May 01, 2011

White House Press Office Promotes Earnest, Hires DNI's Smith

First reported in Politico’sPlaybook”, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney announced late last week the promotion of Josh Earnest and the hiring of Jamie Smith.

Josh Earnest Earnest (pictured at right in center) has been promoted to a newly created position, Special Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy White House Press Secretary.  Carney said Earnest will assume responsibility for briefing reporters and traveling with President Obama when he is unable to do so, as well as helping oversee the press staff.

Jamie Smith Smith (pictured at left) joins the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Press Secretary, where she will serve as an on-the-record spokesperson and manage the day-to-day operations of the press office.  Smith currently serves as Director of Public Affairs for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).  She previously served as Communications Director for Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Traveling Press Director for the Hillary Clinton for President campaign, Communications Director for former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and the Albright Group and Legislative Aide to Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY).  Smith is a native of Buffalo Grove, IL and a graduate of Kenyon College.  (Politico’s “Playbook”)

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