Should the overall press secretary have authority that extends to cabinet-level agencies?
• Who will hire the spokespersons in the ministries and agencies? Will it be the top government press official or each agency head? If the central press office does the hiring, the top government spokesperson has control over the messages delivered, but this can prove very awkward for the head of a ministry. In the best of circumstances, there is cooperation and coordination. In these cases, the agency press secretaries coordinate their efforts with the central spokesperson but have the authority to plan and execute events in their own areas. • What news will the top government official announce on behalf of cabinet offices? • How do the subordinate offices fit into the overall media strategy? • What materials, such as press releases, interviews, and speaking engagements, need to be cleared by the central government press office before being distributed, and how is the review done? • What upcoming events or situations might impede the message a government official wants to send out? Wh
