I used a local college of journalism about 3 or 4 years ago to provide simulated press (didn't have the word SIMPRESS in them days) at a locally generated major Station Crash ex.
We found them extremely good value (well I did), and they certainly sharpened up some of the higher-paid help at the simulated press conference.
They even produced (isn't DTP wonderful!) a 4 page A3 sized "newspaper" after the event, which also put the Station's operations in a local context - they'd gone down the local pub and got some vox pop from the people in the bar!
Some of the "meeja trained" wheels suddenly saw it differently when they saw their faces and their words in print! - and were thankful I think that only about 6 copies were printed!!