About Us
RH Reality Check is an online community and publication serving individuals and organizations committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. RH Reality Check is guided by the issues and recommendations identified in the Program of Action agreed on at the International Conference on Population and Development at Cairo in 1994. Protection is our watchword—we are contributing to the global effort to empower people with the information, services and leadership they need to safeguard their sexual and reproductive health and rights and to guard against false attacks and misinformation. RH Reality Check exists as a resource for evidence-based information, provocative commentary, and interactive dialogue. We enjoy the support of the UN Foundation and the editorial independence entrusted to us. RH Reality Check provides a forum for ideas and opinions. The opinions expressed on the site are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of RH Reality Check or its funders. HOW TO GET INVOLVED
- Registering as a member of the site opens up the opportunity to comment on articles, hear from us through email and share your thoughts in other ways. We want to hear from you and be able to keep in touch!
- Tell your friends who are also interested in speaking up to counter the misinformation coming from the oppositon and encourage them to share their ideas with us—the more voices in this conversation, the better!
- Do you regularly blog on these issues on another site? We´d love to include your blog posts here, or invite you to blog with us too as a guest blogger. The blogosphere is big and we´re trying to find the most insightful, fun and informed progressive people interested in this important work. Please let our editor know if this sounds interesting to you.
- We celebrate the work of the outstanding network of organizations working in the field—our mission is to underscore and complement this work, not duplicate it. We seek to highlight the work of leading organizations in this field and to call attention to academic, policy and field successes. We urge readers to learn more about these wonderful organizations and to get involved in them.
- We will not contact you without permission, or share your contact information with any other site or organization. We are here as a distribution channel, a central location for information and truth about reproductive health, and a platform for community discussion. Please join us!
WHO WE ARE Scott Swenson, Editor. Scott worked in Congress, for nonprofits and foundations doing progressive advocacy work for 20 years. He was the Executive Director of Death with Dignity National Center, the organization responsible for drafting, passing and defending Oregon´s landmark Death with Dignity law. He helped produce and promote televised hearings on racism at the U.N. World Conference Against Racism in 2001 and is a person living with HIV. Contact him at scott AT rhrealitycheck DOT org. See Scott's blog.
Ellen Marshall, Consultant. Ellen began working on women´s issues 20 years ago on Capitol Hill. Since then, she has held senior roles for several NGOs, managing women & population programs and advocacy work, and at the State Department, where she also served on the U.S. delegations to the International Conference on Population and Development, the Fourth World Conference on Women and the World Summit on Social Development. See Ellen's blog.
Amie Newman, Managing Editor. Amie began her communications career more than fifteen years ago, working in network and public television including MTV, NBC and WGBH. She has spent the last nine years in nonprofit communications, working for such Seattle based progressive organizations as the Northwest Women's Law Center and most recently at Aradia Women's Health Center. At Aradia, Amie implemented a nationwide "Destigmatizing Abortion" campaign including the creation of I Had An Abortion, a book used in many abortion clinics around the country. Amie is proud to have been on the original Board of Directors for the bilingual zine Our Truths-Nuestras Verdades. Contact her at amie AT rhrealitycheck DOT org. See Amie's blog. Emily Douglas, Assistant Editor for Content. Emily has been involved in feminist and pro-choice activism for several years. She has been an editorial intern at The Nation and worked in direct service legal advocacy at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders in Boston. She graduated from Harvard University in 2004. Contact her at emily AT rhrealitycheck DOT org. See Emily's blog. Brady Swenson, New Media Associate. Brady has been designing and developing Web media for 15 years but avoided formal CS instruction and earned an English Literature degree from the University of Kansas. He recently served in the Peace Corps as an English and reading teacher and a community developer on the island of Leguan off the coast of Guyana. Along with women's rights and reprodutive health Brady has maintained an interest in community development which led him to the Fair Trade movement. He and his wife operate Two Hands Worldshop, a Fair Trade retail business. Contact him at brady AT rhrealitycheck DOT org. How Can I Get the Most Out of RH Reality Check? - Subscribe to our weekly eNews Updates, our daily news feed delivered straight to your email inbox or any of our RSS newsfeeds that allow you to receive instant updates on each of our content areas from Access to Abortion to Maternal Health to HIV/STI/AIDS Prevention.
- Read our weekly series that bring fresh, new perspectives and seasoned, expert opinions on the most pressing reproductive health and rights news. Past series, like "Earth & Birth" have focused on the intersection of reproductive health and environmental sustainability; "Father Knows Best" explored the Supreme Court decision on the federal abortion ban from a physician´s view while our international writers weighed in on the impact globally; and "Emerging Voices for Choice" highlighted a new generation of reproductive justice advocates.
- Uncover what the knowledge and opinion leaders of the most influential sexual and reproductive health organizations around the world are thinking in the Leading Voices section of the site.
- Find information on reproductive health and rights around the globe with our Global Perspectives writers who write from their native countries including Kenya, Thailand, the Phillipines, Mexico, India, Canada, England and more.
- Watch TV Reality which brings you daily, topical video—sometimes humorous and sometimes educational—from popular culture, advocacy organizations and original RH Reality Check footage on an array of reproductive and sexual issues.
- Contact us at editor(AT)rhrealitycheck(DOT)org and let us know what else we can do to contribute to the mainstream media dialogue on these issues. We want to work with you to craft and disseminate high quality, dynamic stories.
- Run our feeds and reproduce our content on your own news site by clearly attributing RH Reality Check as the source and linking back to us. Wherever possible, we also hope you will include our logo, which is available below, along with the HTML code required to embed it on your site.
RH Reality Check Backgrounder Conceived and executed by a small team of experienced leaders, "new media" experts and with the assistance of a number of leading advocacy organizations, RH Reality Check was launched in 2006 to harness new media and communications technologies and advance empirical information about reproductive health issues. Employing analysis and interactive features, RH Reality Check provides original reporting and commentary on a daily basis; establishes stock information that rebuts the "reckless rhetoric" utilized by opponents of reproductive rights; features special content series; and presents unique perspectives from around the world. RHRealitycheck.org´s extensive, expert coverage changes the public conversation surrounding reproductive health. In 2007, RHRealitycheck.org re-launched with a brand new look bring even more diverse information to our growing global community. Every day on RH Reality Check you´ll find the most pressing reproductive health and rights issues of the day; Global Perspectives connects experts around the world with regular writing from every region about these issues that are at the core of our common humanity. Our Leading Voices section of the site features knowledge leaders from throughout the sexual and reproductive health community writing with expertise on their subject areas. In addition, you´ll find cutting edge interactive features like our Google customized search which helps you streamline your research by prioritizing leading reproductive health news and information sources in a search. With an extensive catalogue of sexual and reproductive health advocacy organization´s web sites, progressive publications and all of the major news collection sites, RH Reality Check's customized google search allows you access to a veritable library of the most important sexual and reproductive health web sites you´ll need to conduct any research. Our Partnerships
Oneworld.net – OneWorld U.S.provides international perspectives on global issues gathered from OneWorld partners worldwide. RH Reality Check is a partner. RH Reality Check is consistently featured in their information products including on their site, in their weekly emails to global partners and on their yahoo news site.
Goal: To become a more active participant in the community; to post press releases, to pitch ideas for their Perspectives Magazine and to discuss new projects more consistently on the email listservs. Women Deliver Conference – RH Reality Check partnered with the Women Deliver Conference to publish a monthly article on our site from Jill Scheffield, director of Family Care International, one of the sponsor’s of the conference. Caucus for Evidence-Based Prevention leading up to the Int’l AIDS Conference – RH Reality Check is partnering with the Caucus of leading HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations to publish consistent content leading up to the IAC (International AIDS Conference) in 2008. Americans for UNFPA – RH Reality Check publishes a weekly or semi-weekly post from Anika Rahman on women’s global health issues. Advocates for Youth, SIECUS, Isis, Inc. – RH Reality Check worked in tandem with these organizations on Fresh Focus: Sex Ed Digital Video Contest. In addition, RH Reality Check presented at Isis, Inc.’s inaugural conference, Sex::Tech, on technology and sexual health education for youth in San Francisco. The Media Consortium – Consortium of independent, progressive publications. RH Reality Check is a member. DDB Advocacy – produces Communications Connection, a series of webinars for professional reproductive and sexual health advocates to share research, on RH Reality Check in a password-protected part of our site. Choice USA - In collaboration with Choice USA, RH Reality Check brings young women's voices front and center to the reproductive justice dialogue through our Youth Voices posts. Look for the "Youth Voices" icon inside a post! For Writers and Reporters We know how difficult it can be when you need to research, write and fact check an article in only a few hours. Take time to look through our site each day. Our top stories of the day and week are right at the top of the page, to the right of the features story. Our Leading Voices pieces are at the bottom of the page. In both of these places, you´ll find our staff and guest writers contributing investigative and opinion pieces that cover the most important reproductive and sexual health issues of the day and week - from around the world. We´ll work with you to find those top stories, breaking news and critical commentary and help disseminate the message. Writer´s Guidelines Are you a freelance writer interested in sexual and reproductive health issues? We´d love to read your story or pitch for a special series, investigative report, opinion piece or interesting interview. Our readers are savvy about sexual and reproductive health issues and are interested in a full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health news and information. Before submitting, please familiarize yourself with the kind of stories we post. If you have questions, please email the editor at editor AT rhrealitycheck DOT org. We will consider payment for stories with an investigative or original reporting angle. We are a small staff and are not able to edit extensively. If you´d like a story considered for posting please send us your piece in final draft form. We will publish stories that have been posted elsewhere with permission and credit to the original publisher or site if you do not own the rights to the story. More information on "Best Practices" for our writers is coming soon. For Reproductive Health Advocates We hope you will look at RH Reality Check as a consistent source for breaking news, in-depth analyses and spot-on commentary for all issues of sexual and reproductive health and justice. We hope you also see us as a key partner and ally in your work! Since 2006, RH Reality Check has served as a vehicle to help bring important stories to the mainstream media - stories framed and analyzed by you, the leading voices in the sexual and reproductive health landscape: RH Reality Check´s coverage of these issues has been widely circulated among the top political and feminist blogs including Salon, Daily Kos, Alternet, and Feministing, helping to educate and inform people about the issues for which you advocate. In addition, top columnists including Nicolas Kristoff have featured information and key findings from RH Reality Check articles to generate their own coverage of the issues. Comprehensive sexuality education advocates like Advocates for Youth and SIECUS use RH Reality Check to highlight the ethical lapses and questionable tactics of the supporters of abstinence-only programs. AIDS Prevention advocates have used RH Reality Check to debut new advocacy campaigns that have generated extensive coverage for their causes. RH Reality Check also partners with international conferences on reproductive health and justice issues to produce editorial content, generate interest in the conference and highlighting these crucial causes about which we all care deeply. We are always available to speak with reporters or editors about any of our stories. We will also serve as a conduit if you would like to connect directly with one of our guest bloggers! RH Reality Check Web Logo We encourage other organizations and websites to help us promote RH Reality Check. Please use the HTML code below to embed this web button (96 x 32 pixels) on your website or in your organization's e-newsletters. <a xhref="http://www.rhrealitycheck.org" title="Information, analysis and commentary for Reproductive Health"><img xsrc="http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/emailphotos/rhrc-button-4.jpg" border="0" height="32" width="96" alt="Information, analysis and commentary for reproductive health."></a> 
How to Submit Articles Please send unsolicited pitches in the text of an email and unsolicited articles as a Word document attachment, and be sure to embed all of the links in your article. Submissions should run approximately 700-800 words. You can send to emily AT rhrealitycheck DOT org or amie AT rhrealitycheck DOT org. Please include the word "submission" in the subject line. Please make sure and note if this is a reprint of an article and include a link to the original story. We will contact you if we decide to publish your article so please include your name and contact information. If we choose to publish your story, we will ask you for a short bio and a digital photo. Thank you for your interest in RH Reality Check! Journalist Code of Ethics This code of ethics is taken from the Center for Independent Media´s New Journalist Fellow Program´s web site and adapted for RH Reality. Journalists should: - Ensure the accuracy of all information, regardless of where it comes from. Review facts and stories. Never knowingly publish false information.
- Give all the public the chance to respond to news stories, particularly those who might be accused of wrongdoing. Keep an open dialogue with the public.
- Identify sources when possible. The public must be able to know how reliable sources are.
- Take special care with anonymous sources, keeping their motives in mind. Do not become beholden to sources; keep agreements with them clear and honest.
- Never misrepresent events in an attempt to oversimplify or take events out of context.
- Maintain the integrity and clarity of visual and audio content in keeping with the standards for written content.
- Only use undercover and surreptitious methods of gathering information in extreme situations when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public. Do not compromise personal or professional integrity for any reason.
- Never plagiarize.
- Never limit their reporting to information that people want to hear. Write stories regardless of whether a subject is popular or whether people want to read about it.
- Seek to improve the public discourse by never stereotyping based on race, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance or social status. Avoid imposing cultural values on others and keep in mind the growing diversity of modern society.
- Support the open exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.
- Use both official and unofficial sources to acknowledge and give voice to those without traditional power.
- Acknowledge the difference between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be understood as such.
- Distinguish news from advertising and never allow the latter to take precedence over the former.
- Recognize their role in maintaining an open society by ensuring that the public's business and government records are open to inspection.
- Be sensitive to those who may be affected adversely by news coverage. Use care and courtesy when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
- Recognize the possible negative effects of their news stories, and remain humble in the pursuit of gathering and reporting information.
- Be aware of the differences between private people and public figures, and remember that that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy.
- Show good taste in the stories they run.
- Be judicious about naming criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges. Use caution about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes. Balance a criminal suspect's fair trial rights with the public's right to be informed.
- Always be fair, but always favor truth over balance.
- Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived, and disclose unavoidable conflicts.
- Remain active, interested, and involved members of society without letting their activities unduly influence their duties to their readers and the public.
- Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun employment or engagement in organizations that would compromise professional integrity.
- Hold the powerful accountable without exception.
- Maintain integrity by resisting pressure from advertisers and special interests to influence news coverage.
- Keep a clear-eyed sense of distrust of sources offering information for favors or money.
- Keep an open dialogue with the public in an effort to maintain and improve standards.
- Encourage the public to use the information they have to question and analyze news stories on their own, and voice grievances when they feel stories are wrong.
- Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
- Expose unethical practices among each other and wherever they are found to maintain professional standards.
- Keep the same high standards to which they hold others.
Election Endorsement DisclaimerRH Reality Check does not endorse or lobby on behalf of any one candidate or political party. RH Reality Check has and continues to work hard to reach out to all of the candidates and both major political parties to ensure that all perspectives and voices on the issues central to our focus are represented.
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Our Commenting Policy
We understand that the issues discussed on this website are divisive. Unlike many forums that concern these issues we embrace and encourage a civil discourse about them. We will continue to allow open commenting that is of a civil nature and that seeks to engage the debate, but we will delete without further explanation comments that threaten, demean, or decrease the civility of discussion.
Testimonials
Krista Jacob, editor of Abortion Under Attack: Women on the Challenges Facing Choice says, "RH Reality Check is an excellent resource."
Gloria Feldt, former Planned Parenthood president and author says, "I want to say how impressed I am with RH Reality Check. It is a fantastic site and very well promoted on the web as far as I can see. (Full disclosure, I contribute on occasion.) I particularly like that it has space for all aspects of the reproductive rights, health, and justice issues so by its very being it delivers the holistic message."
Frances Kissling says, "I loved RH Reality Check when I was president of Catholics for a Free Choice. Now, as an independent writer and commentator it is indispensable. Crisp and timely news on every aspect of reproductive health and rights, access to the opinions of the world´s most prominent leaders in the field and generous links to the most important websites. I don´t leave home without it!"
The Women´s Health News Blog says, "Are you reading the RH Reality Check blog? Because if you´re interested in reproductive rights and aren´t reading it, you´re missing out. Those folks are tireless ..."
Bill Smith, SIECUS says, "RH Reality Check has quickly become a key resource for advocates engaged in sexual and reproductive health and rights. Consistently fresh with top notch writing by staff and guests makes a daily visit to the site essential."
Naina Dinghra, Global Fund for HIV/AIDS says, "RH Reality Check is the best way to stay on top of hot news in the reproductive health and rights community. I love RH´s edgy commentary that gives analysis that you just can´t get in the mainstream news."
Jon O'brien, President, Catholics for a Free Choice says, "RH Reality Check is a vital tool in the battle we are waging over reproductive rights in the US and internationally. It´s a perfect antidote to counter all the right´s misinformation."
Wednesday View bloggers refer to RH Reality Check's "surprisingly nuanced posts."
Andrea Camp, Institute for Civil Society says, "RH Reality Check is really emerging as a key hub for activism, thought, etc., so kudos for the patience and brains to know how and when to change and improve. I think it is a real model for other social change efforts."
Girlistic bloggers say RH Reality Check is a "Must-Read Blog on reproductive health."
Tamar Abrams, Population Action International says, "I have spent the past three hours cruising around the internet-awed and amazed by how widely the documentary has been disseminated. It is on salon.com, on a website in Australia, on Alternet! RHRealityCheck has been a catalyst for getting the video widely seen and discussed. I can´t tell you how impressed and overwhelmed I am. I come from the old school where you wrote things on paper and got them into the hands of the media one by one, hoping they would tell your story. This is a new world and one that is so much more effective in spreading messages. Your site played a huge role in all of this."
Kate Bourne, International Women's Health Coaltion says, "I just discovered that RH Reality Check is very blackberry friendly!!! RH Reality Check really has become a fab resource!!!!"
Joerg Dwerke, Guttmacher Institute says, "You guys are wonderful to work with and you certainly make my job much easier by offering us such a great outlet."
Toys in Babeland bloggers say “RH Reality Check, one of the best reproductive rights blogs out there…”