What Is Advocacy?

Public Affairs for the Profession

Advocacy at PRSA is a broad-based public affairs program for members and the profession. PRSA researches, tracks and speaks out on current issues impacting your professional practice, principles and reputation. Monitoring legislative, regulatory and public policy issues, Advocacy also promotes PRSA Code of Ethics values, including the free flow of accurate and truthful information essential to a democratic society. The PRSA Advocacy Advisory Board (AAB) drives the program to deliver the value of thought leadership and public advocacy on your behalf.

Advocacy in Action
Issue: The Federal Trade Commission issued a Call for Comments on rule changes restricting the use of testimonials and endorsements in advertising.
Action: PRSA submitted comments calling for further clarification of the rules.

Issue: In his memoir, Bush Administration Press Secretary Scott McClellan alleged issuing less than accurate information per instructions.
Action: PRSA issued a call for government agencies to enhance communications policies to pre-empt alleged conflicts of loyalty.

Issue: CBS News’ “Sunday Morning”aired an opinion segment by commentator Andrew Cohen roundly attacking the public relations profession.
Action: PRSA recorded a video to set the record straight. CBS later aired a defense of the public relations function by its vice president of communications.

Issue: A public relations firm allegedly funded a front group to derail re-election of officials who voted against a megastore, violating Michigan campaign law.
Action: PRSA issued a position to affirm obligations under the PRSA Code of Ethics to counsel against undisclosed front groups.

Issue: Public debate raged when anonymous posts on social media site Juicycampus.com caused emotional harm to fellow students.
Action: PRSA issued a Media Alert offering commentary on how anonymous Internet postings violate PRSA Code of Ethics principles.

Issue: Respectful discourse had given way to negative and personal campaign messages, and PRSA acted proactively to stem the tide. 
Action: PRSA launched the Clean and Fair Campaign 2008 and issued a formal challenge to the presidential campaigns to pledge to Code principles.
Action: PRSA also set up a Facebook group around a shared commitment to these principles as a de facto public referendum.

Issue: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) held a quickly arranged press conference at which staff filled in after media failed to appear.
Action: PRSA issued a public statement assessing the agency’s actions and offering guidance.
Action: At FEMA’s invitation, PRSA provided an on-site educational session for FEMA staff at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Issue: An activist group petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to require source identification in Video News Releases (VNRs) at each airing.
Action: PRSA joined the National Association of Broadcast Communicators and issued a public statement reinforcing the limits of the FCC rules.

Issue: Proposed legislation would have impeded the use of  VNRs by tightening disclosure requirements for government-sponsored VNRs.
Action: PRSA testified before Congress against the bill and its implications for the public relations profession.