Planned Parenthood may not have much to do with planning for parenthood – but the organization sure can plan a media strategy.
As part of the Planned Parenthood’s annual Maggie Awards on August 6, America’s largest abortion mill bestowed on women’s magazine Cosmopolitan the “Excellence in Media Award.”
According to the abortion giant, The Planned Parenthood Federation of America Maggie Awards began in 1978 in honor of Founder Margaret Sanger to “recognize exceptional contributions by the media and arts and entertainment industries that enhance the public's understanding of reproductive rights and health care issues, including contraception, sex education, teen pregnancy, abortion, and international family planning.”
It’s hard to tell which Cosmo piece contributed most to earning this honor – though there are several to choose from, including ones calling the wait for sex until after the second date "100% outdated," noting "cool" women go to strip clubs, highlighting how abortion can strengthen relationships and, more recently, publishing sexual positions for lesbians. Or maybe the recognition came from hosting the “2014 Sex Olympics" and the “Holiday Sextacular” of "Twelve Days of Sex Moves."
To announce the news online, Planned Parenthood tweeted: “And the #MaggieAwards go to... @saradaustin [Cosmo deputy editor] and @Cosmopolitan for their fearless coverage of women's health and rights. Awesome!”
In response, Cosmo’s editor-in-chief Joanna Coles also commented, "We're not much for rules at @Cosmopolitan, but we have 2: We'll never judge women, & we'll always speak up for their rights.”
Other Cosmo writers chimed in: “So proud of @cosmopolitan's #MaggieAwards win from @PPFA. Congrats, team!” Cosmo’s Senior Political Writer Jill Filipovic tweeted. Executive Features Editor Lori Fradkin also gushed: “So proud of @Cosmopolitan for winning @PPFA's Excellence in Media award #maggieawards.”
The annual awards fell into the following categories: Commentary, Daily Print Reporting, Radio Reporting, General Interest Magazine, Women's Magazine, Online Reporting, TV News Reporting, Community/Personal Blog, Social Media, and Arts and Entertainment.
According to a tweet from one guest, other media-related awards included former Texas Observer’s Carolyn Jones, The Nation’s Jessica Valenti, The New Yorker’s Sarah Stillman, Essence Magazine’s Maya Rhodan, MSNBC’s Irin Camron, #RedefiningRealness’ Janet Mock, activist Christopher Dido, Dr. Jennifer Ashton CBS’ “The Doctors,” HolaDoctor’s Adriana Beorlegui and #RapeCultureIsWhen’s Zerlina Maxwell.
Cosmo also received awards from Planned Parenthood in 2007 and 2008.
Given it’s all-smut-all-the-time contents, it’s tempting to suggest that Cosmo may as well be the textbook to go with Planned Parenthood’s “sex education” counseling. The problem is that Cosmo is nowhere near as raunchy and kinky as some of the things Planned Parenthood employees suggest to girls they think are teens. Pro-life group Live Action has released video Planned Parenthood workers talking about pretending to be babies and “pooping” on a sex partner.
— Katie Yoder is Staff Writer, Joe and Betty Anderlik Fellow in Culture and Media at the Media Research Center. Follow Katie Yoder on Twitter.
