Bill Text: HI HR140 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Honolulu Star-Bulletin; Honolulu Advertiser; Sale

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 21-3)

Status: (Passed) 2010-04-09 - (H) Resolution adopted in final form. [HR140 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HR140-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	140
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE OWNER OF THE HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT TIME TO FIND A NEW OWNER FOR THE NEWSPAPER TO PRESERVE TWO INDEPENDENT DAILY NEWSPAPERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

 

 

     WHEREAS, on February 25, 2010, Oahu Publications, Inc. (OPI), the owner of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin announced that OPI has entered into an agreement with Gannett Newspapers, Inc., to purchase the assets of The Honolulu Advertiser; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin has been a distinguished independent daily newspaper and editorial voice in Hawaii for one hundred twenty-six years; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reporters, columnists, editorial writers, and photographers have won numerous awards for incisive reporting, thought-provoking commentary, and delightful satire; and

 

     WHEREAS, OPI announced it would offer the Honolulu Star‑Bulletin for sale, but would close or merge the newspaper with The Honolulu Advertiser if a qualified buyer is not found by April 2010; and

 

     WHEREAS, the closure of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin or the merger of the newspaper with The Honolulu Advertiser may mean the loss of approximately two hundred jobs; and

 

     WHEREAS, the closure of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin or the merger of the newspaper with The Honolulu Advertiser will mean the residents of the city and State will no longer have two daily newspapers engaging in editorial and reportorial competition; and

 

     WHEREAS, the community and the democratic process are better served by maintaining a newspaper press that is editorially and reportorially independent and competitive; and

 

     WHEREAS, in citing the reasons for The Honolulu Advertiser's sale to OPI, Gannett Newspapers, Inc., has not said The Honolulu Advertiser and Gannett Newspapers, Inc., are not profitable; indeed, Gannett has announced it had turned the corner and would earn a first quarter profit this year; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, that Oahu Publications, Inc., is urged to continue publication of the Honolulu Star‑Bulletin or to provide sufficient time to find a qualified buyer for the newspaper in order to preserve publication of separate and independent daily newspapers in the community; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to Oahu Publications, Inc., owner of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin; Gannett Newspapers, Inc., owner of The Honolulu Advertiser; the Attorney General of the State of Hawaii; and the United States Department of Justice.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Honolulu Star-Bulletin; Honolulu Advertiser; Sale