Senate Resolution 489--Designating April 2008 as Public Radio Recognition Month

Floor Speech

SENATE RESOLUTION 489--DESIGNATING APRIL 2008 AS PUBLIC RADIO RECOGNITION MONTH -- (Senate - March 13, 2008)

Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Specter, Mr. Cardin, and Mr. Leahy) submitted the following resolution:

S. Res. 489

Whereas the mission of public radio is to create a more informed public--one that is challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas, and cultures;

Whereas the programming and content created and distributed by public radio is based upon three core values--qualities of mind, qualities of heart and qualities of craft--and exemplifies the inherent meaning of localism by placing value and financial investment in local and regional assets to gather and distribute a collection of programming that informs and improves community;

Whereas public radio is known for distinctive, award-winning programming including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, A Prairie Home Companion, Marketplace, Speaking of Faith, and This American Life;

Whereas the United States' more than 800 public radio stations serve every State and every congressional district with news, information, cultural, and music programming that is unique to free radio;

Whereas some 33 million Americans listen each week to public radio programming;

Whereas the public radio audience has doubled in the past 15 years and increased by some 70 percent in the past decade;

Whereas public radio stations are licensed by community foundations, colleges, universities, school boards, libraries, and other local non-profit entities;

Whereas public radio stations are locally licensed, locally staffed, and locally programmed, and tailor their programming to meet the needs of local audiences;

Whereas public radio stations receive, on average, more than 85 percent of their annual funding from local sources;

Whereas public radio's public service also finds expression through a deep, rich music discovery, education and enrichment experience--both for its audience and for performers, singer-songwriters, musicians, lyricists, and composers--which places the highest emphasis on a value partnership with performers to bring all facets of music into the lives of its audience in a way that is found nowhere else;

Whereas public radio has preserved and enhanced the archetypal musical formats of American music history--jazz, classical, folk, blue grass, the blues, Celtic--and regards these formats as the priceless family treasures of public radio's musical foundations;

Whereas public radio is responding to its commitment to community and fact-based journalism with several initiatives including the Local News Initiative, a national effort to increase public radio's service to communities through investments in station capacity to provide in-depth, serious, and balanced news and Public Insight Journalism, a pioneering concept that uses citizens to help cover the news by sharing their observations, knowledge, and expertise;

Whereas public radio has embraced digital broadcasting technology because of its inherently inclusive nature and potential to expand public service programming; and

Whereas public radio exists to serve the public interest: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the month of April 2008 shall be known as Public Radio Recognition Month, during which time all of America's public radio stations shall be celebrated for their contributions to our Nation's communities and enduring civic spirit.

Source