PRCA statement on disclosure and media engagement

Recent reporting in the Guardian has raised serious allegations about public affairs practitioners discussing payments to journalists in return for favourable coverage, potentially without those arrangements being disclosed.

The PRCA Code of Conduct and Code for Professional Lobbying require members to act with honesty, openness and integrity, to make clear whose interests they represent, to ensure the source of information is identifiable and to avoid improper influence on the media.

Our industry codes give clients, journalists and the public confidence that practitioners are working to defined standards and can be held accountable against them.

Any attempt to secure favourable editorial coverage while concealing its source, sponsor or commercial purpose would be incompatible with our standards. PRCA members commit to best practice and should always be the first port of call for organisations procuring public relations and public affairs services and wanting to reduce reputational risk.