We inaugurate a new president today, and with him comes a whole new administration. As an American, I’m anxious to see what changes this administration brings our country and how these changes will affect me. But as a PR practitioner, I’m paying close attention to President Barack Obama’s communications team, particularly White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
Courtesy of Associated Press
As The New York Times states:
Gibbs, “has worked for [President Obama] since 2004 and played a central role in guiding him through his first two years in the Senate and his ascension to the national scene. He has advised [President] Obama on politics, strategy and messaging, and is often the last person to speak to him before he takes the stage. For the last four years, during [President] Obama’s time in the Senate and throughout his race for the presidency, no adviser has spent more time at [President] Obama’s side than Mr. Gibbs.”
As the face of the administration, the job of White House press secretary is HUGE. I’ve been awestruck by it for years and unfortunately not too impressed with some of the folks who have held this position in the past. Gibbs sounds like a bit of a fireball (remember the tong lashing he gave Sean Hannity after Hannity basically accused him of being an anti-Semite?), but he also seems extremely knowledgeable and a master of his craft. I’m sure the White House press corps won’t have to worry about him being dull.
As for the rest of President Obama’s communications team, there is:
• Ellen Moran, 42, Communications Director
• Daniel Pfeiffer, 33, Deputy Communications Director
• Jon Favreau, 27, Speechwriting Director
Think I feel inadequate knowing that Jon Favreau is younger than me? Um. Yeah. Just a little!
I encourage you to check out The New York Times Magazine’s amazing photo gallery “Obama’s People”.
Happy inauguration day!
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