The Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) and the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) have joined a host of communications organisations in making a public statement affirming the importance of a free press.

The statement has been released to express support for the critical role of a free press and the USA’s First Amendment. It attests to the essential value of a free press to inform decision-making, and decrying attacks on the media as an ‘enemy of the people’.

The statement, launched by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), declares: “We collaboratively declare our support for journalists who bravely seek the truth, focus on facts, and hold government, business and other institutions accountable.”

This statement has been released alongside more than 200 newspapers across the U.S. which have commented that ethical journalism and freedom of thought and expression are essential to democracy.

Elise Mitchell, President, ICCO, said: “An open society, freedom of speech and a free press create the context for our profession. These are core tenets of our members’ work on behalf of clients in markets around the world. ICCO is pleased to support this joint statement and the pursuit of truth, facts and open dialogue to serve individuals and society.”

Francis Ingham MPRCA, Director General, PRCA and Chief Executive, ICCO, said: “Without a free press, there can be no real PR industry and profession. More fundamentally though, a free press is integral to a free and democratic society. That is why we stand in absolute unity with our sister organisations from around the world in reaffirming and defending the core values that define any nation that calls itself progressive.”

To read the statement, click here.