February 20, 1990 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 2079 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS IMAGE, ACTION AND EXPECTA­ the black publisher of the Oakland Tribune all Americans-filling a void created by the TIONS: MEDIA AT THE CROSS­ in California, to thousands of minorities declining birthrate of white Americans. ROADS holding communication jobs from Cleveland The impact of these shifting demograph­ to Seattle. In many ways, what happened ics will be felt by everyone, regardless of two decades ago in this country caused gender, race or economic status. HON. LOUIS STOKES shock waves of opportunities and expecta­ According to most Bureau of Labor statis­ OF OHIO tions across this Nation that would move a tics, the labor force will rise by 21 million IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES powerful industry from "business as usual" workers between now and the year 2000. to a dress rehearsal for survival in the 21st Women will outnumber men among new Tuesday, February 20, 1990 century. workers by 2-to-1 Minority men and women Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker- It seems unfair and unjust to the survi­ will capture about an equal number of jobs, The American media must begin now to vors of those dynamic years, that too many while white women will fill about four times make a reality of integration-both in prod­ of the hard-won gains of yesterday are en­ as many jobs as white men. Hispanic and uct and personnel. dangered today with an uncertain future. Asian American workers are expected to in­ Ask the leadership of the National Asso­ crease by more than 70 percent, while the That was the conclusion of a study issued ciation of Black Owned Broadcasters about black labor force will grow by only 27 per­ 21 years ago by the Kerner Commission, the progress and future of African Ameri­ cent. That's what we can expect in the which was appointed by President Lyndon can owners of media properties. You'll find emerging workforce of the nineties and well Johnson to examine the causes of civil dis­ them angered and frustrated that for all into the year 2000. turbances that shook our Nation. The Com­ their efforts to rise to the occasions of en­ As all this unfolds, what can we expect mission charged that the media had neglected trepreneurship the rules of the game are from the media? Will it be part of the prob­ the presence and rights of black Americans. changing, and changing fast. lem as charged 21 years ago by the Kerner Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Commission, or will it be part of the solu­ Just recently, Dwight M. Ellis, vice president to review the constitutionality of current tion to help ensure social tranquility and of minority and special services for the Na­ FCC policies designed to increase minority the productive growth of our Nation and all tional Association of Broadcasters, examined ownership-a threat to the growth of minor­ its citizens? I sincerely believe that broad­ the media's record since the issuance of the ity-owned stations beyond an existing casters and gate keepers of the print media Commission's findings. Mr. Ellis, a respected number of just over 200. will do the right thing. But, not without the and articulate representative of the media in­ Ask the leadership of the National Asso­ participation and responsible actions of the dustry, delivered a thought-provoking address ciation of Black Journalists about the in­ multicultural facets of our communities. on the challenges facing the media in the mul­ crease of black journalists in media news­ The stakes are too high and opportunities rooms, and you'll hear that less than 4 per­ too promising for minorities in the 90's to ticultural society we expect to become by the cent of the total of professional newsroom forget the words of Frederick Douglas, who year 2000. employees today are black; that nearly 60 said that, "Power yields nothing without a In his remarks before the Black Profession­ percent of newspaper dailies in this country demand." There's work to be done by all of als Association in Cleveland OH, Mr. Ellis re­ do not have minorities on their staffs; and us. To be passive and unprepared for the minded the audience that "by the year 2000, that black male employees are leaving the challenges ahead would be like wanting sun­ Hispanics, Asian Pacifies, and African-Ameri­ ranks of newspapers and broadcasting, ex­ shine without heat, thunder without rain, cans, in that order, will constitute more than pressing limited opportunities for career ad­ and progress without pain. half of all Americans." He spoke of the re­ vancement. You may even ask the leader­ As black Americans, we could spend pre­ ship of Hispanic and Asian American jour­ cious time bemoaning the shortcomings of sponsibility of the media in responding to this nalism organizations about their progress media and the problems of survival and ad­ factor, both in terms of the people behind the and hear much of the same. vancement in broadcasting and print. We news production and those who work in front From all reports, you'll hear that the pen­ could also celebrate the countless gains evi­ of the camera. dulum of progress is swinging backward at a denced by media stars and less known black Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring Mr. Ellis' time when the value of recruiting, training and other minority managers and execu­ remarks to the attention of my colleagues. It is and promoting a productive multicultural tives. But, time would be even better spent certainly worthwhile reading: workforce is in the best interests of the discussing strategies for moving forward media, our communities and our Nation as a toward greater involvement in this age of IMAGE, ACTION AND EXPECTATIONS: MEDIA AT whole. If there were ever clear reasons for technology and information. THE CROSSROADS immediate action, what lies ahead demands I've already mentioned media's present <Remarks by Dwight M. Ellis) all the wisdom and resources we can muster. and future challenges. But you should be Twenty-one years ago, when President Because, the decade of the nineties will be aware that many unsung supporters are Lyndon Johnson appointed a Commission to like no other in our history. Those who seek stating the case and laying groundwork for examine the causes of civil disturbances to address the challenges ahead with atti­ the progress that we all deserve. Last week that shook this Nation, the media and tudes and practices of the past are destined at the first of two annual meetings of the America as a whole were charged with ne­ to fail. The handwriting's on the wall and National Association of Broadcasters, Maur­ glecting the presence and rights of black the messages are becoming crystal clear icio Mendez, a member of the board and a Americans. with every passing day, that times are member of the NAB's Minority Executive The Kerner Commission, named after the changing, and many will be pulled kicking Council Committee, called for serious focus former Illinois Governor who chaired it, in and screaming into a world they never imag­ and action on issues of equal employment part said: That "The press has too long ined. opportunity. He urged his colleagues on the basked in a white world, looking out of it, if It's time for all Americans to face the un­ board to "review and debate the challenges at all, with white men's eyes and a white deniable fact that the social equation of and directions that [thel association must perspective." The report said that [this[ is past decades is rapidly changing. Issues of take to help ensure the survival of our in­ no longer good enough. The painful process race are no longer limited to blacks and dustry over the next decade." Speaking of readjustment .... required of the Ameri­ whites with the growing populations of His­ from his experiences as one of few Hispanic can news media must begin now ... [thatl panics and Asian Americans. television executives, Mr. Mendez warned they must make a reality of integration-in By 1999, Hispanics under 18 will outnum­ that "strategies and attitudes that [were] both their product and personnel." ber blacks of the same age group; and 15 applied in the past two decades will not Recommendations from the Commission years into the year 2000, Hispanics will be work in the 90's. They won't work in manag­ resulted in the institution of programs and the largest minority in this country. It's pre­ ing our technologies," he added, "and they actions responsible for most of the careers dicted that by the year 2000, Hispanics, won't work in managing our workforce." of minorities employed in media today: Asian Pacifies, and African-Americans, in Nevertheless, a bit of history took place From Ed Bradley to Geraldo Rivera; from that order, will constitute more than half of during the January NAB board meeting e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 2080 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS February 20, 1990 that makes us all proud. For the first time, tional broadcasting network as he defended Banner" as the national anthem of the United a minority broadcaster was inducted into the global value of public broadcasting. States of America. the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Hal He said that, "When broadcasters see na­ Maryland is the birthplace of "The Star Jackson, group chairman of the Inner City tional values and cultures as 'barriers,' it is Broadcasting Corporation <owner of 6 radio not unreasonable to foresee attempts to de­ Spangled Banner." Francis Scott Key com­ stations and the Apollo Theatre in New molish them." Promoting the illumination posed the anthem after a 25-hour bombard­ York), now has his place in broadcast histo­ and the fostering of different voices in ment of Fort McHenry, the only officially dedi­ ry with other famous Americans, including: media, he made a statement that may well cated national historic shrine in America.