HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	161
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Encouraging hAWAII'S Universities AND COLLEGES to teach traditional journalism and objective, fact-based reporting.

 

 

        WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Legislature upholds that a majority of journalists are objective and hardworking fact-based individuals, however as the polemics of broadcast stations such as CNN and Fox News, or newspapers such as the Washington Post vs. the Washington Times, polarization and politization of the news has crept into the profession; and

 

        WHEREAS, Hawaii's colleges and universities, regardless of the political affiliations or leanings of their faculty, should be dedicated to journalism's original intent of being the "Fourth Estate," which should serve as a watchdog, rather than taking sides on government issues or political parties; and

 

        WHEREAS, recent journalist and core curricula have been diluted and in some American colleges and universities to the extent that objective fact-based journalism is less emphasized in the classroom today than before; and

 

        WHEREAS, contemporary journalism graduates may be ill-prepared or less capable to competently report on important topics, such as the macroeconomic effects of the pandemic, or the current events on the southern border, etc; and

 

        WHEREAS, the RAND Corporation found that these journalistic trends could lead to a type of "Truth Decay," or a phenomenon that erodes civil discourse, causes political paralysis at the state and federal levels and spurs individual disengagement from political and civic life; and

 

        WHEREAS, a lack of confidence in a free and objective press erodes our fundamental democratic values in both the State of Hawaii and in our country; and Now Therefore

 

        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, that we hereby encourage colleges and universities across the State of Hawaii to teach objective, fact-based reporting, with a view to returning confidence to the people of Hawaii that journalism is objective and fact-based reporting according to the tenants of freedom of the press; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii State Legislature further encourages Hawaii colleges and universities to create curricula that teaches future journalists to avoid personal commentary, emotionalism, polemics and partisanship; and

 

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, State Senate President, the State Board of Education, Hawaii Schools Superintendent, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents and the President of the University of Hawaii, and the Chancellors of Hawaii's Community Colleges, Hawaii Pacific University, Chaminade University, and Brigham Young University.

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________