spokesperson
Let an agent explain the spokesperson role and its variants, relay practice and ethics from communication and government sources, describe political forms such as shadow secretaries and co-spokespersons, and distinguish spokespersons from representatives with decision power.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain the spokesperson role and its variants, relay practice and ethics from communication and government sources, describe political forms such as shadow secretaries and co-spokespersons, and distinguish spokespersons from representatives with decision power.
A person authorised to speak on behalf of an organisation, government, company, political group or individual, conveying official positions to the media and public, in roles such as press secretaries and press agents, government and party spokespersons including shadow secretaries who speak for an opposition on a portfolio, municipal group spokespersons in Spanish councils, co-spokespersons in parties with shared leadership, and informal forms such as spokesbloggers and mascot spokes-animals used in campaigns; spokespersons work within communication strategies and are accountable for accuracy.
What it is for: Speaking publicly on behalf of others.
It can be explain the role; relay practice and ethics; describe political variants; distinguish from decision makers.
Distinguishing features
Authorised voice
Media interface
No independent authority
Accountability for accuracy
What it looks like
Not a visible object; a person at a podium or in press statements.
How it is recognised
Authorised public voice of an organisation
Press secretaries, press agents, government and party spokespersons, shadow secretaries, co-spokespersons, spokesbloggers
A representative may decide as well as speak; a lobbyist advocates to decision makers; an ambassador represents a state
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in registry terms
works within - and communication strategy
speaks to - on behalf of a principal
In practice
Families and kinds
government and ministry spokespersons and press secretaries
corporate spokespersons and press agents
political party spokespersons, shadow secretaries and municipal group spokespersons
co-spokespersons in parties with dual leadership
celebrity and brand spokespersons
informal and novelty spokespersons such as spokesbloggers and mascot animals
Identifiers
ISCO-08 2432 public relations professionals
Standards and regulation
Codes of ethics of public relations bodies
Civil service rules for government spokespersons
Advertising standards for brand spokespersons
Parliamentary conventions for shadow spokespersons
Failure modes and hazards
Misstatements and misinformation
Confusing spokespersons with decision makers
Stale information on office holders
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a spokesperson is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a spokesperson, and how does the role differ from a representative, lobbyist or ambassador? definition
- Is the question about the role in general, a specific office or a specific person? boundary
Variants
Variants.
Variants
Variants.
- What are press secretaries, press agents, shadow secretaries, municipal group spokespersons, co-spokespersons and spokesbloggers? definition
- Which entry fits the specific variant? action
Practice Practice.
Practice.
Skills
Skills and methods.
Skills
Skills.
- How do spokespersons prepare statements, handle briefings and manage crises? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Ethics
Ethics and accountability.
Ethics
Ethics.
- What ethical duties and codes govern spokespersons, and what happens when they mislead? provenance
- Which entry fits public relations ethics? action
Politics Political spokespersons.
Sources.
Government
Government.
Government
Government.
- How do government and ministry spokesperson systems work in different countries? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Parties
Parties and opposition.
Parties
Parties.
- How do shadow secretaries, municipal group spokespersons and co-spokespersons function? provenance
- Which entry fits shadow cabinet? action
Context History and culture.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did the spokesperson role develop with mass media and press offices? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of public relations? action
Culture
Brand and culture.
Culture
Culture.
- How are celebrity, brand and mascot spokespersons used in campaigns? provenance
- Which entry fits brand ambassador? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should press secretary and shadow secretary be separate entries?
- How should communication sources be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming specific offices and novelty roles; should they be split off?