John Stauber is an American writer and political activist who co-authored two books about the PR industry, one book about industry manipulating science (Trust Us, We're Experts) and another about mad cow disease. His most recent book, written with Sheldon Rampton, is Banana Republicans (2004), argues that a right-wing conspiracy, in the form of the Republican Party and its functionaries in the media, lobbying establishment and electoral system, is undermining dissent and squelching pluralistic politics in the United States.

Stauber is the founder and executive director of The Center for Media & Democracy, which sponsors PR Watch. Since the 1960s, he has worked with public interest, consumer, family farm, environmental and community organizations at the local, state and national level. He edits and writes for the Center's quarterly newsmagazine, PR Watch.