VEW Media, an independent public relations agency founded in 2001 as CWR & Partners, is commemorating its 25th year in business this September. The North Attleboro-based firm, which rebranded under its current name in 2018 after founder Veronica "Ronnie" Welch bought out her partners, has built a diverse client roster spanning Fortune 500 companies, consumer brands, authors, physicians, and technology innovators. Its longevity highlights the growing importance of earned media in a crowded digital landscape and the need for agencies to evolve alongside rapid changes in how news is consumed and distributed.
The agency’s story began on September 11, 2001, when it signed its first client—a date that Welch acknowledges carries solemn significance. Over the past quarter-century, VEW Media has helped organizations turn expertise, products, and ideas into stories for national, international, and trade media. The firm’s three flagship sectors are finance, technology, and healthcare, but it has also secured coverage for toys, clothing, jewelry, food, travel, and hospitality. This breadth demonstrates that effective public relations is not confined to a single industry; rather, it relies on identifying what makes each client distinctive.
As the media environment has become faster and more fragmented, VEW Media has invested in technology designed around client needs. The agency uses proprietary AI-powered tools and workflows to monitor relevant developments, strengthen research, identify emerging media opportunities, and respond more quickly. Welch emphasized that technology will never replace the judgment, creativity, and personal relationships behind great public relations, but it can make those strengths more powerful. "We have embraced technology at every stage, including developing proprietary AI-powered tools and workflows that help us work faster, identify timely opportunities, and deliver smarter support," she said. This balance between automation and human expertise positions the agency to help clients navigate an increasingly complex media landscape.
VEW Media’s portfolio includes coverage and expert-source opportunities with outlets such as Bloomberg, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, the Financial Times, Forbes, BBC, Business Insider, and The New York Times. Its model combines the reach of a larger communications firm with the direct senior attention of a boutique agency. Michelle Thompson, vice president of public relations, noted that the agency stays personally invested from strategy through final interview. "What has kept VEW Media strong is that we never lose sight of the people behind the story," she said. That human-centric approach has helped build lasting relationships with both clients and journalists.
Looking ahead, VEW Media plans to continue helping emerging and established organizations navigate a faster media environment while preserving the fundamentals that have defined its work for 25 years: strong stories, trusted relationships, responsive counsel, and results that support broader business goals. For an industry often criticized for chasing trends, the agency’s quarter-century milestone underscores the enduring value of earned media and the importance of adapting without abandoning core principles. More information is available at vewprmedia.com.
