A press secretary serves as the principal spokesperson for a head of state, government, agency, party, or major organization, translating policy decisions into public-facing messages and fielding journalists' questions. The role typically combines three functions: briefing the press corps on official positions, shaping the daily news cycle through scheduling and message discipline, and advising the principal on communications strategy.
In the United States, the White House Press Secretary leads the White House Press Office and conducts on-camera briefings in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, named after Reagan-era press secretary James Brady, who was wounded in the 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan. The position is appointed by the president and does not require Senate confirmation. Other governments use different titles for analogous roles — the United Kingdom has the Prime Minister's Official Spokesperson, who briefs the Westminster lobby twice daily, while many foreign ministries designate a spokesperson to handle diplomatic messaging.
Key responsibilities generally include:
- Holding regular on-the-record briefings (daily, weekly, or as needed)
- Issuing written statements and readouts of meetings and calls
- Coordinating with cabinet departments to ensure message consistency
- Managing pool reporters, travel press, and accreditation
- Handling crisis communications and corrections
Press secretaries operate on a spectrum between transparency and message control. They distinguish between on-the-record remarks (attributable by name), on-background (attributable to an unnamed official), and off-the-record information. Tension with the press is structural: journalists seek disclosure, while the press secretary protects the principal's agenda and avoids premature commitments.
International organizations also employ the role — for example, the UN Secretary-General's Spokesperson conducts a daily noon briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, and NATO and the European Commission maintain dedicated spokesperson services. For Model UN delegates and researchers, press secretary statements are useful primary sources but should be read as official positioning rather than neutral fact.
Example
In 2022, Karine Jean-Pierre became the first Black woman and first openly LGBTQ person to serve as White House Press Secretary, succeeding Jen Psaki.