Condé Nast - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

Condé Nast is High Risk.

Condé Nast is High Risk. The company yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. Condé Nast embraces corporate initiatives that redirect its central focus from business goals to partisan policies and divisive issues. This approach fails to safeguard free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise.

Rating Criteria

Corporate Weaponization Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Cancellations	High Risk
Discriminatory Philanthropy	High Risk
Employment Protection	High Risk

Corporate Weaponization ⓘ

Corporate Governance and Public Policy Risk Levels
Criteria	Risk Level
Advocacy Bias	High Risk
Funding	High Risk
Political Actions	Lower Risk

Corporate Governance and Public Policy ⓘ

Rating Criteria Detail

Criteria Risk Level Rationale

Corporate Weaponization

Criteria:

Has canceled 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:

High

Rationale:

Teen Vogue, a publication of Condé Nast, fired an editor after complaints about inappropriate tweets published ten years prior arose. (1). However, since the incident, Condé Nast has not publicly canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (2).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Condé Nast uses its GlobalGiving program to distribute corporate donations (1). GlobalGiving will not support “evangelism or proselytizing, programs that require exposure, adherence to, or conversion to religious doctrine, or activities that promote a particular faith-based belief,” therefore discriminating against religious charities and organizations (2).

Criteria:

Employment policies fail to protect against viewpoint or other discrimination and/or are ideological in nature.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Condé Nast does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (1). The company requires all employees to participate in unconscious bias trainings (2). Vogue, a publication of Condé Nast, committed to the 15% pledge, meaning the company will “dedicate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands” (3)(4).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy

Criteria:

Uses corporate reputation to support causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Condé Nast’s CEO, Roger Lynch, signed the CEOs For Gun Safety letter (1). Lindsay Peoples Wagner, the editor and chief of Teen Vogue, founded the “The Black in Fashion Council” (2). Condé Nast’s CEO, Roger Lynch, signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace (3). Condé Nast was a contributing member of GARM’s Global Media Sustainability Framework which provides an action plan for media companies to transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions (4).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Condé Nast provides a benefits package for employees that covers travel/lodging costs for an abortion (1)(2)(3). The company has pledged $1,000,000 in advertising to “non-profit organizations combating racial injustices” (4). Traveler, GQ, and Vogue have all encouraged readers to donate to LGBTQ organizations and organizations such as Black Lives Matter (5)(6)(7).

Criteria:

Uses corporate political actions and/or financial contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Condé Nast does not operate a PAC at this time and has not lobbied for ideological purposes (1)(2)(3).