Public Affairs, Public Relations Agencies Eligible for Free Barks Learning Academy Seminar

July 28, 2007 (PRLEAP.COM) Media News
Public affairs and public relations agencies now have somewhere to turn to fulfill their staff’s professional development needs while enhancing client relations and media training options. Barks Communications today announced the creation of the Barks Learning Academy, a free 45-minute, bottom line-oriented seminar for account teams at large and mid-size agencies.

According to company President Ed Barks, “The Barks Learning Academy is designed to help agencies sharpen client service, generate heightened client loyalty, and improve client retention.”

The new learning experience benefits the entire staff, from the savviest pros to the newest hires, who learn:
— Three airtight formats to develop their clients’ messages (and one terrible but often-used method to avoid)
— A primer on reporter dos and don’ts
— The secret to critiquing clients without alienating them
— Ten keys to successful nonverbal communication
— Two factors many agencies ignore that can damage the bottom line

“Too few account executives know how to counsel clients effectively when preparing them to deal with the media and deliver winning presentations,” Barks contends. “Worse yet, too few agencies have a professional development system in place to address this shortfall. The Barks Learning Academy helps agencies overcome these limitations.”

Ed Barks personally leads every Barks Learning Academy seminar. For 10 years, global public relations and public affairs agencies have called upon Barks to fine tune their clients’ messages and sharpen their skills in preparation for media campaigns, presentations, and Congressional testimony.

In addition to the free seminar, agencies gain access to special purchasing power discounts on resources from the Barks Learning Network, including these publications authored by Ed Barks:
— The book, The Truth About Public Speaking: The Three Keys to Great Presentations
— The media relations guide, Face the Press with Confidence: The Media Interview Companion
— The witness preparation guide, Winning at the Witness Table: 60 Tips to Terrific Testimony

Agencies can apply for their free Barks Learning Academy seminar by contacting Ed Barks at (540) 955-0600.

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 3100 business leaders, association executives, non-profit leaders, physicians, athletes, government officials, entertainers, and public relations staff toward a sharper message and enhanced communications skills.

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