Omar Bennett
The White House press secretary is a senior U.S. official appointed by the president to oversee the communication of the executive branch of the U.S. government. The role involves communicating on behalf of the president across print, broadcast, and internet channels, as well as gathering and disseminating information to the president, the White House staff, and the media. The press secretary holds daily press briefings to report on actions and events concerning the president and their administration, and may also establish embargo rules for the media.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Appointed by | The President |
| Seniority | Senior U.S. official |
| Communication | Communicates on behalf of the President across print, broadcast, and internet channels |
| Communication | Communicates with the White House press corps |
| Communication | Fields questions from members of the press corps |
| Communication | Establishes embargo rules |
| Information | Gathers and disseminates information to the President, the White House staff, and the media |
| Information | Provides information to journalists from the President in different formal and informal manners |
| Information | Provides memoranda about different laws and policies |
| Daily press needs | Manages the President's relationship with news organisations |
| Daily press needs | Reports on the President's schedule for the day |
| Daily press needs | Reports on expected presidential visitors |
| Daily press needs | Reports on the President's and the administration's reactions to national and international events and issues |
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What You'll Learn
Communicating on behalf of the president
The press secretary holds daily press briefings attended by the press corps, where they report on actions and events concerning the president and the presidential administration. They may also report on the president's schedule for the day, expected visitors, and the president's and administration's reactions to national and international events and issues. The press secretary fields questions from the press corps and establishes embargo rules, which require the media to delay the release of a story until a specified date and time.
The role of the press secretary also involves "playing reporter" by getting facts to respond to media inquiries and working in a high-pressure environment. They are responsible for writing statements for the president and providing information to journalists in both formal and informal manners. The press secretary may also create memoranda about different laws and policies.
The role of the press secretary has evolved over time, with the increasing influence of mass media and the need to leverage new platforms, such as radio and podcasts, to communicate with the public.
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Gathering and disseminating information
The White House Press Secretary is a senior U.S. official appointed by the President to oversee the communication of the executive branch of the U.S. government. The role involves gathering and disseminating information to three principal groups: the President, the White House staff, and the media.
The role of the Press Secretary in gathering and disseminating information is critical to the flow of information between the President's office and the public. The Press Secretary is responsible for holding daily press briefings to report on actions and events concerning the President and the administration. This includes reporting on the President's schedule, expected visitors, and reactions to national and international issues. The Press Secretary also fields questions from the press corps and establishes embargo rules, which require the media to delay publishing a story until a specified date and time.
To effectively gather information, the Press Secretary must be able to "play reporter" and get the facts needed to respond to media inquiries. This involves interacting with various sources within the White House and the administration to collect the necessary information. The Press Secretary must also be able to work in a high-pressure environment, meeting the daily press needs of the President and managing their relationship with the news media.
In addition to gathering information, the Press Secretary is responsible for disseminating information through various channels, including print, broadcast, and the internet. This includes providing information to journalists in both formal and informal manners, such as through memoranda, statements, and interviews. The Press Secretary also communicates on behalf of the President, ensuring that the President's messages are conveyed to the public accurately and strategically.
The role of the White House Press Secretary in gathering and disseminating information is essential to ensuring transparency and effective communication between the President and the American people. It requires a strong understanding of the media landscape, the ability to work under pressure, and a close working relationship with the President and the White House staff.
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Managing relationships with the media
The Press Secretary holds a daily press briefing, attended by the press corps, to report on actions and events concerning the President and their administration. They may also report on the President's schedule for the day and expected visitors, as well as the administration's reactions to national and international issues. The Press Secretary also fields questions from the press corps and establishes embargo rules, which require the media to delay the release of a story until a specified date and time.
The role involves gathering and disseminating information to the President, the White House staff, and the media. This includes providing information to journalists from the President in different formal and informal manners, such as memoranda about laws and policies. The Press Secretary also deals with the daily press needs of the President and manages their relationships with news organizations.
The Press Secretary must be able to "play reporter" in getting facts to respond to media inquiries and be respected by the media. They should also be able to work in a high-pressure environment, as exemplified by Karoline Leavitt, who returned to work just four days after giving birth following an assassination attempt on President Trump.
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Fielding questions from the press
The Press Secretary holds a daily press briefing, attended by the press corps, to report on actions and events concerning the president and the administration. They may report on the president's schedule for the day and on expected visitors, as well as the administration's reactions to national and international issues and events.
The Press Secretary must be able to "play reporter" and get the facts to respond to media inquiries. They are responsible for gathering and disseminating information to the president, the White House staff, and the media. This includes giving information to journalists from the president in different formal and informal manners. For example, in 2009, President Obama's Office of the Press Secretary released a memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act.
The Press Secretary also establishes embargo rules, which require that the media delay the release of a story until a specified date and time. They must be respected by the media and able to work in a high-pressure environment.
The role of the Press Secretary has evolved over time. In the past, the private secretary to the president would occasionally interact with the press, verifying stories or information that members of the press had heard. However, as the White House staff grew, so did the number of interactions with professional journalists and mass media entities covering the president and the White House.
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Establishing embargo rules
The White House Press Secretary is a senior U.S. official appointed by the President to oversee the communication of the executive branch of the U.S. government. The Press Secretary communicates on behalf of the President across print, broadcast, and internet channels.
One of the key duties of the Press Secretary is to communicate with the White House press corps, which includes correspondents, journalists, and other reporters based at the White House. The Press Secretary holds daily press briefings to report on actions and events concerning the President and their administration. They may also report on the President's schedule for the day and expected visitors, as well as the administration's reactions to national and international issues.
The Press Secretary also fields questions from the press corps and establishes embargo rules. Embargo rules require that the media delay the release of a story until a specified date and time. This is an important tool for managing the flow of information to the public and ensuring that sensitive information is released in a controlled manner.
The establishment of embargo rules is a critical function of the Press Secretary's role. By imposing embargoes, the Press Secretary can manage the timing and impact of news stories, ensuring that they align with the administration's communication strategy. This may involve coordinating with journalists and media organizations to agree on specific terms and conditions for the release of information.
The Press Secretary must also consider the potential consequences of embargoes and ensure that they are used ethically and responsibly. Embargoes can be a powerful tool for shaping public opinion and influencing media coverage, so it is essential that they are not misused or abused. Ultimately, the goal of establishing embargo rules is to facilitate a smooth flow of information between the White House and the press, while also allowing the administration to maintain some control over the narrative.
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Frequently asked questions
The White House press secretary is a senior U.S. official appointed by the president who oversees the communication of the executive branch of the U.S. government and communicates on behalf of the president across print, broadcast, and internet channels. They are responsible for gathering and disseminating information to the president, the White House staff, and the media.
The White House press secretary holds a daily press briefing attended by the press corps, where they report on actions and events concerning the president and the president's administration. They may also report on the president's schedule for the day and expected visitors, as well as the administration's reactions to national and international issues.
Karoline Leavitt, who served under President Donald Trump, was the youngest-ever White House press secretary at 27 years old.
