Black PR Wire Power Profiler on Denise Rolark Barnes

At age 9, Denise Rolark Barnes cut her teeth into the journalism profession. It is a career that has since become her life's passion. Today, she is not simply a journalist; she is the publisher of The Washington Informer, the leading community newspaper serving the African American community in Washington, D.C.

Rolark Barnes is continuing the legacy of her father, Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, who established The Washington Informer in 1964. Her father was a civic and political activist who greatly influenced events in the District of Columbia. He also influenced the career choice of Rolark Barnes who worked by
his side nearly 20 years until his death in 1994.

Rolark-Barnes attended Hampton Institute (Hampton, VA) and transferred to Howard University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism in 1976. She also earned a Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law in 1979. Upon graduation from law school, she immediately joined the staff of The Washington Informer where she served as managing editor.

Rolark Barnes became publisher of The Washington Informer in 1994.

In addition to her work at the Informer, Rolark-Barnes maintains The Washington Informer Charities, a non-profit organization that promotes literacy and sponsors internship opportunities and writing competitions for students interested in pursuing careers in journalism. The Washington Informer Charities also partners with local schools to assist their efforts to publish student-run newspapers.

Rolark Barnes also coordinates the D.C. City-Wide Spelling Bee, sponsored annually by The Washington Informer in Washington, D.C., and Scripps-Howard, nationally. In addition, she is Second Vice Chairman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, and she serves on several boards serving children and their families. She hosts Channel 16's "Reporter's Roundtable," a municipal cable television show aired twice daily featuring local reporters who discuss civic and social issues affecting D.C. residents. And, she has also appeared as a guest on the nationally syndicated Tavis Smiley Show, Tony Brown's Journal, NBC4's Reporter's Notebook and several local radio and television programs.

As a public speaker, Rolark Barnes mixes her experiences as a journalist with enthusiasm, humor and honest sincerity to audiences both large and small as she tackles topics including politics, media, spirituality, diversity and civil rights.

Rolark Barnes is a member of Allen Chapel AME Church, located in Southeast, Washington, D.C. She lives in the District of Columbia with her husband, Lafayette Barnes. They have two sons, Lafayette (19) a sophomore at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee; and Desmond (17).