Biden campaign communications director Kate Bedingfield will serve as Biden's White House communications director. Jen Psaki, a longtime Democratic spokeswoman, will be his press secretary.

Four of the seven top communications roles at the White House will be filled by women of colour, and it's the first time its entire senior communications team will be entirely female.

President Donald Trump upended the ways in which his administration communicated with the press.

In contrast with administrations past, Trump's communications team held few press briefings, and those that did occur were often combative affairs riddled with inaccuracies and falsehoods.

Trump himself sometimes served as his own press secretary, taking questions from the media, and he often bypassed the White House press corps entirely by dialling into Fox News shows.

In a statement announcing the White House communications team, Biden said: "Communicating directly and truthfully to the American people is one of the most important duties of a President, and this team will be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of connecting the American people to the White House."

He added: "These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better."

Bedingfield, Psaki and Tanden are all veterans of the Obama administration.

After his campaign went virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic, Biden faced some criticism for not being accessible to reporters.

But near the end of the campaign, he answered questions from the press more frequently, and his transition team has held weekly briefings since he was elected president.

Australian Associated Press