Bill Text: HI SCR193 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-04-12 - (H) Referred to EBM, referral sheet 66 [SCR193 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SCR193-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3071

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 193

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 193 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT 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,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the owner of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Oahu Publications, Inc., to provide sufficient time to find a new owner for the newspaper, in order to preserve two independent daily newspapers in the community.

 

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by two private organizations and four individuals.  Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that there are many benefits to having two independent newspapers serving the community.  Two editorial voices encourage citizens to examine various viewpoints.  Two newspapers may each send a reporter to cover and report on a single story, which allows a different view point.  Where there is only one newspaper, the decision by that newspaper not to cover a particular story means that an important story may not be covered at all; whereas when there are two newspapers, it is more likely that at least one will decide to cover the story.  Additionally, having only one newspaper means that the newspaper does not have any competition for advertising rates, which may lead to an increase in rates for businesses seeking to advertise in the newspaper, which would be, to a certain extent, at the mercy of the sole newspaper's rates.  Allowing additional time for a potential buyer of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin to find out about the sale, perform due diligence, and put together financing to purchase the newspaper would increase the chances that the newspaper would continue to serve the community, rather than be closed or merged with The Honolulu Advertiser.

 

     Your Committee notes that, during the hearing, Senator Slom raised a concern regarding a potential conflict he may have regarding this measure, and decided not to vote on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style and accuracy.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 193, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 193, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations,

 

		____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair