KUDOS TO WAL-MART FOR MAKING A SMART DECISION

May 8, 2003
For Immediate Release
Contact:

Maryam Kubasek
Director of Media Relations
National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families/
Religious Alliance Against Pornography
513/521-6227, ext. 111

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. deserves applause for its wise and thoughtful decision to halt the sales of Maxim, Stuff and FHM, men’s magazines that are just a step away from pornography and available to all ages.

"This decision clearly underscores the fact that the majority of Americans are fed up with the sexualized messages advocated by these publications," said Rick Schatz, president and CEO of the National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families.

"It is also important to remember that they did not reach this decision simply because a group of people sat around the table and decided these magazines were offensive," he added. "As the world’s largest magazine retailer, they obviously did their homework to determine if these materials were pleasing to their market or not. The market is free to communicate, and clearly the answer was no."

Wal-Mart made a wise choice, and we applaud them for it.