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A press assistant’s duties vary depending on the context of employment, but typically involve providing administrative support to a communications department or executive, drafting press releases, maintaining press contacts, managing social media, and conducting research. In political contexts, the focus is on media management and crafting public messages.
The duties of a press assistant largely depend on the context of employment. If a print publication advertises a print assistant position, it’s literally a position that helps manage the printing machines that print the publication, replacing supplies and watching the machine work. A more general working context is in communications, however. Non-profit and non-profit organizations hire a press assistant to support a communications department and as an assistant to a director of communications, public relations manager or press secretary.
Typically, a press assistant must provide administrative support to a communications department or act as a support staff for a communications executive. The job requires writing, speaking and organization skills. It may also require a level of familiarity with computers, Internet applications, and general office administration. He is often involved with the organization’s social media implementation and should be familiar with the latest trends in this area of communication.
On a daily basis, a press assistant may be required to draft press releases and official statements. He will likely have to develop and maintain a list of press contacts. Assistants can be allowed to develop stories and send them to others in the department. During events and special events configured specifically for the media, the assistant acts as the event coordinator for the media components, making phone calls to ensure media participation, preparing media kits, and providing support as needed. In some cases, he will need to manage components of the organization’s social media effort, contributing to blogs or managing networks.
Internally, a press assistant is usually assigned research assignments to help the company stay current on any mention of its people, business practices, products or services in the media. The assistant may be required to contribute to internal documents and attend training designed to educate employees on proper media etiquette. A press assistant will likely have some involvement with internal communication protocol and copy writing for marketing materials, newsletters and websites.
In the political arena, a press assistant may be hired to work with a press secretary on campaigns and as part of the permanent staff in incumbent offices. Assistants in this context work to craft the politician’s public message and help deal with information that is released to the press. Duties for this type of assistant tend to focus more narrowly on media management rather than general communications. The job can also be more stressful, as political information is often sensitive and time-critical.
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