Letter to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, and Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader - Haaland Part of Coalition Democratic Leaders of Color Urging Emergency Funding for Diverse Local Media Outlets During COVID19 Crisis

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, and Leader McCarthy:

The Chairs of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional
Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC)--also known as the
Congressional Tri-Caucus--and Co-Chair of the Native American Caucus, are writing with deep
concern regarding the disproportionate number of COVID-19 deaths in our communities and the
clear need for timely, and culturally relevant news that can help save lives. Local ethnic media
outlets and local media outlets that serve minority communities are providing critical updates to
communities across America but are struggling to stay afloat during COVID-19 due to major
losses in the advertising revenue so critical to their business models. However, the reality is that
African American, Latino, Asian Pacific American, and Native American communities need more
news and information to stay healthy and safe in the ever-changing COVID-19 environment, not
less.

As the nation confronts extraordinary public health and financial crises, Congress is offering
emergency funding to support specific industries. We believe it is vital to include support for the
local and ethnic media outlets that are best positioned to deliver COVID-19 news to communities
of color, multilingual ethnic minorities, and other vulnerable populations. Considering COVID19's disproportionate impact on our communities, it is paramount that our constituencies receive
rapid and factual news from the culturally relevant sources they trust. Local media outlets such as
broadcasters and news publishers are more trusted than any other news source.

To help save lives in this country's most vulnerable communities, we are asking that any new
stimulus funding package include:
* Language to appropriate and direct emergency funding and federal advertising dollars for
ethnic and local news media outlets that serve minority communities to ensure that these
newsrooms can continue delivering uninterrupted local and community news during the
COVID-19 pandemic;
* Language directing all federal agencies, including but not limited to sub-agencies, to
review their communications practices and public awareness campaigns to ensure that they
are effectively reaching non-English speaking populations during the COVID-19
pandemic;
* Language to support additional informational messaging and programming on how the
public can manage the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,
particularly for minority and foreign language-speaking populations and broadcasting such
programming in multiple languages on radio and television stations that serve minorities
and foreign-language speakers;
* Language to appropriate funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to support
national programming aimed at reaching African American, Latino, Asian Pacific
American, and Native American audiences with rapid news and factual information. This
is a critical piece of infrastructure.

Many communities of color rely on their local newspapers or radio stations -- oftentimes these
outlets are in a language other than English -- for information. So many outlets across the U.S.
are providing valuable information such as:
* In Sacramento, despite seeing 60% decreases in advertising, a Spanish Language Radio
station group has been hosting regular interviews with SBA officials in Spanish to reach
small business owners. They are also tailoring COVID-19 information specifically to the
large farmworker population in the market, providing a vital connection to a population
often overlooked.
* In San Francisco, three radio stations tell the tale of the COVID-19 impact on the Asian
language radio audience. KVTO-AM is the only all Chinese station in the market and
serves a population of over 500,000 Chinese Americans; KVVN-AM serves in excess of
200,000 native Vietnamese speakers in the SF Bay Area; KKOK-AM broadcasts to the
250,000 South Asian (primarily Indian) population in the market. All three of these stations
are experiencing at least 50% reductions in advertising for this month and are expecting
higher percentages in the coming months. Asian language radio is supported almost
entirely by small independently owned retail stores and businesses, since many national
advertisers don't translate their ads into these languages. The very same businesses that are
suffering the most during the shutdown are the lifeblood of these and many more stations.
Without federal help the 1 million Asian language listeners in the San Francisco market
alone, risk losing a connection to information, entertainment, and most importantly
community.
* In Los Angeles, KIRN-AM is a Farsi Language station serving the Persian population in
Los Angeles that is over 300,000 strong. They started a program that airs 140 times a week
to highlight businesses within the Persian community that are still open. Providing free
advertising for local business that are struggling to keep their doors open and their workers
employed. The station is facing drastic advertising losses while providing comfort through
Farsi language news and information the community needs to stay connected during the
pandemic.
* In Texas, broadcasters are working to ensure that African American communities are
receiving the information they need through partnerships with the Urban League, Black
Chambers of Commerce, NAACP and churches. They are also working with health
professionals on social media programming for the African American community on issues
ranging from finance, education, student loans, credit maintenance and debt forgiveness to
fitness, employment, health and wellness.
* In Northwestern New Mexico, 4 of the local Navajo-language stations have seen a
decrease of about 40-50% in revenue and are on the verge of laying off staff. These stations
are the only voice in their language to this community. All 4 are continuing to serve in
these most difficult times. In Oklahoma, radio stations owned by the Chickasaw Nation
have seen a 50% decrease in advertising revenue.
* Additionally, the entire business model for the non-profit Indian Country Today is at risk
because foundations and tribes are no longer in a position to continue supporting their
funding. Nonetheless because of the crisis, Indian Country Today launched a daily news
show via Zoom in order to serve the community with real time information. As a reflection
of the need, after two weeks, the news program has already been picked up for broadcast
by public television stations.

Unfortunately, many of these already endangered outlets, are now in danger of disappearing
altogether due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As African American, Latino, Asian Pacific American
and Native American communities experience the disproportionate impact of COVID-19, we ask
that you prioritize ethnic media and local news media outlets that serve these minority
communities. They are critical components to the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic in
communities of color across the country. We look forward to your response.