Political Campaign Engagement with Black-Owned Media

WHEREAS, the NAACP is a non-partisan organization, a champion for social justice and supporter of Black-owned media and businesses in the interest of developing a recognized voice in mainstream media and economic growth in underserved communities; and

WHEREAS, political candidates historically and continually fail to include Black-owned media outlets in their multi-million dollar advertising campaigns and in many cases wait until the last minute to devote any resources to Black-owned media; and

WHEREAS, there are over 200 Black-owned newspapers, over 60 Black-owned radio stations, 10 Black-owned television networks, and thirteen Black-owned websites that garnered one million or more monthly unique visitors in January 2015; and

WHEREAS, for nearly 200 years, the Black-owned media has been the benchmark for credibility and engagement by the Black community – attributes that must be developed over time and that are essential to the long-term success of campaigns that depend on massive and enthusiastic Black voter turnout. Engaging Black voters through Black-owned media outlets is both necessary and successful in earning Black votes; and

WHEREAS, candidates and campaigns should be supported and endorsed not only by their orations but by their actions. Politicians who ignore Black-owned media are displaying their disdain for Black entrepreneurship and their disinterest in Black voters; and

WHEREAS, consistent engagement with Black-owned media throughout a campaign builds credibility within the Black community and helps demonstrate commitment and interest in addressing issues that affect Black voters.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, thatthe NAACP calls on all candidates, parties, and political action committees, throughout their campaigns to advertise extensively with Black-owned print, broadcast, and online media; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls on all political election campaigns, political action committees, issue referendum campaigns, political parties and other election oriented initiatives to report on all vendor and contractor spending, disaggregated by race, gender, ethnicity, and national origin one year before the election (whether general or primary), six months prior to the election, ninety days prior to the election, with the final report being provided ninety days after the election date; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all NAACP units urge election campaigns, political action committees, issue referendum campaigns, and other election-oriented initiatives to sign a pledge to disclose the race, ethnicity, and gender of contractors engaged to implement their media strategies and the amount spent with each such contractor; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the major political parties, the presidential candidates, political action committees, referendum campaigns and other political initiatives as appropriate.