IV 

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 

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 . . .’’; 


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•HRES 888 IH 

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 readjustVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:33 May 11, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR888.IH HR888

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•HRES 888 IH 

ment 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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) reaffirms its commitment to diversity as a 

3 core tenet of the public interest standard in media 

4 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 ‘‘National Media Diversity 

9 Month’’, during which efforts are encouraged to pro10 mote media diversity appreciation, support, and ex11 pansion. 

Æ 


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