Thread by @JusticeTristan

While Pelosi announces the impeachment managers, I’m on the Hill watching the House Energy and Commerce committee’s hearing to “promote media marketplace diversity.” This should be fun!

Rep. Walden or Oregon arguing the tech industry should also be targeted for promoting diversity in media.
“We have a lot more work to do,” Walden said in his opening statement.

Witness Maurita Coley telling lawmakers “we have never recovered” from FCC’s suppression of minority boardcasters decades ago.

Many have noted the proportionately small number of minority journalists compared to the nation’s racial makeup.

Diane Sutter, the president of Shooting Star Broadcasting reaffirms to lawmakers it’s the lack of access to capital standing in the way of minorities owning broadcast stations.

Pushes the committee to adopt measure requiring FCC to push minority ownership.

Question: If we don’t do more to increase the minority ownership of broadcasting stations, what happens to increasing digital divide where many don’t have internet?

Catherine Sandoval of Santa Clara University Law School: more people will probably die.

Sandoval was referring to a disaster that claimed the lives of 85 people, which she said was partially caused by lack of information

Sandoval argued it’s vital to simultaneously expand internet access to rural areas while increasing diversity in the industry.

But honest question: how does that relate to diversity? How does a person of color on television make the public any safer than a white person informing the public in times of distress?

@RepVeasey says it’s fitting to be having this hearing this week on #MediaDiversity, jokingly (yet seriously) slams “lack of diversity” among Oscar nominees just released.

“Maybe we can find a solution to #OscarsSoWhite” Veasy said.

Clint Odom of the National Urban League said @RepVeasey might have “put you’re finger on a potential solution” when it comes to the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite.

“There’s a critical role here for government,” Odom said in increasing media diversity.

Odom urges committee to pass the legislation on offering tax credits for station ownership and conducting more studies on the lack of diversity throughout the entirety of the industry.

Odom says Govt must act fast, “especially where race and gender challenges can be brought.”

@RepCardenas speaking as the hearing begins to wrap up.

“It’s not about affirmative action. It’s about good action.”

I don’t know, requiring the FCC to foster investment explicitly for minorities sounds like textbook affirmative action to me.