[Title]
An Act to Prohibit Public Funding of Media Entities
[Preamble]
WHEREAS, maintaining the independence of the media from government influence is crucial for a free and fair press;
WHEREAS, the allocation of taxpayer-derived resources to media entities could compromise their objectivity and independence;
BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and House of Representatives of [State/Country] in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title
This Act may be cited as the “Media Funding Prohibition Act”.
Section 2. Definitions
For the purposes of this Act:
- “Taxpayer-derived resources” includes all forms of federal, state, or local government funding, grants, subsidies, tax exemptions, or any other financial benefit derived from public taxes.
- “Media company” refers to any corporation, partnership, or organization engaged primarily in the production, publication, or dissemination of multimedia content, including but not limited to news, entertainment, or other information services.
- “Media vendor” refers to any company that provides goods or services directly supporting the operations of media companies.
- “Derivative business” of a media company or vendor refers to any subsidiary, affiliate, or business entity directly controlled by or under common control with a media company or vendor.
Section 3. Prohibition of Funding
- No taxpayer-derived resources shall be allocated directly or indirectly to:
- Any media company;
- Any media vendor;
- Any derivative business of a media company or vendor.
- This prohibition applies irrespective of the method of disbursement of funds, including contracts, grants, loans, tax credits, or other forms of financial or material support.
Section 4. Enforcement and Penalties
- The [appropriate regulatory body, e.g., Department of Treasury] shall enforce the provisions of this Act.
- Any entity that receives taxpayer-derived resources in violation of this Act shall be required to return such funds in full, and may be subject to additional penalties, including:
- Fines not exceeding twice the amount of the funds improperly received;
- Disqualification from future eligibility for any form of government funding for a period not less than five years.
Section 5. Reporting and Transparency
- All government agencies responsible for the disbursement of taxpayer-derived resources must maintain a public record of all entities receiving such resources.
- These records shall be made publicly accessible to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution of taxpayer funds.
This Act specifically prohibits any media funding for educational institutions and non-profits.