Norton and Members of Congress Request GAO Report on Federal Advertising Contracts with Minority-Owned Newspapers and Media Companies

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a letter that she sent to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting a report on federal advertising contracts and subcontracts with minority-owned newspapers and media companies. In March, Norton spoke at a press conference on Capitol Hill with leaders of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) to announce a historic coalition between African American and Hispanic publishers.

Norton’s letter, which was signed by many House Members, said, “The federal government is the largest advertiser in the United States, and it is important that news outlets and media companies owned or published by people of color with a primary mission to serve communities of color have the same opportunities as other media outlets—especially as African Americans and Hispanic Americans continue to grow in number in our country….In 2007, GAO looked into spending on advertising contracts with minority-owned businesses by five agencies—the Department of Defense, Department of the Treasury, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Interior, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration—and found that just five percent of the $4.3 billion available for advertising campaigns went to minority-owned businesses. We request an update showing how federal agencies spend their advertising dollars.”

The full letter is below.

The Honorable Gene Dodaro
Comptroller General
U.S. Government Accountability Office
441 G Street, NW, Room 7125
Washington, DC 20548

Dear Mr. Dodaro:

We write to you today to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issue a report on federal advertising contracts and subcontracts with minority-owned newspapers and media companies. The federal government is the largest advertiser in the United States, and it is important that news outlets and media companies owned or published by people of color with a primary mission to serve communities of color have the same opportunities as other media outlets—especially as African Americans and Hispanic Americans continue to grow in number in our country.

We believe that this request is particularly timely because GAO will be conducting an audit of spending by federal agencies on public relations and advertising. We ask that you take this opportunity to look into how much is spent with newspapers and other media companies that are owned by people of color whose audiences are largely African American or Hispanic. In 2007, GAO looked into spending on advertising contracts with minority-owned businesses by five agencies—the Department of Defense, Department of the Treasury, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Interior, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration—and found that just five percent of the $4.3 billion available for advertising campaigns went to minority-owned businesses. We request an update showing how federal agencies spend their advertising dollars.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton