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The social media age and presidential tweets vastly complicate the White House Press Secretary’s job. But some things remain the same.
The secretary’s West Wing office is halfway between the Oval Office and the Briefing Room – and the job reflects that geographic metaphor. Succeeding requires balancing the conflicting needs of both sides of that often adversarial relationship.
The president needs faithful recitations of his priorities and policies; the press needs accurate, honest information to report. Both sides are rarely satisfied, but when they are, the press secretary can go home after a long day with a smile, not a scowl.
– Mike McCurry, former White House press secretary