Black PR Wire Power Profiler on Denise Rolark Barnes, Publisher of The Washington Informer

Denise Rolark-Barnes 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.

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. Her weekly column, "Let's Talk" addresses a broad range of issues from politics to family affairs.

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.

Rolark-Barnes was recently selected president of the AARP-DC. She serves on the boards of the United Black Fund, Inc., the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and the advisory boards of the SHIRE Collaborative on the Prevention of Childhood Obesity, the War on Obesity Coalition and Concerned Citizens on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. She is a member of Leadership Greater Washington and she serves as a member of her usher board at Allen Chapel AME Church in Southeast, D.C.

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.