[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[S. Res. 489 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
2d Session
S. RES. 489
Designating April 2008 as Public Radio Recognition Month.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 14 (legislative day, March 13), 2008
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Specter, Mr. Cardin, and
Mr. Leahy) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and
agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Designating April 2008 as Public Radio Recognition Month.
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.
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