On Friday the International Association of Business Communicators joined the Public Relations Society of America and the Canadian Public Relations Society in explicitly condemning PR people who use "alternative facts." IABC's statement, in part:
IABC is unwavering in our commitment to and advocacy for our Global Standard and Code of Ethics. “Alternative facts” have no place in professional communication. I’m certain this was never in doubt for all of you as members. But should someone ask you for IABC’s stance on this issue, I invite you to point them to this blog post and our Global Standard.
To communicators who say these statements won't make a difference because Trump administration communicators don't belong to any of these organizations, I'd refer you to the Communicator's March, and the notion that every communicator has a role to play in upholding the standards of his or her own government agency, nonprofit or corporation. To become widespread, post-truth PR must spread. It's up to every working stiff in corporate communication to see that it doesn't.
At this moment and as events warrant, we hope their professional associations' uncommon courage at this moment gives them courage in common.
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