Cision

Illinois
Media and Entertainment, Software and Services

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Summary:

Cision, a PR and earned media software company and services provider, and its subsidiaries, including PRNewswire, have decided not to publish certain press releases and even canceled others. However, Cision has not used its reputation or corporate dollars to advance ideological causes or groups hostile to freedom of expression. For these reasons, Cision receives a "High Risk" rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Cision canceled a previously queued statement by Elizabeth Heng, CEO of the New Internet, that brought light to GoFundMe’s decision to cancel her fundraiser (1). The statement was canceled by Cision (PRNewswire) after the issue was “deemed too hot of a topic.”

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Cision does not have a charitable foundation (1).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Cision does not publish an anti-discrimination policy outside its Privacy Policy, which names customers’ political opinions as a point of protected data (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Cision launched a few new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs in 2021 and 2022, but involvement in the related training courses and ERGs are limited and voluntary (1). Cision’s political coverage is non-partisan, and the company offers its media management services to organizations all across the political spectrum, from Fox News to the American Civil Liberties Union (2)(3)(4).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Cision has not used corporate funds to promote ideological causes or groups hostile to freedom of expression.

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Cision does not have a PAC or make political contributions.

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 24, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

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