III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 518 

Reaffirming support for increased media diversity, recognizing May 2018 

as ‘‘National Media Diversity Month’’, and encouraging appreciation, 

awareness, and support for independent, diverse, and local media entities. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 21, 2018 

Mr. HELLER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Reaffirming support for increased media diversity, recognizing May 2018 as ‘‘National Media Diversity Month’’, 

and encouraging appreciation, awareness, and support 

for 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 the laws of free speech in the United States and underpins the virtues on which the United States has established the Constitution of the United States and the tenets of citizenship, which are, as presented in the Preamble to the Constitution, ‘‘We the people of the United 

States in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish 

Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure 

the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity’’; 


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•SRES 518 IS 

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 by all citizens of 

the United States; 

Whereas varying media entities play a significant role in how 

constituents are exposed to news and discussions that impact the ability of constituents— 

(1) to learn about and debate local, State, and national issues central to the stability and security of the 

United States; and 

(2) to effectively monitor their representatives; 

Whereas Congress recognizes the central role of mass communication and encourages source, content, and audience 

diversity on the shared telecommunications and media 

platforms of the United States; 

Whereas encouraging diversity is important to the survival of 

small independent and diverse media outlets that serve 

diverse audiences and local media markets; 

Whereas, 50 years after the Kerner Commission issued its 

media diversity recommendations, challenges remain with 

underrepresentation in minority and rural populations in 

the media and participation in ownership and control of 

media decisionmaking, despite those populations comprising over 40 percent of the population of the United 

States; and 

Whereas small independent and diverse media outlets positively contribute to the sense of community in the United 

States and the goal of increasing local civic engagement 

and civic knowledge, such as by increasing voting levels, 


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•SRES 518 IS 

participation in civic groups, and knowledge of local political and civil information: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) reaffirms the commitment of the Senate to 

3 diversity as a core tenet of the ‘‘public interest 

4 standard’’ in media policy; 

5 (2) pledges to work with media entities and di6 verse stakeholders to develop common-ground solu7 tions to eliminate barriers to media diversity; and 

8 (3) establishes May 2018 as ‘‘National Media 

9 Diversity Month’’, during which efforts are encour10 aged to promote media diversity appreciation and 

11 support. 

Æ 


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