Special message to members: PRSA Puget Sound letter on the role of public communications
Aug. 3, 2026
We have heard from our members that recent delays in public information have a profound impact on public trust and our Puget Sound communities. Below is a note drafted by the PRSA Puget Sound Board of Directors.
Protecting government communicators protects the public good
By Jillian Henze, APR, president, PRSA Puget Sound Chapter
When public sector communications staff members are sidelined or their processes delayed, our communities pay the price.
As documented in an April report from Axios, government leaders in our state are micromanaging important public communications through onerous internal systems. This practice creates significant bottlenecks and lengthy delays in releasing information, preventing or delaying Washingtonians from accessing information and further eroding trust in our public institutions.
The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Puget Sound Chapter represents nearly 300 local communications leaders. We assert that communicators exist to improve transparency and build trust. Timely and accurate responses to media outlets is part of our work to keep communities informed.
To build public trust and deploy information quickly and accurately, we ask leaders to improve internal systems and have a higher level of trust. In collaboration with communications teams, we recommend that public leaders:
-
Have a tiered review system based on urgency and risk, rather than a blanket review policy, so the public can have critical information at the time when it’s needed most
-
Create defined maximum review times so communicators are not stuck in limbo responding to a reporter (ex: 1 hour for urgent safety issues, 24 hours for routine news releases)
-
Staff the team who will review materials appropriately, given that more in-depth review processes will create a larger workload for that team
-
Establish legal protections that expedite internal processes for emergency communications regardless of their agency leader’s review process preferences
When an organization’s system of approving external communications includes too many departments and too many people, important health information (such as new measles cases) is delayed in getting out to the public. Reporters who meet roadblocks to your information channel will seek other ways to get their story, resulting in anonymous sources, leaks, and inaccurate information. Members of our communities don’t learn how a major policy change (such as changes in funding for the WIC food aid program) might play out, even when it is known within the agency and will have major, imminent implications on their daily lives.
The PRSA Puget Sound chapter stands by communications professionals who work to serve their communities, give reporters accurate and timely information, and dutifully perform the work the public entrusts them to do. As stated in the PRSA Code of Ethics to which we abide and promote: we will be faithful to those we represent, while honoring our obligation to serve the public interest.
###
We would love to hear from you. Email [email protected].
