        decision making is combining to negatively impact our goal of increasing 
        local civic engagement and civic knowledge through increased voter 
        participation, membership in civic groups, and knowledge of local 
        political and civil information: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) reaffirms its commitment to diversity as a core tenet 
        of the public interest standard in media policy;
            (2) pledges to work with media entities and diverse 
        stakeholders to develop common ground solutions to eliminate 
        barriers to media diversity; and
            (3) establishes ``National Media Diversity Month'', during 
        which efforts are encouraged to promote media diversity 
        appreciation, support, and expansion.
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