The ties between the media and the abortion industry go deep. For proof, look no further than the 280 awards Planned Parenthood has bestowed upon the media – including 10 this year.
On Monday, America’s largest abortion provider handed out “Media Excellence Awards” to 10 journalists and outlets that promote or defend its agenda. Planned Parenthood admitted on Twitter that it chose the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in the U.S., on purpose to celebrate “journalists, outlets & activists who are committed to advancing the cause of reproductive health, rights & freedom.”
“Amidst ongoing attacks, writers and publications continue to produce fact-based, professional, and unbiased journalism,” Planned Parenthood continued. “Thank you to those who bring understanding, compassion, and honesty to the conversation around reproductive health issues.”
Amidst ongoing attacks, writers and publications continue to produce fact-based, professional, and unbiased journalism. Thank you to those who bring understanding, compassion, and honesty to the conversation around reproductive health issues. #MEA2018
— Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) January 22, 2018
So these award winners are “advancing the cause” with “unbiased journalism?” That’s Orwellian. Calling abortion “reproductive health” is like calling black white.
This year’s winners, Planned Parenthood added, particularly focused on issues like “abortion stigma, the challenges faced by young immigrant women needing an abortion, access to health care for people who are transgender, and women’s reproductive rights in the US and abroad.”
According to Planned Parenthood, the awards that began in 1978 “recognize exceptional contributions by the media and arts and entertainment industries” and include all forms of media (“print, radio, magazines, online reporting, commentary, television news, social media, and arts & entertainment”).
Here are the 2018 recipients of Planned Parenthood's Media Excellence Awards, found by MRC Culture via Twitter:
1. Tarana Burke, #MeToo founder and Girls for Gender Equity senior director.
2. Feminist site Bustle (and managing editor Amanda Chan) for its “exceptional coverage of reproductive and sexual health and your accurate, compelling, and non-stigmatizing coverage of reproductive and sexual health issues.”
3. Romper editor Danielle Campoamor for her “heart-wrenching & thought provoking piece, ‘I'm Miscarrying Right Now, & It's Only Strengthening My Beliefs About Abortion.’”
4. Essence.com (and editor Christina Coleman) for its “powerful coverage of reproductive & sexual health, including ‘A Matter Of Life & Death: Why Are Black Women In The U.S. More Likely To Die During Or After.’”
5. National Geographic Explorer correspondent Francesca Fiorentini for her piece “Jailed for a Miscarriage” that showed the “plight of women who have had miscarriages in El Salvador & its oppressive abortion laws."
6. Journalist Brad Kutner, for his “piece that appeared on [GAYRVA.com], highlighting the non-judgemental care that transgender & gender non-conforming patients receive at the PP health center in Richmond.”
7. Feminist site Refinery29 (and senior editor Rebecca Adams) for its “insightful and compelling coverage on issues like the continued attacks on reproductive rights, sexual assault and consent, and restrictive state abortion laws.”
8. Rewire immigration reporter Tina Vasquez for her “exemplary & comprehensive coverage of the Jane Doe case that illustrated the intersection of immigration & reproductive rights.”
9. Vogue magazine for “their exceptional coverage, including an [Annie Leibovitz] spread of our patients, staff, activists & [Cecile Richards] at our Queens health center.”
10. New York culture site The Village Voice and writer Lauren Evans for her “piece that explored how misconceptions & misinformation about abortion spread by crisis pregnancy centers are used to deter women from making their own reproductive health choices.”
Comedian and actress Sasheer Zamata hosted the awards ceremony.
In recognition of the awards, Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards tweeted about the event that “honors the journalists and publications who insist that women—and their stories—matter.” She cited award recipient Tarana Burke as saying “Journalism is a form of activism and it should be respected as that.”
“Journalism is a form of activism and it should be respected as that.” - the incredible @TaranaBurke at @PPFA #MEA2018
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) January 23, 2018
Planned Parenthood’s account also tweeted to the winners: “thank you for your exceptional coverage of reproductive rights, social justice & women’s health issues.”
On its website, the abortion giant only lists media awards through 2015. But MRC Culture has tracked them in years past. In 2015, Planned Parenthood awarded 16 journalists, making a total of 257 award winners in the media. In 2016, it awarded 13.
According to Planned Parenthood’s most recently published annual report, the organization performed 321,384 abortions and received $543.7 million in “government health services, reimbursements & grants” for the year 2016 – 2017. It has committed roughly 7.6 million abortions since Roe v. Wade.
