How to Be White House Press Secretary

The person chosen to be the White House Press Secretary has an extensive journalistic background. This includes talk radio, television and print. There are plenty of routes to this position. Make sure that each step you take prepares you for when you become the White House Press Secretary.

Instructions

1. Start as early as you can if you want to be the White House Press Secretary. Take journalism classes in school if they offer them. Major in journalism when you get into college. Join your school's newspaper team, both in high school and college.

2. Begin your experience with your local news network. Intern with them if you're still going through college. Try to work for them after you graduate and then work your way up to reporter, gathering as much press experience as you can.

3. Write news articles for your news network's website. Submit articles for your newspaper if that fits with the News Network's policies. As White House Press Secretary, you'll want to gain well-rounded experience.

4. Get into the radio talk show arena if you can. A White House Press Secretary addresses reporter questions, and defends administration policies at the same time. As a talk radio host, you take calls and learn to debate and discuss things with your callers. This comes in handy when your peers face you while at the podium.

5. Join a gubernatorial candidate's campaign team from your party. Volunteer to be his or her communications officer. You have a shoe in the door for governor level press secretary if your candidate wins. Stay with this governor, especially if he ambitions to become president.

6. Submit your name for consideration when a new candidate wins the presidency. Selling yourself for the first position is your first test--you're applying for a job where you have to sell the President's policies.

Tips & Warnings

• Volunteer to be communications officer for a promising candidate, whether state level or national level. You could use your experience with your governor to jockey for a position as the communications officer for the candidate you feel will win the presidency.

• These steps are just one of the many ways you could end up as a White House Press Secretary. Remember to become a good journalist, position yourself and hope for the best.

• Study the current and past White House Press Secretary bios to find a common trend. Use this trend to guide your path to the White House.

Resources

• White House Press briefings