For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Contact:
Ed Barks
(540) 955-0600
Click here to send an e-mail.

Off the Record Interview Advice Now Featured on “Communications Training TV”

How and when should media sources conduct interviews with reporters on an “off the record” basis? Ed Barks answers that question in his latest "Communications Training TV" video lesson.

The new tutorial is titled “Can We Talk Off the Record?” It serves as one more channel for circulating the valuable findings in Barks’ research report, “Can We Talk Off the Record? Resolving Disagreements, Increasing Understanding Between Reporters and Public Relations Practitioners.”

The goal of his research—and the video lesson—is to help resolve disagreements over the use of off the record and to increase understanding between journalists and public relations practitioners.

As the president of Barks Communications emphasizes early in the video missive: “It is my firm belief that journalistic techniques such as off the record should be used only by highly experienced communicators, and then only in select situations.”

He acknowledges “sometimes strong disagreement” between those who consider off the record media interviews as a useful tool and those who shun the technique. Regardless of one’s point of view, he observes, “it is a long-standing part of the media relations toolkit,” revealing he has used it many times during his years as a communicator in the nation’s capital.

Barks concludes his “Can We Talk Off the Record?” video by listing some of the 10 common sense recommendations outlined in his research report. Among them, keep media interviews on the record unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise, develop and adhere to recommended standard definitions of off the record and other media relations techniques, and refrain from using such canards as “there is no such thing as off the record” or “off the record is a lie.” All 10 proposals are contained in the print report’s executive summary.

"Communications Training TV" features three- to six-minute video lessons, and highlights learning moments based on the areas in which Barks works with his clients—dealing with the media, speaking in public, testifying on Capitol Hill, and preparing association executives for Washington fly-ins.

Ed Barks works with corporate and association executives who deal with reporters and members of Congress, and with public affairs experts who want a seat at the decision-making table. The former radio broadcaster is the author of The Truth About Public Speaking: The Three Keys to Great Presentations. As President of Barks Communications since 1997, he has taught more than 3000 business leaders, association executives, government officials, athletes, entertainers, non-profit executives, and public relations staff how to succeed when they deal with the media, deliver presentations, and testify before government officials.