[Catherine Merritt]

Hi all,

Curious to hear if others were as appalled as I was when I saw Leavitt was included in PRWeek’s Power List? To be clear, my stance is not rooted in politics (but I’m not going to

Hi all,

Curious to hear if others were as appalled as I was when I saw Leavitt was included in PRWeek’s Power List? To be clear, my stance is not rooted in politics (but I’m not going to pretend like I don’t deplore her/this admins politics) but rather that she’s playing an active role in trying to erode free press, that she knowingly spreads lies as facts and she’s censoring legitimate journalists and giving a platform to propaganda-pushing grifters.

I emailed an op-ed to Steve Barrett at PRWeek which prompted him to call me and we spoke for half an hour (I told him I won’t charge him for that time as a courtesy). He was trying to make points that frankly didn’t stand up and didn’t sway me. Here’s the op-ed I wrote and I’d encourage others to reach out to him and put on pressure to him and the publication to redact this inclusion and apologize to everyone part of our industry as well as the other 49 people included in the list.

When Industry Awards Undermine the Foundation We Depend Upon
by Catherine Merritt, CEO at Spool

As someone who has spent decades in the PR and communications industry, I was troubled to return from vacation and learn of PRWeek’s editorial decision to include White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on their Power List and by their defense of that choice. Editor Steve Barrett’s rationale, that recognition is “about the power of the individual nominated and the position they hold, rather than the perceptions of how they are carrying out the job,” fundamentally misunderstands what professional recognition should represent in our industry.

Yes, the White House press secretary wields significant influence. To be clear, my perspective is not rooted in partisan politics but rather in Leavitt’s demonstrable harm to our industry and to our country’s founding principle of a free and accessible press. Power without principle is not leadership. It’s authority, full stop. There’s a critical difference that our industry and a leading trade publication should recognize and uphold.

Look, I appreciate the sentiment of separating the role from the institution it represents, but in this case, that’s like saying we should applaud the deckhand on the Titanic for doing a nice job straightening the chairs. Under the current climate, it’s impossible to separate the role from the institution it represents and that Leavitt upholds. Objectively, Leavitt plays a pivotal role in communicating and deploying this administration’s efforts to erode our country’s free press. When she defends barring the Associated Press from the White House press corps, announces censored-driven control over press pool operations, and celebrates court decisions that deny media access, she is upholding policies that directly attack the foundation our industry is built upon.

The deliberate restriction of press access based on coverage preferences shifts our government communications from public service into propaganda. This isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about the fundamental professional principle that effective communication requires transparency, not manipulation of information flow.

When official government communications knowingly share and perpetuate lies and false statements without correction, it normalizes a standard that would be unacceptable in corporate communications, let alone from the office of the President of the United States of America. As PR and comms leaders, we teach our teams that truth and credibility are our most valuable assets. How can we maintain that standard while celebrating its abandonment?

Ours is a country built on core beliefs, chief among them a free media and press. The communications industry is symbiotic with a free press. We pitch stories, build relationships with journalists, and rely on independent media to reach our audiences. By actively promoting policies that cut funding to established news organizations like NPR, PBS, Voice of America, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty due to its displeasure for fair and accurate reporting of this administration, Leavitt’s harm extends far beyond our industry to the country at large. Her actions directly contribute to the creation of “news deserts” across America, eliminating Americans’ access to trusted media outlets while simultaneously restricting our industry’s ability to engage with publications this administration is trying to shut down.

So again, I have to ask: besides being one of the youngest people to hold this role, what has she done as a professional to merit inclusion among the best of our industry? When the nation’s top government communicator models access restriction and knowingly shares false information, it sets a troubling standard that undermines professional excellence and should be cause for alarm, not celebration.

The PR and communications industry is at a critical juncture as we navigate the surge of AI and automated storytelling. This moment calls for industry publications that support us with meaningful resources and insights, helping us evolve while maintaining our core principles. Instead of mirroring what’s eroding trust in media and journalism, why not step up to raise the tides for our industry as a whole?

I believe PRWeek has an opportunity and obligation to reestablish itself as a leader within our industry. Steve Barrett’s acknowledgment that Leavitt’s inclusion would “ruffle some feathers” while flippant, could perhaps prompt deeper reflection on what our industry truly needs from one of its leading publications. Rather than focusing on decisions that lean into sensationalism, I’d love to see PRWeek recenter around its potential to unite our industry around shared standards of professional excellence and integrity.

Professional recognition should reflect professional excellence. That means evaluating not just reach and influence, but how that influence is wielded. Does it advance the profession? Does it serve the public interest? Does it maintain the ethical standards that give communications work meaning beyond mere manipulation? I’ve seen communications professionals navigate incredibly challenging political environments while maintaining their integrity finding creative ways to advance their interests without sacrificing accuracy or transparency. They build lasting relationships with media based on trust rather than access control.

We are communications professionals whose job is to facilitate understanding, build trust, and enable the kind of informed dialogue that democratic societies require. That mission transcends any single administration, political party, or individual career. I believe more than ever we must work together to establish that standard, set that example, and create the legacy our industry deserves for the communicators who will follow us.

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[Jennefer Witter]

I am completely flummoxed by her inclusion. Leavitt is an unqualified recipient of the recognition. As the current press secretary, she is working aggressively to roadblock free and fair news coverage

I am completely flummoxed by her inclusion. Leavitt is an unqualified recipient of the recognition. As the current press secretary, she is working aggressively to roadblock free and fair news coverage. Here is what she wrote about the press (source: Wikipedia) “In an opinion piece for the Crier in 2016, she stated that the media was “frankly crooked” and “unjust, unfair, and sometimes just plain old false”.” Her current actions underscore that she still thinks this way.

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[Joshua Inglis]

Well said

[Steve Cody]

I agree with every word that’s been written about Leavitt’s being included in the Power List. It’s appalling. And I believe some PR trades have eroded their credibility (and purpose) due to thei

I agree with every word that’s been written about Leavitt’s being included in the Power List. It’s appalling. And I believe some PR trades have eroded their credibility (and purpose) due to their insatiable thirst for more and more awards programs and lists. Enough is enough.

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