PRSA Brings Together Communications Industry to Tackle Growing Misinformation Issue

NEW YORK, April 8, 2024 – PRSA today releasedTackling Misinformation: The Communications Industry Unites, a first-of-its-kind collection of perspectives, data points, analyses and resources based on the insights and advice from more than two dozen senior communicators across PR, the news media and academia.

Tackling Misinformation is produced in association with Issuer Direct, and is designed to educate communicators and public relations practitioners, and help them navigate the growing problem of misinformation, disinformation and malinformation. The guidebook and overall effort are designed to:

·       Show communicators and PR professionals how to learn from those at the root of misinformation – so that we can out-communicate them going forward.

·       Educate consumers and stakeholders to change human behaviors so that all of us become more skeptical of misinformation and better equipped to self-correct it when we see it.

·       Work together like never before – from cross-communications-industry partnerships to supporting community and special interest groups fighting misinformation at multiple levels.

“At a time of deep division within the United States and around the world, there are few areas that people agree on more than the devastating influence of misinformation and disinformation,” said Joseph Abreu, APR, CPRC, 2024 PRSA Chair. “Our role as communicators is clear: We follow the highest standards of accuracy and honesty and advance the free flow of truthful information to contribute to an informed society. This work will be an invaluable resource and an important tool in addressing the harms caused by misinformation, polarization and incivility.”

Tackling Misinformation reinforces PRSA’s longstanding commitment to advocacy that addresses the profession’s and society’s greatest challenges. To deal with misinformation – which is viewed as one of today’s most serious threats to trust and democracy – PRSA Chair-elect Ray Day, APR led an in-person roundtable and online conversations with top communications leaders and influencers. The results of these discussions are included in the guidebook.

“It’s time for the communications industry to move from talking about misinformation to doing something about it,” said Day. “Those whom we tapped for their insights agreed in the first five minutes that, while we often aggressively compete with each other, this is an issue that requires us even more aggressively to work together. Our vision is to create a societal movement against misinformation powered by the experience, talent and diversity of the communications industry.”

About PRSA
PRSA is the leading professional organization serving the communications community through a network of more than 400 professional and student chapters in the U.S., Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Puerto Rico. Guided by its Code of Ethics, PRSA empowers its members to succeed at every stage of their careers through a wide breadth of premium professional development programs, exclusive networking events and leadership opportunities. Signature events include the Anvil Awards and ICON, the premier annual gathering for communications professionals and students. For more information, visit www.prsa.org.

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Media Contact:
Karen Mateo
(212) 460-1454
karen.mateo@prsa.org