Sage Publishing - 1792 Exchange

Rating Overview

Sage Publishing is High Risk.

Sage Publications Inc. is High Risk. The company yields to political activism in shaping corporate governance, potentially alienating consumers, dividing employees, and harming shareholders. The company implements race and identity-based policies that replace merit, excellence, and integrity with preferential treatment and outcomes. The company 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	Lower 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	No Data

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:

In February 2024, Sage Publishing retracted a scientific study that raised concerns about the safety of the abortion pill mifepristone. The study, which relied on Medicaid claims data, reported a significantly higher rate of abortion-related complications than many other studies on the subject and had been cited in litigation challenging FDA policies regarding abortion drugs. Sage stated that independent reviewers found the study lacked sufficient scientific rigor, contained methodological flaws, and reached conclusions that were not adequately supported by the underlying data. The publisher also cited concerns regarding conflicts of interest, noting that several of the study’s authors were affiliated with the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an anti-abortion advocacy organization. Following the retraction, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed suit against Sage Publishing seeking to compel arbitration. ADF argued that the retractions were unjustified and stated that “Sage took action against these highly respected and credentialed scientists because they believe in preserving life from conception to natural death.” The authors and ADF contend that the studies underwent peer review, that the authors’ affiliations were properly disclosed, and that the retractions were motivated by ideological disagreement rather than scientific deficiencies. The arbitration proceedings remain ongoing and, as of the latest reports, have not reached a final resolution (1)(2)(3)(4)(5).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

Lower

Rationale:

Sage Publications does not discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (1)(2).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Sage Publications appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its promotions and leadership composition. From its Diversity Pledge: “We pledge to publish a diverse range of perspectives within our journals, including BIPOC/BAME, different gender groups, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities, in order to invigorate academic discourse and improve literature. We aim to increase ethnic, gender, and geographical diversity on our editorial boards, in peer review, and in our author base” (1). The company is an affirmative action employer, “Sage is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.” (2). Sage Publications does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (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:

Sage Publications opposed various state and local legislation intended to protect parental rights, girls’ sports, bathroom facilities, and gendered spaces (1)(2). The company created an “LGBTQIA+ Research Microsite” in 2021 which compiled LGBT content, literature, research, etc. to highlight and further facilitate research on LGBT topics (3). Sage Publications President and CEO, Blaise Simqu, denounced various states’ legislative efforts to protect election integrity and security (4). The company is committed to net zero emissions by 2040 (5). Sage Publications supports DEI within its business practices, hosting a DEI Committee (6). The company published an article detailing their DEI pledges (7).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

High

Rationale:

Sage Publications is a brass corporate partner of Out & Equal (1). The company also partnered with the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom on Unite Against Book Bans (2). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of Sage Publications using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (3).

Criteria:

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

Risk Level:

N/A

Rationale:

Sage Publications does not operate a PAC or engage in lobbying at this time (1)(2)(3).