PR firms urged not to edit Wikipedia

 

Cahal Milmo
Thursday 28 June 2012 10:19 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The professional body for public relations firms has called for its members to stop directly editing the Wikipedia pages of clients.

The new guidance from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) follows the revelation last December in The Independent that the lobbying company Bell Pottinger had made hundreds of alterations to entries for its clients on the online encyclopaedia, including removing a reference to a university drugs conviction for a businessman.

Under revised rules, contained in an 18-page document published by the CIPR, public relations firms will be expected to seek amendments through Wikipedia's editors and make clear that they are representing an individual or business.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in