 Pregnancy Resource Centers attract major publicity by appearing on the cover of the February 26th edition of Time Magazine and in the article titled “The Grassroots Abortion War.”
The saying goes that there is no such thing as bad publicity. With Time’s circulation numbers near 4 million, the complaint of pregnancy centers everywhere being “the best kept secret” may become a thing of the past. While the article touches some of the abortion industry’s standard talking points, it also strongly highlights the good work done in pregnancy centers. We can find a few examples of questionable tactics, but the article upholds the fact that our work is to affirm the life of the woman and the baby.
Local media outlets often take their cue from the national publications. The Time article will likely translate into local reporters identifying the nearby centers/clinics with strong potential for media and public scrutiny and more publicity! This suggests that PRCs should take some important steps:
- Reaffirm the PRC’s Commitment of Care (a requirement for affiliation with Heartbeat).
- Evaluate all client phone and counseling interaction for factual and accurate responses and information, especially medical information and information on abortion. Consult the Talking About Abortion manual.
- Audit your training processes to be sure anyone who is interacting with clients (especially those answering the phone) was provided up-to-date factual information as regular part of the training process.
- Audit your advertising to be sure the language is appropriate and not deceptive or inaccurate.
If you are approached for comments or an interview, have one center spokesperson to whom all calls are referred. Be prepared to speak boldly about the good work you are doing. Some comments for the media could be:
- We serve women and the community in many ways (explain your services and statistics).
- “We offer care and compassion for our clients facing a difficult decision and do not profit by their decision in any way.”
- “Nearly 80% of post-abortive women report that they would have given birth if they had support and were aware of all of their options.* Our PRC helps those facing a decision about their pregnancy to understand their options.”
*Source: America’s Coerced Abortion Epidemic, David Reardon (www.afterabortion.org)
- “We are committed to accurate and factual medical information because the best decision is a fully informed decision.”
http://www.heartbeatinternational.org/pp_report_archives_smear_campaigns.htm
- The article briefly mentions federal funding for pregnancy centers. Local reporters may inquire whether your center has received funding, so be prepared for that line of questioning.
As PRC’s move to the forefront of the abortion debate they will increasingly be challenged by the well funded, coordinated critical efforts of the abortion providers. Know that advancements in technology and the undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the truth of abortion should make their job, not ours, more difficult. We continue to have the Lord and the reality of truth and life on our side.
(For Peggy Hartshorn’s reflections on the TIME Magazine article, NOT intended for talking points for the press, click here…)
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