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These are the original issues in this subcategory
  • SOCIAL MEDIA DISINFORMATION
  • FAIRNESS DOCTRINE
  • MEDIA DIVERSITY
Winning Issue » MEDIA DIVERSITY


As our nation’s population grows more diverse, many hope our media, particularly its broadcasters, can better reflect this diversity. Media diversity is one of the most consequential factors shaping how Americans of all colors and backgrounds view themselves and each other. Studies show that bias in media portrayals continues to perpetuate negative attitudes towards minority communities and fuel our country’s divisions. Advocates say diversity in media matters because it brings attention to an otherwise underrepresented community and gives a voice to the otherwise voiceless. The pandemic, economic meltdown, election and protests have all exposed the inadequacies in the coverage of these events by traditional media outlets. Lacking the knowledge or experience of living through racism, poverty and marginalization, many broadcasters are unable to emphasize or connect with the subjects of their reporting. Advocates say in addition to hiring more broadcasters diversified by race, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, media ownership must diversify as well.

Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.5836 - Enhancing Diversity and Inclusion by Verifying and Ensuring the Reporting required by Statute Is Transpiring and Yielding Data Act or the Enhancing DIVERSITY Data Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY)



Options


  • I oppose reforming current media diversity policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).
  • I support requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to carry out rulemaking, data collection, and reporting about the demographic composition of the broadcast industry workforce by:

    1.) Requiring the FCC to complete a specified rulemaking process related to equal employment opportunity rules and policies that apply to broadcast stations and multichannel video programming distributors (e.g., cable operators). Part of this rulemaking addresses reporting of workforce demographics by broadcast license holders.

    2.) Requiring that within one year of completing the rulemaking, the FCC must begin collecting demographic data pertaining to the broadcast industry workforce. The FCC may not use the collected data in its reviews of broadcast license applications or renewals or to assess compliance with applicable equal employment opportunity rules.

    3.) requiring the FCC to include analyses of the demographic composition of the broadcast industry workforce in certain reports, and maintain a database that includes publicly available ownership data of broadcast licensees.

    And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.


Winning Option
  • I support requiring the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to carry out rulemaking, data collection, and reporting about the demographic composition of the broadcast industry workforce by:

    1.) Requiring the FCC to complete a specified rulemaking process related to equal employment opportunity rules and policies that apply to broadcast stations and multichannel video programming distributors (e.g., cable operators). Part of this rulemaking addresses reporting of workforce demographics by broadcast license holders.

    2.) Requiring that within one year of completing the rulemaking, the FCC must begin collecting demographic data pertaining to the broadcast industry workforce. The FCC may not use the collected data in its reviews of broadcast license applications or renewals or to assess compliance with applicable equal employment opportunity rules.

    3.) requiring the FCC to include analyses of the demographic composition of the broadcast industry workforce in certain reports, and maintain a database that includes publicly available ownership data of broadcast licensees.

    And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
There has been $0.00 pledged in support of this issue
Trustee Candidates

If elected as a trustee, the campaign committee of Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY) will be unconditionally awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting her to favorably consider either reintroducing Enhancing DIVERSITY Data Act (117th Congress 2021-2022), or a similar version thereof.

If elected as a trustee, Free Press will be awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting these funds be used to advocate for media diversity.

About: Free Press was created to give people a voice in the crucial decisions that shape our media. We believe that positive social change, racial justice and meaningful engagement in public life require equitable access to technology, diverse and independent ownership of media platforms, and journalism that holds leaders accountable and tells people what’s actually happening in their communities. We focus on saving Net Neutrality, achieving affordable internet access for all, uplifting the voices of people of color in the media, challenging old and new media gatekeepers to serve the public interest, ending unwarranted surveillance, defending press freedom and reimagining local journalism. Through activism and advocacy on all these issues and more, we work to challenge powerful corporations, influence policymakers, raise public awareness and mobilize millions.
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Trustee Election - Opening Date
May 29, 2023
Trustee Election - Closing Date
June 5, 2023