Simon & Schuster

New York
Media and Entertainment

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Summary:

Simon & Schuster made national news when it announced it would cancel a book deal with U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) over his comments surrounding the 2020 presidential election. The company does not donate to ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression or discriminate against faith-based charities and organizations. However, there are no religious or viewpoint protections for employees. For these reasons, Simon & Schuster receives a "High Risk" rating. Note: Penguin Random House (parent company, Bertelsmann) made an offer to buy Simon & Schuster in late 2020. The sale from its current parent company, Paramount Global, is still pending approval during an ongoing Justice Department antitrust lawsuit.

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

Despite its statement against book banning and censorship, Simon & Schuster publicly canceled a book deal with U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) in January 2021, citing his objection to the 2020 presidential election results (1)(2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Simon & Schuster donates to various organizations, primarily those supporting literacy and the arts. The company does not discriminate against faith-based charities (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Simon & Schuster does not protect employees from religious or viewpoint discrimination (1)(2).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Simon & Schuster has not supported ideological causes or policies.

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Simon & Schuster does not donate to ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

Simon & Schuster does not have a PAC. Its parent company, Paramount Global, has a history of bipartisan PAC giving. However, in 2019-2020 and 2021-2022, Paramount donated to the Equality PAC (1)(2). In addition, its subsidiary and S&S owner, ViacomCBS, halted donations to election objectors (3). It has since resumed donations (4).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 23, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

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