A Press Secretary working in government handles all press and media functions for the public official he or she is representing. The most prominent person in this field is the press secretary to the president of the United States. The individual may work for other public officials such as mayors or state or federal legislators. He or she might also represent cabinet officers or agencies on the federal, state, or local level. There are also Press Secretaries who handle this function for political candidates, who are in the process of running for office. All Press Secretaries have similar duties and functions, no matter which official, candidate, or agency they represent.
One of the basic functions of the Press Secretary is to respond to questions from the press and media. The individual may answer questions him- or herself on behalf of the official. The Press Secretary might also brief the official on the situation and have him or her respond to questions. The Press Secretary schedules press conferences and press briefings. He or she may be responsible for making preparations for the conference, including setting up the location and checking on facilities for audiovisuals, microphones, podiums, seating, etc. The individual must prepare and distribute handouts for the media at these conferences. The Press Secretary may be in charge of opening informal press conferences. He or she may act as the moderator of the event, handling introductions, etc.
The Press Secretary works with the official or candidate in identifying subjects, issues, and topics for speeches, presentations, and awards. In some instances the Press Secretary is responsible for writing and/or editing speeches for the official.
In other cases the official may write the speech, or the task may be turned over to a professional speechwriter. The Press Secretary is in charge of keeping the media informed about the official’s activities and schedules photo opportunities for the media. He or she is responsible for writing and distributing press releases on both routine subjects and special informational matters or issues. The individual constantly strives to put and keep the official in the public eye in a positive manner.
The Press Secretary often acts as a buffer between the official and the press. When the official is unavailable or not ready to answer a media question, it is the Press Secretary who is responsible for holding reporters at bay. The Press Secretary also acts as a spokesperson for the official, at times reading statements or offering remarks.
The Press Secretary spends many long hours with the official. Together they decide how to improve the official’s image, the cost effective ways to answer difficult policy questions, how to deal with the media, etc. The Press Secretary does not work a typical nine-to-five day. Instead, he or she may work from early in the morning till late at night. The individual may also be required to work on weekends. The Press Secretary is responsible to the official. In cases where the Press Secretary is working on a political campaign, he or she may also be responsible to the campaign manager.
A Press Secretary can expect to earn between US Dollars 28,000 and US Dollars 100,000 plus annually. Earnings vary for individuals depending on the government official with whom they are working. Federal positions have a maximum on the annual salary that can be paid to people in this job.
Press Secretaries working in local government may earn salaries on the lower end of the scale. Those working for governors, senators, representatives, etc. earn more. Press Secretaries involved with political campaigns may earn US Dollars 150,000 or more.
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