IN THE SPOTLIGHT: GETTING
TO KNOW HELENE SOLOMON
2002 Crystal Bell Winner and President/CEO of Solomon McCown &
Company
from BellRinger, a publication of the
Publicity Club of New England, May, 2003
| "Technology has reinvented the way we
do business. With internet, Blackberries, and cell
phones, news travels incredibly fast. That certainly
enhances the pressure to speak carefully. The damage of
misinformation is harder to undo."
- Helene Solomon, president & CEO,
Solomon McCown & Company, Boston |
Why public relations?
1200 votes. After five years working for Kevin White, I ran for
public office, with my campaign ending in a near miss. It was a
trial by fire with the media and a training ground for crisis
work. I loved every minute of it.
In addition to being last year’s Crystal Bell winner,
you were president of the Pub Club twice. How do you feel the
organization contributes to our industry?
The Pub Club really links us together as a community of
colleagues, and receiving the Crystal Bell before a roomful of
my peers was a great honor. The Club raises awareness of what we
do and its impact and raises the bar on our expectations of
ourselves. It also provides a forum – through panels and other
events – that allows our community to address some of the most
compelling issues of the day.
Can you describe the path you took to get to where
you are?
I started at BU’s College of Communication, where I became
hooked on the news. I went on to get a master’s degree at
American University, where grad students could serve as
"stringers" for the Sentinel-Journal newspaper chain in suburban
Washington, D.C. through the American University News Service.
After that, politics led me to public relations. I was lucky
enough to be involved in some incredibly meaningful and
educational work quite early in my career. Working with Planned
Parenthood league of Massachusetts following the shooting
incident of 1994, and handling PR duties for Harold Brown, the
real estate developer, through his bankruptcy and restructuring
particularly stand out.
What has been some of the most meaningful work you’ve
done over the past year?
Definitely my work for Msgr. Michael
Foster, Judicial Vicar and Head of the Metropolitan Tribunal for
The Boston Archdiocese, who was falsely accused of sexual abuse.
The day that this good, honest man was able to return to his
parish was one of the most rewarding moments in my career.