One of the largest groups in the public relations world condemned a top White House aide’s recent defense of “alternative facts,” saying any threats to truth “reflect poorly” on all communications professionals.
The Public Relations Society of America issued a statement Tuesday rebuking a comment made by President Donald Trump’s counselor Kellyanne Conway. Conway said Sunday that White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer used “alternative facts” to dispute the documented reality that Trump drew in a smaller audience at his inauguration than former President Barack Obama did.
The public relations organization, which has 22,000 members, warned against the deliberate misrepresenting of facts. “Encouraging and perpetuating the use of alternative facts by a high-profile spokesperson reflects poorly on all communications professionals,” said Jane Dvorak, who chairs the group. “Honest, ethical professionals never spin, mislead or alter facts.”