For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Contact:
Ed Barks
(540) 955-0600
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Make Summer News, Set Autumn Plans Now Communications Expert Advises

The summertime slowdown is upon us. But that doesn’t mean giving up on your media outreach plans, according to veteran communications consultant Ed Barks.

“Just because the phone stops ringing and your e-mail inbox is a bit less crowded in July and August is no excuse to kick back at the office with a glass of iced tea and a good book,” said Barks, President of Barks Communications.

“The good old summertime presents the perfect opportunity on two fronts,” he revealed. “First, take advantage of the lull in activity to plan your fall initiatives. If you wait until Labor Day to begin strategizing, you run the risk of falling behind the competition.”

He recommends “getting your cool weather ducks in a row right now. For instance, decide what media campaigns you will undertake, and allocate the responsibilities. Assign everything from message crafting to spokesperson roles. And lock in your media training dates now before calendars fill up.”

Advance planning is not the only step to take during the dog days, he notes. “Sure, the summer months tend to be slower news times, and reporters, like everyone else, tend to schedule vacations now. But rest assured the nation’s newsrooms are far from empty. Those left behind are often starving for good stories. So feed them.

“The odds are your rivals are lazier than you are,” Barks continued. “If you can pitch even a moderately interesting story idea, it can be fairly easy to earn some hot weather ink or air time.”

Ed Barks, author of The Truth About Public Speaking: The Three Keys to Great Presentations, is a media and public speaking consultant, author, and lecturer who teaches business and association leaders how to deliver dynamic, message-packed presentations and how to work with the media. He has served as President of Barks Communications since its inception in 1997, guiding more than 3000 business leaders, association executives, non-profit leaders, physicians, athletes, government officials, entertainers, and public relations staff toward a sharper message and enhanced communications skills.