PR agency refers itself to PRCA over claims of “astroturfing” in Manchester

At the time councillors called the leaflet campaign “outrageous and misleading”.

Sir Richard Leese said it was “one of the most outrageous things he’d seen in a long, long time.”

SMG Europe responded to the criticism saying that it wasn’t their intention to mislead anyone and that they were “sorry” if anyone believed that it was.

Earlier today, Jim Donaldson, the agency’s UK boss told PRWeek that he was confident that “process will prove that it conducted itself appropriately during the campaign, which its client stands fully behind.”

In a statement this afternoon, Francis Ingham MPRCA, Director General, PRCA said:

“We welcome this decision by FleishmanHillard Fishburn to refer themselves to the PRCA Professional Practices Committee. The process is now underway and will proceed in its well-established, thorough, and timely manner.”

Friends of Eastlands still exists on social media platforms, with links pointing to the survey, which is now closed. 

Astroturfing is where an organisation attempts to create an impression of widespread grassroots support. This contravenes the PRCA Professional Charter and the CAP Code.