While preparing for our recent SM& Presents panel on "The New Normal," we at Solomon McCown with our friends at Anderson Robbins Research launched a national survey to gauge how Americans live, work and play in the wake of the Great Recession. USAToday captured some of our results for today's "Snapshot," a regular feature that presents information on various issues and trends. The clip appeared on the front page of their Money section.


For more information on our poll, click here.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick wouldn't be surprised to hear that according to SM&'s recently released poll, 72 percent of Americans now believe that living in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way is vital to achieving the American Dream. Since his administration passed a suite of nation-leading energy laws, including the Green Communities Act, Massachusetts has seen thousands of individual homeowners, municipalities and businesses go green through the state's portfolio approach to renewable energy, which includes support for solar, wind, hydro and energy efficiency.

Approaching the four-year anniversary of the law's passage this summer, Governor Patrick joined a crowd of nearly 150 people from the state's clean energy community yesterday for a conversation  about how Massachusetts has been leading the nation in clean energy and is already living the green American Dream.

"If you ever wondered whether people want the opportunity to go green, consider this," Governor Patrick said to the group gathered at Boston-based energy storage company FastCAP Systems.  "A 'Green Community' is a designation created by the Green Communities Act, but it is not easy to achieve. The law set out tough statutory standards that require applicant communities to make a serious commitment to energy efficiency and other reforms.  Today, nearly half of Massachusetts' residents now live in a Green Community."

While the Green Communities designation program has helped cities and towns operate in more environmentally responsible and energy savvy ways, residents and businesses throughout Massachusetts have also made the choice to go green as well. One example is Massachusetts' booming solar market, which was recently covered in the Boston Globe. The amount of solar energy installed has grown from 3.5 megawatts (MW) of solar installed in the state in 2007 to more than 110 MW installed today.

Massachusetts also ranks first in the nation in energy efficiency, according to the American Council on an Energy Efficiency Economy. According to the state's Department of Energy Resources, in 2010 alone more than one million residents and businesses made energy efficiency improvements to their homes or buildings.  Sierra Briton, a Dorchester native working as an insulation technician at Boston's Next Step Living, told the group that the company now has 25 teams of technicians helping consumers make energy efficiency improvements to their homes, compared to five just two years ago.

Even professional athletes are making an effort to live more sustainably. Boston Bruins defensemen Andrew Ference, who is a leader in the National Hockey League's Carbon Neutral Challenge program to help professional hockey players offset the emissions produced by their travel, told the crowd that whether it's recycling, composting or taking public transportation, "we all have a piece of the energy puzzle."

Governor Patrick admitted that while Massachusetts has made great strides in environmental responsibility by giving businesses, families and governments the tools to change how they consume energy, there is no single path or quick-fix to a clean energy future. He suggested that states push for new forms of renewable energy, such as biogass from food waste, and continue to support the research and development of new clean energy technologies as part of the portfolio approach that is already working for residents, businesses and governments in Massachusetts.

"In America, we have rarely left our energy future entirely to chance," he said.  "From whale oil to petroleum, from distributing coal to distributing electricity, we have moved forward by examining our options and our opportunities, learning from our mistakes, and keeping our eye on what kind of future we want. And government has always had a role in that."

You can read Governor Patrick's entire speech here and follow clean energy and sustainability news on Twitter by searching the hashtags #cleanenergy and #susty.


(The above photo was taken by Jeremiah Robinson of the Governor's Office. To see more photos, click here.)


Written by Kate Plourd, Senior Account Executive at Solomon McCown & Co., Inc.

What happens when the state's best minds come together to talk about affordable housing? SM& Account Executive Anne Baker knows. Check out her full report on NAIOP Massachusetts' breakfast event "Affordable Housing: Challenges and Initiatives."  Also take a look at the Real Reporter to see SM& CEO--and panel moderator--Helene Solomon's thoughts on the panel.

President Obama will be watching NBC's "Meet the Press" with bated breath every Sunday morning from now on, dreading the outcome of an interview from one of his high-profile supporters or even someone working in his administration.

If you haven't been watching the news or reading the blogs lately, the most-watched Sunday morning talk show has served as a catalyst for sparking political and social controversy in recent weeks that has thrust the Obama administration into PR crisis mode.

Who can forget the controversy that Vice President Biden initiated earlier this month after commenting on the show that he is "absolutely comfortable" with letting gays and lesbians marry.  This, as we remember, launched a media frenzy that led to the President announcing his  support of same-sex marriage, which he had previously called "evolving," but noted that his disclosure came sooner than planned as a result of Biden's comments.

Then, this past Sunday, popular Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a rising political star among democrats and a staunch Obama supporter, committed the latest PR gaffe when he ignited a political firestorm over remarks he made about the President's new campaign ad.  The ad attacks Mitt Romney's track record for job creation at Bain Capital after GST Steel in Kansas City, a company Bain Capital acquired in 1993, went bankrupt in 2011 resulting in 750 workers losing their jobs.

Governor Booker expressed his displeasure to "Meet the Press" host David Gregory about the recent presidential campaign attack ads calling the entire situation "nauseating to me on both sides," and he went on to defend the practices of Bain as being beneficial to job creation and as an example of how capitalism works.

The GOP quickly seized on the opportunity, and responded by sending out an email to supporters reading, "Do you know what Obama does with people who stand up for job creators? He silences them."  "Don't let the White House silence free enterprise! If you agree, then please sign our petition: I STAND WITH CORY BOOKER."

Once again, the PR/crisis communications teams for the Obama administration, the DNC and Governor Booker are now working furiously around the clock this week to play down these comments as a result of an interview slip-up on national TV.

As PR professionals, there are two major takeaways we can enact to prevent having the crisis teams come in before stemming from the aftermath of Governor Booker's interview.

• Think like a reporter. We have to understand the media and the reporters we work with, and we must closely follow their news coverage, the trends, the conflicts - everything concerning the nature of our client's business and the industry they are in.  Before any interview we facilitate, we need to anticipate the questions a reporter may ask our client - both positive and negative - and think of responses that won't inflict damage to the company or the executive's credibility and reputation. We need to try and insert ourselves in the reporter's shoes and think like them.  Once we can do that, our clients have little to fear.

• Don't overlook the importance of interview preparation.  It's our job to prepare our clients and their spokespeople before all media interviews to the best of our ability.  So often we see how fearless CEOs and high-level executives are when it comes to running their business, but as soon as you put them in front of a TV news camera or facilitate a phone interview with a national media outlet, they can freeze up if asked a question they don't feel comfortable responding to or that might be sensitive to their business.  Part of preparing them for media interviews is making them feel comfortable answering all types of questions.  Before interviews, play the role of the reporter, and have them recite responses to the easy questions, encourage them to practice answering the hard questions and offer guidance on how they can control the message and get to the point they are trying to make.

Whether Mayor Booker's PR handlers prepped him for the campaign ad question or not, we can all bear witness to what happens without proper guidance, interview preparation and media training before media interviews.

Jonathan Pappas, Account Supervisor at Solomon McCown & Company

When you've put a lot of time and effort into pitching reporters, it can be frustrating - or even discouraging - when your story is turned down. Here are five simple tips for securing media coverage.

1. Target the appropriate media contacts.

Take the time to plan ahead and research the reporters and editors you should be pitching to. It's called homework and yes, it's important in the PR industry. Read the reporters and editors' most recent news stories and learn whether or not they're the right contact for your story.

Each reporter and editor has a personal style and preference, so keep that in mind when deciding whom to pitch. If you're pitching an environmental editor and your story is more appropriate for the technology section of a newspaper, then you can say "bye-bye" to earning a placement.

Putting time and effort into doing your homework may mean that you're not able to reach as many media contacts, but remember: Quality over quantity is essential when it comes to landing placements. It will pay off!

2. Create customized and genuine pitches.

Reporters have jobs to do and deadlines to meet. Don't waste their time by pitching generalized templates. Make sure you communicate to the reporter why your story fits his/her specific coverage and writing style. Personalize each and every pitch so you're addressing what each media contact is most interested in.

And don't forget, media is no different than the rest of us. They love compliments on their work; after all, who doesn't? If you've read a particular interesting or compelling story by a reporter, make sure to mention that when pitching to him/her. By doing so, you're letting the reporter know that: a) you actually read their work, b) you understand their style and therefore know what to pitch, and c) you are a fan and believer of their work.

Creating customized pitches means that you'll be promoting two-way communication with reporters - not using a one-way pitch that a reporter will delete from his/her inbox.

3. Pitch in a short and concise manner.

Reporting is one of the busiest professions. Respect that notion, along with the fact that reporters generally write in a brief, factual manner - and don't send lengthy, wordy pitches filled with jargon. Better yet, if you have facts on hand that support your story, make sure to use them in your pitch.

On that same note of brevity, don't bog down your email pitches with attachments, even if those attachments contain relevant information. Reporters receive hundreds of pitches a day and they don't need their inboxes clogged. Instead, ask the media contact if he/she would like additional information sent in the form of an attachment or use a link with information instead. Trust me; your media contacts will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

4. Take the time to develop relationships with the media beforehand.

Don't make the mistake of only contacting reporters and editors when you need them. With social media, it's now easier than ever to directly access the media using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and more. By building relationships with media contacts ahead of time, they're more likely to listen when you pitch.

"Friend" and "follow" three reporters to start off and see what it's like. Reporters are working under a lot of pressure and great time constraints so if you can offer a hand, friendly yet useful conversation, or better yet - a great story - you'll develop a relationship in no time.

5. Ensure your pitch is newsworthy.

In today's cutthroat world, it's essential that your pitch is newsworthy for placement. The last thing you want a reporter to think when they read your pitch is, "So what?"

Here are some elements of newsworthiness to use as guidance:

• Timeliness - Make sure your story covers a new or current topic.
• Significance - The more people affected by your story's topic, the better chances it will earn placement.
• Proximity - Ensure your story is relevant not only to the geographical region of where you are pitching, but also the cultural undertones of the region.
• Prominence - Famous people get more attention because they're famous. Plain and simple.
• Uniqueness - Is your product the only one on the market that can do something in particular? If so, you have a better chance of earning placement.
• Human interest - Stories that appeal to emotion tend to earn more placements. Readers like a story that pulls at their heart strings.

After earning a media placement, it is important to follow up with the media contacts and thank them for their time. Remember, this is not a "one-and-done" industry. Media relations is an ongoing effort.

Melia Swift, Account Supervisor at Solomon McCown & Company

On May 17th, we won three Lamplighter awards for our work on behalf of two clients, the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council and Atrius Health. The New England Society for Healthcare Communications' Lamplighters showcase and honor communications excellence in the New England region by recognizing excellence in marketing, public relations and communications. These awards are truly a team effort and we're pleased to be honored alongside our top-notch clients.

Thank you to all who joined us on May 16 for our expert panel event exploring how we live, work and play in the "New Normal."  The topic generated a sizable crowd and a lively discussion about how values and priorities have changed in the post-recession world.


The results of our national poll, expertly conducted by Anderson Robbins Research, helped frame what all of us have experienced in our personal and professional lives since the Great Recession - the anxiety, the determination and the underlying optimism that hard work and strong values will ultimately translate into success. More information on the poll -- including  a PowerPoint presentation, infographic, video and more -- is available here.


Special thanks to our polling partner, Chris Anderson, for his tremendous insights into how the American Dream is being redefined. And, of course, our panelists were outstanding and so generous with their time - Theodore Tye, Managing Partner, National Development; Tripp Jones, Managing Director, New Profit, Inc.; Lynn Margherio, Founder & CEO, Cradles to Crayons; and, Eduardo Tobon, CEO, US Cards & Payments, Santander/Sovereign Bank.

We would also like to thank our sponsors again: The Alliance for Business Leadership, Anderson Robbins Research, The Commonwealth Institute, Massachusetts Health Council and MassEcon.

Check out some of the great coverage our panel and poll recieved:
"Is money losing its luster?" - The Angle Blog, The Boston Globe's Boston.com
"The New, Post-Recession Nation" - Bulldog Reporter
"Infographic of the Week: Factors Driving Purchase and Brand Decisions in the "New Normal" - CommProBiz
"The New Normal Poll: Americans care more about the rainbow than the pot of gold" - PRSA Tactics
"U.S. Adults Feeling Recession's Impact, But Optimistic About the American Dream" - PRNewser/MediaBistro


Stay tuned for more photographs of the event!

BOSTON - Post-recession Americans remain worried, but are more thrifty and determined, and have redefined the American Dream to place far more importance on achieving softer goals - a happy marriage, a healthy retirement and environmentally responsible living, according to a national poll released today.

Although the vast majority of Americans said the Great Recession changed their outlook on life, nearly three quarters of respondents (74 percent) said they feel they have achieved the American Dream or are on their way to doing so, according to the poll of 1,009 adults conducted last week for Solomon McCown & Company by Anderson Robbins Research.

In the poll, 24 percent of Americans reported that their household had "mostly recovered" from the impact of the recession; 41 percent said they "still have a ways to go;" and 14 percent said they "might not ever fully recover." But even a majority - 56 percent - of those who feel they might not ever recover said they have already achieved the American Dream or are on their way to achieving it.

When asked to rate the importance of eight different aspects of the American Dream, 83 percent picked "a happy marriage" as very or extremely important; "a long and healthy retirement" ranked second with 77 percent; and "living in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way" ranked third with 72 percent. Home ownership and helping others also polled strongly; two-thirds said "owning a home" and "helping others through volunteer work or charitable giving" are very or extremely important to achieving the American Dream.

"Being successful in a high-paying career" ranked dead last, considered very or extremely important by only 46 percent of those polled.

"We have redefined what success looks like in the aftermath of the nation's economic hardship and the financial and ethical scandals that have dominated the past few years," said Ashley McCown, president of Solomon McCown & Company, a national strategic communications, public affairs and crisis management firm. "Economic status and all the creature comforts it brings are less important in the New Normal."

Asked to rank a series of traits they would consider the "most valuable in today's world," 44 percent chose "honesty," followed by "work ethic" at 37 percent and "good health" at 35 percent. "Good looks" ranked last of eight traits with only 4 percent.

A majority of Americans reported feeling more "thrifty" (68 percent), more "determined" (65 percent) but more "worried" (61 percent) today than they were before the recession. More people also feel less "charitable" and less "lucky" today.

"Our poll finds Americans coming out of the recession largely united in an increased sense of determination and thriftiness," said Chris Anderson, co-founder and president of Anderson Robbins Research, a national polling and market research company. "But at the same time the recession left some deep scars that many households fear may be permanent."

Six in ten Americans believe the next generation will have fewer opportunities to achieve the American Dream, even as the elements of the Dream have shifted.

Other key findings include:

- College or Cash: Asked which would be "a better start in life for most young people today," 71 percent chose "a high quality college education" over $250,000 in cash.

- Children or Empty Nest: Only 54 percent ranked "having children" as very or extremely important to achieving the American Dream. Married Americans with no children at home were the most likely to feel they have achieved the American Dream.

- Money or Time: Asked to choose between "more time" or "more money," 51 percent said they preferred more money and 45 percent chose more time. Among respondents ages 18-34, 53 percent favored more time, while 55 percent of those 55 or older chose more money.

- Fun or Sleep: Asked to choose between "more activity and excitement" or "more sleep and relaxation," 50 percent said they preferred more activity and 45 percent chose most rest. Two-thirds of the respondents in the 18-34 age bracket preferred more activity, while 53 percent of those 55 or older chose more rest.

- Stronger or Weaker: Americans were evenly split on how their country will fare in the post-recession world. Forty-three percent said the recession will "weaken" America's character and 43 percent said it will "strengthen" it.

There were few regional variations in the polling results. One noteworthy finding was that respondents in the Northeast ranked "good health" as the "most valuable" trait in today's world, while the rest of the nation gave "honesty" their top rating. In the Northeast, "honesty" ranked third behind "work ethic."

The poll was conducted by phone from April 28 through May 1, 2012 to a sample weighted to match United States adult general population parameters. The margin of sampling error for the complete set of weighted data is ±3.1 percentage points.

The poll was released to coincide with Solomon McCown & Company's "SM& Presents: The New Normal," an expert panel discussion held on May 16th in Boston to explore how the Great Recession has changed the way Americans live, work and play, and what success looks like in the New Normal. The panel was the 17th in an ongoing series the company has hosted to examine the communication aspects of topical events.

To download the infographic, click here.

To watch the movie, click here.

To download the poll results presentation, click here.

To download this release, click here.

To learn more about the event, click here.

Our client, The Community Builders (TCB), was featured in a Boston.com "Your Town" Jamaica Plain story about their upcoming groundbreaking at 225 Centre St. on Saturday, May 12. Read more about how the project at 225 Centre St. and the redevelopment of Jackson Square here.

Here at SM& our blog generally consists of expert PR advice. We have executives sharing key tips on the dos and don'ts of handling the media. We talk about how to communicate through a crisis without actually turning it into a much larger crisis. Stories from the news are analyzed by our employees to impart wisdom on our readers.

So today I thought I would give you the perspective of a beginner in public relations. New to the SM& team, I'm here to share with you some simple yet essential tips that I've learned so far.

1. Never underestimate the power of the media. Welcome to the 21^st century, where instead of sitting down to read the Boston Globe over coffee, we're able to read it, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and anything else desired at the touch of a screen. What is deemed a popular topic is no longer just defined by what television and newspapers tell us, but rather how many facebook likes and twitter hashtags it's inspired. It takes seconds for a story to go viral, and before you know it what was once a minor squall spirals into a category-five media hurricane. In PR you can't forget this. The moment you underestimate the ability of a story to take flight via media is the moment your client could be compromised.
2. Be aware of current events. At SM& we like to give each other news quizzes. Apart from the ability to have a little Friday fun there's a very specific reason that we do it: Our job is to know the media inside and out so we can more effectively place our clients in the stories that matter. We take this duty seriously, as a glance into the intense weekly competition would prove!
3. Know who you're pitching. A major part of public relations is being able to get people interested in your client's story, but just as important as the story you're telling is the person you're telling it to. You could pitch a story a thousand times and get meager results; or you could do your homework, pick the right reporter, pitch the story once, and secure results that truly matter for your client.
4. Keep your head high. This topic is a favorite of mine. At any point in your life, in any career, starting out new at something always comes with a little side of anxiety. Particularly in a field where you're dealing with people on a regular basis, it may be slightly intimidating talking to reporters and clients. A stutter and stammer here and there doesn't make you a fool; it just means you're human. Don't be discouraged. If you're nervous to talk to a reporter, write down what you're planning on saying beforehand. Know the client that you're pitching and be prepared to answer information on them. Never underestimate the power of research. It's a necessary tool to know what you're talking about and in doing that you'll see just how much confidence it gives you.
5. Triumph in Teamwork. At SM& we take the phrase there's no I in teamwork seriously. In public relations the focus is on the needs of the client. It's not about individual gain or who did the best job, it's about working together to deliver the best possible end result. That can't be done without going through the opinion of everyone on the team. In the end what's most rewarding is watching a small idea grow into a brilliant plan as a result of collaboration among co-workers. An important tip I find is to be open to constructive criticism. So your boss tells you to re-write or adjust a memo…put down the tissues my friend, it's not a personal attack. Part of being a team is learning to improve through the help of others.

- Anna Rabin is an Account Coordinator at Solomon McCown