The following resolution can be passed by any organization, labor council, or other group that wishes to support media democracy.

Resolution in Support of Local and Diverse Media Ownership

WHEREAS freedom of the press and broad public access to a diverse range of information through the media are prerequisites for a functioning democracy; they are the very oxygen of democracy; and the broadcast airwaves and the internet are owned commonly by the public and should be managed to serve the public interest.

WHEREAS adherence to the highest journalistic principles is a public trust; and the public interest is best served by the availability of a broadly diverse range of viewpoints; and media diversity and employment is seriously threatened by further consolidation of media ownership in the hands of fewer entities.

WHEREAS the Federal Communications Commission, over the objections millions of people across America representing a broad spectrum of citizens groups from the National Rifle Association to the National Organization for Women, approved an unprecedented loosening of media ownership regulations in June 2003 which were in place to protect diversity and local accountability in our media.

WHEREAS the elimination and weakening of these regulations are likely to reduce competition, the quality of local media coverage, local accountability, diversity of content, diversity of voices, and the amount and/or quality of news coverage in broadcast and print media across the country, while providing windfall profits for a small handful of corporate media owners.

WHEREAS we recognize that citizens in a democracy require public access to a diverse range of media voices and messages in order to participate fully in our community's shared social, cultural and political life.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we urge:

• The Federal Communications Commission take seriously its mandate to air programming that is responsive to local interests and community needs and recognize that the best way to achieve this is through local ownership of the media
• The Localism Task Force hold more than the six public hearings scheduled in order to truly understand how media consolidation has adversely impacted communities across the country, recognizing that holding only one hearing on the West Coast is woefully insufficient
• The Localism Task Force recommend to the Federal Communications Commission that the media deregulation of last June 2003 be revoked
• The FCC take a pro-active role in breaking up media monopolies and reinstitute standards for local programming that previously existed.