The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is quoted in an April 20, 2012, article in Ragan’s PRDaily detailing the alleged unethical public relations practices in an attempted smear campaign against USA TODAY reporters. PRSA Associate Director of Public Relations Keith Trivitt tells PRDaily that the alleged actions of setting up fake websites to damage the reputations of USA TODAY reporters represent a “disturbing example of unethical” public relations practices.
 

“In a society that is grounded in the principle of freedom of the press it is unfortunate that those working within or on behalf of the U.S. government would go to such lengths to attempt to subvert the dissemination of information that the public has a right to know,” said Trivitt.

Trivitt further states that PRSA is “disturbed” by the allegations and hopes that the federal government takes “every step necessary to investigate the matter and ensure the protection of reporters' and editors' constitutional right to report any and all information, no matter how embarrassing it may be to certain government agencies or contractors.”