For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Model Article Offers Peek into Future

Leaders quoted in the media often wonder what their words will look like before an article appears in print. Barks Communications now gives them a glimpse into the future with a model article posted on its Barkscomm.com web site.

“How will what I say translate into black and white? This is one of the most frequently asked questions during many media training workshops,” said company President Edward J. Barks. “The model article paints a clear picture of what can go right—and what can go wrong—when news sources deal with the media.”

The article demonstrates the final product of Barks’ innovative Reporter’s Roundup exercise, in which a Barks trainer interviews an individual over the telephone, portraying a reporter. The trainer then writes a news article based on the conversation.

The sample article, which can be viewed at www.barkscomm.com/pdf/ReportersRoundup, centers on an interview with Jane Smith, the chief financial officer of a fictitious telecommunications company. It quotes Smith, for instance, using dense jargon: “We’ve been in it in the corporate space right from TTY and PC up through the current web channels.”

In addition, she is caught stepping into several traps, such as repeating a reporter’s negative language, responding, “I don’t know that we have any failures.”

“Reporter’s Roundup shows our clients in stark terms what can happen when they fail to prepare to meet the media,” Barks continued.

Every Barks trainer who conducts the Reporter’s Roundup is an experienced reporter. This means they know the rules of the newsroom as well as how reporters think.

The Barks trainer completes the article within 90 minutes, then e-mails or faxes it to the interviewee. Barks then takes the extra step of consulting with the interview subject after he or she receives the article, providing real world advice designed to raise skill levels immediately.

Reporter’s Roundup is most frequently used as part of a media training workshop. In rare instances it can be offered as a stand-alone product, but it is not a substitute for a comprehensive personal coaching session with its emphasis on message development and technique enhancement.

More information about Reporter’s Roundup is available at www.barkscomm.com/reporters or by calling Barks Communications at (540) 955-0600.

Barks Communications specializes in media, presentation skills, and legislative and regulatory testimony training for business, association, government, and non-profit leaders. In addition, company President Ed Barks offers action-oriented presentations to groups seeking to sharpen their communications skills. The firm also operates Barkscomm.com, the Internet’s Communications Training Resource, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at www.barkscomm.com.