Solomon McCown &

We cannot believe that it has already been nearly a month since the tragic events at the Boston Marathon, but we are more proud than ever of how our community has come together to help the victims and their families and to support the businesses affected by this senseless tragedy.  And the PR community is no different which is why we are excited to co-host Boston PRoud - an evening to raise money for One Fund Boston.

More than 30 Boston-area PR firms have partnered to co-host the event, which will take place on May 29th at the Back Bay Social Club and Lir from 5PM to 8PM.

So far, over 400 people have registered to attend. A $20 cash donation is requested, with 100 percent of proceeds directly benefiting One Fund Boston.  The event will include a cash bar, raffle prizes donated by event co-hosts and hors d'oevres (sponsored by PR Newswire).

We would love for you to join us for a night of fun and networking in support of a great cause. Register online here. We look forward to seeing you!

It was unintended symbolism: Mayor Thomas Menino speaking at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Annual Meeting - not from the stage where other powerful dignitaries addressed the 1,500 attendees, but from the floor of the Convention Center hall, visible because his image was fed onto giant screens looming above the crowd.

"If you see anybody out there being negative about Boston, step on them," Menino urged the leaders of the city's most influential businesses and institutions.

In that moment, two decades of Boston's political past crystallized. Here was the quintessential "strong mayor," the self-styled urban mechanic who had firmly grasped the city's levers of power and imagery since 1993, unapologetically preaching defiant optimism despite being forced to step down from the spotlight.

Just 12 hours earlier, four leading journalists had debated the positives - and the negatives - that will shape the future of Boston at a panel discussion hosted by Solomon McCown & Company and attended by nearly 150.

With the city preparing to elect only its fourth mayor in 45 years, the SM& Presents event surfaced concerns ranging from leadership styles and Boston's vanishing middle class to the chronic challenges affecting planning, mass transit and public education.

"Given time, dedication and opportunity, a mayor can have a profound impact on the fabric of city," said Meghna Chakrabarti, co-host of WBUR's Radio Boston, who praised Menino's impact on commercial development.

But Chakrabarti also wondered aloud whether "a city can outgrow its mayor" and whether the next mayor might do more to position Boston as "a world-class city."

Referring to a 2012 study by the Boston Indicators Project depicting the widening income gap that parallels the loss of manufacturing jobs, Paul McMorrow, associate editor of CommonWealth magazine, expressed concern that Boston could come to resemble "ancient Rome" - a city of "the wealthy, the not wealthy and no one in between."

McMorrow pinpointed public education as "the big lever a mayor can pull" to recruit and retain a new generation of middle class families.

NECN Business Editor Peter Howe lauded Menino's unique ability to "make people feel good about themselves" and said the biggest challenge for the next mayor may be to "not screw up" the positive momentum the city seems to have achieved.

But Howe also complained about the chronic inability of mass transit to work efficiently on behalf of residents in the city's working class and minority neighborhoods.

"MBTA riders are the most shockingly under-utilized political force in the state," he said, calling for a concerted effort to "rebuild trust" in the MBTA by solving basic service problems and rooting out perceived waste and favoritism.

With a new school superintendent and a new student assignment plan looming on the city's horizon, Boston Globe columnist Joanna Weiss said, "Reforming education will require a big vision from the next mayor."

Good urban schools are integral to the growth and vitality of strong neighborhood communities, argued Weiss, who also spoke passionately about the need to address several emerging public health issues among young women in the city's poorer neighborhoods.

"It's striking to me that Mayor Menino has not hand-picked or groomed anyone to continue his legacy," she added. "It will be left to the public to winnow through this vast group of candidates... and they could pick someone very different."

By Ed Cafasso, Senior Vice President at Solomon McCown & Company

Our client, Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP), sponsored a Boston visit by the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC), mental health professionals who specialize in trauma. ITC came to Boston to help stitch lives together in the aftermath of the city's recent tragedies, spending the last week meeting with those affected by the bombings, including more than 100 ­Watertown teachers.  The event was later featured in the Boston Globe and on WBUR.

Photo by YOON S. BYUN/GLOBE STAFF

On May 8, more than 150 people joined us at our SM& Presents Panel examining the issues facing the City of Boston in the post-Menino era.

With Boston voters preparing to elect only the city's fourth mayor in 45 years, the event featured a lively discussion of the key issues Mayor Thomas M. Menino's successor will inherit -- commercial and affordable housing development, a growing  gap between the rich and the poor, urban mass transit headaches, recruiting a new school superintendent and implementing a new student assignment plan, what it will take to grow Boston's middle class, and casino gambling.

Our panelists - NECN Business Editor Peter Howe, Boston Globe Columnist Joanna Weiss, Meghna Chakrabarti, co-host of Radio Boston on WBUR-FM, and Commonwealth Magazine Associate Editor Paul McMorrow - began and ended the session with a debate about "leadership style," and whether the next mayor should be a manager, a mechanic or Machiavelli.

Moderated by SM& SVP Ed Cafasso, a former Boston City Hall reporter, it was the 19^thpanel discussion presented by Solomon McCown in the past decade. Thank you to our panelists for their participation and great insights.

Click here to watch what three words attendees today have for the future of Boston.

(left to right) Ashley McCown, Solomon McCown; Peter Howe, NECN; Paul McMorrow, CommonWealth Magaine; Joanna Weiss, Boston Globe; Meghna Chakrabarti, WBUR; Ed Cafasso, Solomon McCown; and Helene Solomon, Solomon McCown

More than 150 attendees at the May 8th panel held at Boston Properties' Atlantic Wharf

Solomon McCown CEO Helene Solomon kicking-off the early morning discussion

(left to right) Ed Cafasso, Vice President at Solomon McCown & Company moderating the media panel featuring: Meghna Chakrabarti, WBUR; Peter Howe, NECN; Joanna Weiss, Boston Globe; and Paul McMorrow, CommonWealth Magazine.

On Monday of this week, Solomon McCown CEO Helene Solomon Tweeted from the Back Bay Association's annual meeting that panels & events across Boston will have to add extra time to the program to announce all the candidates in the room as we enter a busy election season. On Tuesday, the West Roxbury Courthouse Neighborhood Association forum literally didn't have enough space at the table for all the mayoral hopefuls in attendance.

On Wednesday, we saw candidates for several offices at our SM& Presents panel on Boston's post-Menino future. Josh Zakim, a candidate for District 8 Boston City Councilor shook hands during the networking time. A staffer from John Connolly's campaign arrived for the panel. Suffolk County District Attorney and mayoral hopeful Dan Conley joined the in-person discussion and one happening simultaneously on Twitter with some on-message comments-a shrewd strategy to make himself a part of the conversation as it continues online.

I was surprised none of the other candidates chimed in on Twitter when they saw Conley's thoughts posted. It would have been a great way to get some messaging out to the influencers on the panel and in the room while showing off their social media chops. But it's understandable. Some candidates took to the airwaves for interviews this morning. Others were out collecting those all-important signatures. One candidate was at an event sponsored by the current mayor. There's a lot to do in this campaign, and not much time to do it.

As the race heats up, it will be interesting to see where the 24 mayoral hopefuls spend their time in the run-up to the primary. Will candidates maintain Menino-esque 14-hour days? Or will some use the power of social media to speak for them when they're not around? I can't wait to see how it shakes out.

By Amy Derjue, Senior Account Executive at Solomon McCown & Company

Throughout my childhood, my mother had a daily subscription to our local newspaper. Keeping up-to-date on what's happening in the community and world is something she taught me to value, and newspapers were her primary source of information. Even as newspapers struggled financially, the daily deliveries kept coming to our house.

About a year ago, my mother opted for Sunday-only delivery. While she continued to read the daily news on her laptop (Sunday delivery gave her access to the newspaper's website), I was surprised that she made the jump. I joked to my friends that newspapers are really in trouble if my mother isn't willing to pay for one.

This weekend, I got the shock of my life when my mother declared she was dropping her newspaper subscription entirely-both Sunday's print edition and online access.

She's not the only one. Numbers released Tuesday by the Alliance for Audited Media indicates Sunday subscriptions dropped 1.4% in the last year. While paid digital subscriptions are up 14.2% in that same timeframe, it's clear everyone from millennials to baby boomers are changing their media consumption habits. Those of us in PR have to be ready to adapt to these changes.

My mother says she canceled her subscription for several reasons. She found herself finding more compelling stories from other sources. While her morning used to start with a newspaper, it now starts with a cable news program like Morning Joe. She'll catch the local afternoon news on television, and says she's getting great information about the state and city from reporters there. If she's out running errands, she'll listen to the radio-which is how she found out about the Boston Marathon bombing. We have to cover all these outlets when pitching for our clients.

I doubt my mother-a fellow media junkie-will be able to resist the call of her daily paper for long. The New York Times announced it is exploring cheaper subscription rates for content in specific areas such as, politics, arts, and sports. If the Times has success with this structure, it's likely the corporation that owns our local paper will look into the possibility as well. Which would help the newspaper's bottom line, as well as restore order to my childhood home.

After the tragedy, chaos & overall exhausting nature of last week here in Boston, when SM&'s game night rolled around, I was more than ready to embrace the chance to unwind, share some laughs, and of course, partake in a few rounds of good, old fashioned corn hole. Now, tossing bean bags toward a slanted, wooden board may not seem like it would present the perfect teaching moment, but the SM& game night ended up being an opportunity to think outside of the box and draw a few lighthearted, yet meaningful, connections between playing games and public relations.

First, whether you are playing a round of corn hole or writing a press release, practice makes perfect.  We've all heard this popular mantra throughout our lives, but as far as game-playing and PR goes, it couldn't be more true.  As a new PR practitioner, I have learned that the more I practice my writing, speaking, organization and time-management skills, the more comfortable I become with them.  Similarly, at last night's game night, my first bean bag toss miserably fell two feet to the left of the board, missing the target completely.  By the second round, however, I felt more confident and realized that each toss showed improvement.  Practice might not guarantee "perfection," but it will lead to growth.

Second, in both game-playing and the field of public relations, maintaining good humor and a sense of patience will reap great reward.  It may be frustrating when a round of corn hole or Apples to Apples is simply not going your way; it may be frustrating when you just cannot think of the perfect headline for a press release; it may be frustrating when you have spent all morning trying to reach someone on the phone but you just aren't getting through.  However, in all of these unique circumstances, taking a deep breathe, stepping away from the situation, and even breaking out your cheeriest smile can help you overcome your challenge.

Third, playing games and practicing public relations have taught me that while personal triumphs and successes are great and incredibly important to individual growth, working together as a team is equally (if not more) fun and rewarding, and it presents the great opportunity to soak up the knowledge and lessons others have to offer.  During SM& game night, playing corn hole was a team effort, and I learned the tricks of the trade from the more experienced players.  Likewise, during my first months here at SM&, I have relied on my supportive team members to help me learn the ins and outs of public relations, from writing to communicating with clients to maximizing social media and much, much more.

And last, always remember - at game night, in the public relations field, and life in general, it's not always about the score, it's about starting meaningful conversations and lasting relationships with the people around you.

By Molly Chase, Account Coordinator at Solomon McCown & Company

That has to be the conclusion of watching, listening and reading the news of the Marathon bombing and its aftermath for the last week.  While social media sites like Twitter were ablaze with bits and bites of information crossing at lightning speed and Reddit was putting out information from police scanners, there was still so much that was reported that was just wrong.  Most notably, CNN reported that authorities had a suspect in custody two days before that was the case and The New York Post erroneously had photos of innocent individuals labeled as the perpetrators.  What struck me throughout this ordeal was that when there was live action to watch - like Friday's chase down of "Suspect #2"-TV and in this case, local TV, was the place to get the news. In fact, you couldn't stop watching.  It was like viewing a real life episode of "Homeland".  But early on, in the immediate aftermath of the bombings, local TV seemed locked into their "storm coverage" formula of repeating the same thing over and over again without advancing the story.  In the meantime, The Boston Globe sent reporters to find personal stories of survivors, first responders and victims, which gave us a fuller picture of what had happened.  It's clear that the inevitable and understandable race to be first is as intense as ever.  But in the 24/7 world of social media, accuracy may be a casualty that makes the job of filtering fact from fiction harder than it's ever been and the role of the reporter one that still has real value. Because just as we all fashion ourselves detectives from watching enough Law and Order and CSI episodes, we're not; and just as we might like to think that we are all reporters, we're not.

Reporters are trained to ask tough questions, to sift through raw information and find the facts and tell the story.  We need that now as much as we ever have.  We're fooling ourselves to think otherwise.

By Michal Regunberg, Senior Vice President at Solomon McCown & Company @MRInTouch

I stepped out for a run late Sunday morning, not knowing where I was headed or where my feet would take me, just ecstatic that I am able to partake in my simple hobby. The southwest corridor bike path took me to the Back Bay and after a loop around Boston Common to the corner of Berkeley and Boylston streets.  It was that same intersection where just a week ago in a medical tent at the Boston Marathon I learned that less than 20 minutes after I crossed the finish line a pair of bombs had gone off, killing three innocent spectators, injuring nearly 200 others and bruising the spirit of so many more.

Just over a week ago, I wrote here about how training for marathons bears similar skills and strategic thinking as public relations. In the past week, I've considered a lot of thoughts and ideas I could write about the attacks at the marathon. But as I continue to deal with my own emotions after being so close to this act of terror, the most relevant is that the skills and mindset of marathon running is what Bostonians need to heal from this tragedy.

It's going to be hard and it's going to take a long time, but the Boston community will finish this race and it will finish strong. As President Obama said in his speech-addressing all breeds of Bostonians, from the born and bred to the transplants like myself and the millions who have cycled through this shining city on a hill-at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross last week, we must push on and persevere. The marathon teaches us that. It teaches us, "To not grow weary. To not get faint. Even when it hurts. Even when our heart aches." I can't find better words than the President's to describe how Boston and the running community will heal from this tragedy. In fact, you can see the healing already beginning through the outpouring of support from all corners of our country and even the world.

While the heroic acts and flood of the support from complete strangers in the aftermath of the bombings is inspiring, as a marathon runner who has completed both the Boston Marathon and four other marathons, it's in no way surprising. Boston is unique. Its unnavigable streets and the often-harsh demeanor of its residents may give off an unwelcoming impression. Marathon Monday is a different story. It's when Boston welcomes people throughout the world with open arm.

The most disturbing part of the bombing story is that they targeted spectators. Innocent spectators whose only goal that day was to support others in their marathon quest. Not all runners like running races where spectators line the street. As a runner who does, as a runner who thrives off the energy from people who stand around for hours to tell complete strangers that they will succeed and can push through the pain, to show off a funny sign and to hand out oranges or ice, this attack feels even more cowardly. Spectators don't cross a finish line of glory after a race, they don't get a medal or a fancy race t-shirt or jacket. They don't get their name printed in the paper or any of the accolades that come with completing a marathon. They are what help so many of us runners do what we crazily do. They say running is a solitary sport, but running a marathon is anything but. And Boston Marathon spectators are truly one-of-a-kind. I would not have made it through last year's 90-degree Boston Marathon if it weren't for the spectators handing out ice, spraying hoses and cheering me to Copley Square. I wouldn't have ran my second fastest marathon last week if it weren't for that girl who cheered me through a rough moment in Washington Square when I thought I was going to be sick, or the thought that my friends and boyfriend were waiting at mile 25 to give me that one last push to finish strong, or the throngs of spectators (including a few close friends who were thankfully not injured) lining Boylston Streets to support us as we crossed the finish line.

Many runners-including myself-struggled with how to feel about their accomplishment of finishing or even running the miles they did last Monday. But if we give up that pride of accomplishment, we are not just letting terrorism win, but we are letting down my favorite part of marathons-and what helps me make it through 26.2 miles-the spectators. Instead, runners should share their stories and help those affected and those struggling with how to cope with the tragedy that they have the strength to make it through this ordeal. Because, as President Obama reminded us, this community is strong and when we feel like it's just too hard "around the bend a stranger has a cup of water. Around the bend, somebody is there to boost our spirits. On that toughest mile, just when we think that we've hit a wall, someone will be there to cheer us on and pick us up if we fall."

Proud to say that I finished the race.

By Kate Plourd, Senior Account Executive at Solomon McCown & Company

As PR professionals, we understand getting a story placed for our clients is a big part of our job. But we want the story to go beyond a clip on a website. We want it to resonate with its audience.

Late last week, SM& Senior Vice President Michal Regunberg and Senior Account Supervisor Brianne Miers led an informal discussion on the power of storytelling-of going beyond facts and figures to a tale with a beginning, middle, and end.

Here's what I took away from our conversation:

1. Stories travel fast. Thanks to social media platforms like Twitter, a newsy, interesting, funny, or otherwise noteworthy item can travel at 38,250 miles per hour. That's accelerated significantly from the 2.7 miles per hour news of the Battle of Trafalgar spread back in 1805.
2. But speed isn't everything. Brain scans show that when one person tells a story to another person, their brains begin to synchronize and "ideas, thoughts, and emotions" are planted in the listener's brain. A compelling story will literally get in a reader's head. That's a powerful tool.
3. Find a good (and eager) storyteller. When working with a client to find someone who benefits from their business or initiative, make sure he or she has the ability spin a good yarn. Nothing will turn off a journalist faster than someone who is uncomfortable going on the record or isn't willing to pose for a picture.
4. Help clients recognize and provide solid anecdotes. Clients are busy running their businesses and don't always see golden media opportunities. We shared how we remind clients to recruit ambassadors for their causes or business-monthly check-ins and questionnaires were mentioned as solutions. Another strategy was to ask our contacts to make an introduction with employees who know potential ambassadors. Sometimes, it's all about finding that missing connection.
5. Be aware of potential issues. Nothing spoils a story like missing details. If HIPAA or other privacy concerns prevent someone from telling their entire story, it's best to hold off for a future opportunity.

By Amy Derjue, Senior Account Executive at Solomon McCown & Company