Secretary of State for Press

The Secretary of State for Press, also known as Secretary of State for Communication (SECOM) is a high-ranking official of the Office of the Spanish Prime Minister in charge of the government's communication policy. This position must not to be confused with the Spokesperson of the Government, which is normally one of the government ministers.

Secretary of State for Press
Secretario de Estado de Comunicación
Moncloa Palace's logo
Incumbent
Miguel Ángel Oliver
since June 8, 2018
Office of the Prime Minister
StyleThe Most Excellent (formal)
Mr./Ms. Secretary of State (informal)
Reports toPrime Minister
Government's Spokesperson
NominatorPrime Minister
AppointerMonarch
PrecursorSecretary-General of the Government Spokesperson's Office
FormationMay 7, 1996May 7, 1996 (1996-05-07)
First holderMiguel Ángel Rodrígez Bajón
Salary€ 112,145.95 per year[1]
WebsiteLa Moncloa

Unlike what happens in other countries, the Secretary of State is not responsible for appearing before the media, but is responsible for collecting national and international information and advises the Prime Minister on how to use it or disseminate it. It is also responsible for coordinating the rest of the Administration's press departments, both inside and outside.

It depends functionally on the Spokesperson, who is usually a minister or an official with the rank of minister who is in charge of appearing before the media. The current position was created in 1996, however, the history of the press department dates back to 1910s.

Functions

The Secretary of State is in charge of:[2]

  • The coordination of the information policy of the central government and the elaboration of the criteria for its determination, as well as the promotion and coordination of the institutional communication policy of the State.
  • The elaboration and diffusion of the communiqués of the Government and its Prime Minister and the review of the activities of the Council of Ministers.
  • The direction of the information services of the General State Administration in Spain and abroad.
  • Relations with the media, as well as the analysis of the national and international conjuncture.
  • The organization of the national and international coverage of governmental activity.
  • Attendance at the activities and public appearances of the Prime Minister, both in national territory and abroad.
  • The support to the Commission of publicity and institutional communication, in the exercise of the functions that attributes the Royal Decree 947/2006, of 28 of August, by which regulates the Commission of publicity and institutional communication and the elaboration of the Advertising and Communication Annual Plan of the General State Administration.
  • The management of communication in situations of national emergencies.
  • The analysis of current legislation on information and the proposal of measures for improvement.

Structure

From the Secretary of State depends:[3]

  • The Department for National Information.
    • The National Information Unit.
  • The Department for International Information.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for International Information.
  • The Department for Regional Information.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for Regional Information.
  • The Department for Economic Information.
    • The Economic Information Unit.
  • The Digital Department.
    • The Digital Information Unit.
  • The Information Logistics Unit.
  • The Deputy Director General of Analysis and Documentation.
  • The Institutional Advertising Unit.

The press departments of the embassies of Spain and all the diplomatic missions depend from the Secretary of State.

List of Secretaries of State
  • Miguel Ángel Rodrígez Bajón (8 May 1996–11 July 1998)
  • Pedro Antonio Martín Marín (11 July 1998–29 April 2000)
  • Alfredo Timermans del Olmo (27 July 2002–20 April 2004)
  • Miguel Barroso Ayats (20 April 2004–1 October 2005)
  • Fernando Moraleda Quílez (1 October 2005–15 April 2008)
  • Nieves Goicoechea (15 April 2008–11 March 2010)
  • Félix Monteira de la Fuente (11 March 2010–23 December 2011)
  • Carmen Martínez Castro (23 December 2011–8 June 2018)
  • Miguel Ángel Oliver (8 June 2018–present)[4][5]
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References
  1. "Retribuciones para el año 2017 para el organismo Presidencia del Gobierno". transparencia.gob.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  2. "Royal Decree 419/2018, of June 18, by which the Prime Minister's Office is restructured". boe.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  3. "Royal Decree 136/2020, of January 27, by which the Prime Minister's Office is restructured". boe.es. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  4. Razón, La. "El periodista Miguel Ángel Oliver, nuevo secretario de Estado de Comunicación". www.larazon.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  5. "Miguel Ángel Oliver, de 'Noicias Cuatro' a la Secretaría de Estado de Comunicación". La Vanguardia. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
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