NEW YORK: The Public Relations Society of America called Tesla’s reported elimination of its PR department “alarming” in a statement issued on Tuesday.
The membership organization warned that such actions set a dangerous precedent for blocking information about the most valuable automaker in the world and affect the media’s ability to cover the company.
“In a world fraught with instability, disengagement is not a path to success and can result in dramatic reputational ramifications with long-term consequences as current events continue to make exceedingly clear,” PRSA said.
Strategic communications professionals are critical to reputation management, and a transparent, effective communications process “[supports] the public’s fundamental right to know and the media’s ability to provide in-depth reporting,” the group added.
The PRSA declined additional comment. Tesla again did not respond to a request for comment.
In what’s believed to be a first for an automaker, Tesla eliminated its PR department, with staffers either moving to different parts of the company or leaving entirely, according to eclectic vehicle industry blog Electrek, which said it confirmed the news “at the highest level of Tesla.”
