Black owned media procurement bill passes House

Illinois State Representative Thaddeus Jones, D. Dist. 29, introduced HB0378. The bill was passed in the Illinois House and now goes to the Illinois Senate, where Illinois State Senator Napoleon Harris, D. Dist. 15, is lead sponsor for the bill. PHOTO PROVIDED BY SEAN HOWARD
Illinois State Representative Thaddeus Jones, D. Dist. 29, introduced HB0378. The bill was passed in the Illinois House and now goes to the Illinois Senate, where Illinois State Senator Napoleon Harris, D. Dist. 15, is lead sponsor for the bill. PHOTO PROVIDED BY SEAN HOWARD

 Black owned media procurement bill passes House

By Tia Carol Jones

An amendment to the Illinois Procurement Code would increase the percentage that Black-owned media receives from state agencies in media purchases.

Currently, the Illinois Procurement Code allows for state agencies to set aside 10% of their media purchasing for Black media. The HB0378 would increase that number to 20%.

Illinois State Representative Thaddeus Jones, D. Dist. 29, introduced the Illinois House Bill 0378 on Jan. 29, 2021. On March 3, 2022, it was voted on in the Illinois House and passed 72-23. Now the bill is in the Senate awaiting a vote.

Rep. Thaddeus Jones talked with the Citizen Newspaper Group about why he introduced the House Bill 0378 and how it will benefit Black-owned media outlets in the State of Illinois.

Citizen Newspaper: Why did you want to introduce this bill?

Rep. Thaddeus Jones: I’ve had a great relationship with the black press for over 15 years. I’ve seen the struggles to keep the doors open at many of our AA media outlets.  I’ve also seen the decline in some of our existing publications ... In my view there have been previous administrations who simply turned a deaf ear to the black press and spent millions of state advertising dollars outside the scope of the black press.

Citizen: How does this bill assist in making media services buying more equitable?

Rep. Thaddeus Jones: It brings about parity and equality. The State spent tens of millions of dollars on various forms of advertising over the past few years. Black owned media companies received less than 1% of those dollars. That’s Embarrassing!! … With this mandate it will ensure that the black media is not only just at the table but would have a high potentiality in qualifying for a state contract.

Citizen: Why do you think there hasn’t been a more conscious effort to ensure that media buying included African American-owned media?

Rep. Thaddeus Jones: I think it’s a multitude of reasons. Quite frankly until this current administration, there wasn’t a strong emphasis put on respecting the history and legacy of the black press.

Citizen: Were you surprised the bill passed the House?

Rep. Thaddeus Jones: I wasn’t surprised at all about the passage of this bill in the House because of the help I received from the black press in fighting for this bill.  Many of the reporters and editors took the time to testify before the necessary committee to ensure that the bill wouldn’t get killed.

Citizen: What obstacles do you see when it comes to the bill in the Senate and the possibility of it being passed soon?

Rep. Thaddeus Jones: Because of the enormous fight in which we had with this bill in the House, a level of awareness and education was achieved. Therefore, both chambers are well versed about the slippery slope downhill with black owned media. I’m hopeful that my friend, Senator Napoleon Harris (Sponsor), can successfully push the bill out of the Senate and onto the Governor's desk.

Citizen: What were some of the early conversations about the bill in Springfield?

Rep. Thaddeus Jones: It was clear early on that some of the down state legislators weren’t too pleased with the mandate in the bill. But we were able to win over a few of them by educating them on the huge disparity detailing how state funded advertising dollars were not being spent with the black press.

Garth, Citizen’s Publisher added, we say thank you to Rep. Jones for the work that he put into this piece of legislation.  Despite the push backs from some of his political colleagues, but we also thank him for his perseverance.  We view this bill as one that gives us much needed inclusion allowing us the opportunity and access to the same governmental benefits as other mainstream media outlets.    The Black Media outlets have always been the voice and catalyst for its community.  This bill rights a small portions of   decade old cycles that exclude us.     It is our hope that this bill would spark change and encourage legislators to continue to write and sponsor bills that would promote equality on all levels of government by eliminating the red tape.  After all newspapers help to protect our democracy and holds leaders accountable.

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