It’s been a decade since PRSA set up its Advocacy Advisory
Board in response to a member survey. The board is charged with helping to
advance the profession by being PRSA’s consistent voice on key issues. One of the most recent issues has been PRSA’s
actions to urge the U.S. Senate not to restrict government use of PR
firms. Two U.S. senators are conducting an
investigation into the government’s use of PR and advertising contracts. PRSA’s concern is that the investigation will “disregard” the central value of public
relations to the federal government.
In a letter to Roll Call, PRSA Chair and CEO Gerard F.
Corbett, APR, Fellow PRSA, stated: “Whether educating the public about
government services, providing information on public health and safety, explaining
the tax code, attracting businesses to an economic enterprise zone, or any of
dozens of other areas, governments have a clear role in communicating
effectively and efficiently to the public.”
We have no problem with investigating potential flaws in
contracting procedures. But it is critical that PR not be characterized as a
whole-scale misuse of funding.
You can read more on the PRSA website, including the letter from PRSA to the Senate Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight and the Roll Call
op ed.
You can also listen to an interview with Gerry Corbet
conducted by Shel Holtz.
No comments:
Post a Comment