Information & the record
press secretary
The official who speaks for an office or agency to the press. Statements from a press secretary are the institution's public position, not neutral description.
In full
Press offices brief reporters, distribute releases, and answer questions on the record. Their function is advocacy for the office they serve, which does not make them unreliable but does make them a party rather than a referee. A transcript of a briefing is a primary source for what the office said, not for whether it was true.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.