VEW Media, the public relations agency founded as CWR & Partners in 2001, is celebrating its 25th year of business in September 2026. Since signing its first client on September 11, 2001, the agency has represented a diverse roster that includes consumer brands, authors, physicians, technology innovators, and Fortune 500 companies, helping them turn their expertise and products into stories for national, international, and trade media. The milestone underscores the agency's longevity in an industry where many firms struggle to adapt, and it highlights the importance of trusted relationships and strategic storytelling in an increasingly fragmented media environment.
The agency, which rebranded as VEW Media in 2018 after founder Veronica "Ronnie" Welch bought out her partners in 2017, has expanded its work across financial services, artificial intelligence, healthcare and medical technology, consumer products, travel and hospitality, fashion, beauty, and food. Its three flagship sectors are finance, technology, and healthcare, but it has also garnered media for toys, clothing, jewelry, and authors. This breadth demonstrates the agency's ability to translate distinct client stories into credible media coverage, a skill that remains vital as companies seek to build visibility and authority.
Over the years, VEW Media has developed messaging and story angles, conducted targeted media outreach, positioned executives as expert sources, prepared spokespeople for interviews, and built sustained thought-leadership programs. Its portfolio includes coverage and opportunities with outlets such as Bloomberg, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, the Financial Times, Forbes, BBC, Business Insider, and The New York Times. The agency's model combines the reach and experience of a larger communications firm with the direct senior attention of a boutique agency, a balance that has helped it secure meaningful placements for clients.
As the media landscape 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 help its team respond more quickly. However, experienced public relations professionals guide every strategy, pitch, and recommendation, ensuring they understand the client, the story, and the journalists they are approaching. This integration of technology with human judgment reflects a broader industry trend where efficiency gains must not come at the expense of creativity and personal relationships.
"Public relations has changed dramatically since we opened our doors, and we have evolved with it without losing sight of what makes this work effective, understanding the story, building trusted relationships with reporters and garnering media placements that help move the needle for our clients," said Welch. "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. Technology will never replace the judgment, creativity, and personal relationships behind great public relations, but it can make each of those strengths even more powerful. That balance has kept VEW Media ahead of the curve and positioned us to help our clients navigate what comes next."
Michelle Thompson, vice president of public relations at VEW Media, added, "What has kept VEW Media strong is that we never lose sight of the people behind the story. We take the time to understand each client's goals, turn complex ideas into clear and timely stories, and stay personally invested from the first strategy conversation through the final interview. That combination of experience, persistence, and care has helped us build lasting relationships with clients and journalists alike."
The agency's 25th anniversary is not only a celebration of its own history but also a testament to the enduring value of earned media in a world where paid and owned channels compete for attention. As VEW Media enters its next chapter, it plans to continue helping emerging and established organizations navigate a faster and more fragmented media environment while preserving the fundamentals that have defined its work: strong stories, trusted relationships, responsive counsel, and results that support clients' broader business goals. For an industry often focused on the next big thing, VEW Media's quarter-century of adaptation and client success offers a case study in how to stay relevant without sacrificing what matters most.
