My first PR job was at the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA). Back then, my least favorite task (even worse than mail merges) was trudging from West Street up the hill to the State House, where I had to find the press room and distribute our press releases, by hand, to the older, male reporters spread across the room. Literally. By hand. Then I’d do my version of the “Lit Drop,” stuffing releases into the cubby holes on the wall for the journos and legislators who’d come to pick them up. I was so intimidated. And it seemed like such drudgery. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
Yes, this was how the MBA’s positions, advocacy, and breaking news reached the media, legislators, and through them, their stakeholders. It was my first taste of public affairs.
At the MBA, I was also responsible for producing a public service radio show, “It’s Your Law,” and encouraging stations around the state to air the episodes. This was a way to help citizens understand how law and government affected their lives. I featured all sorts of judges, right up to the Supreme Judicial Court chief justice, district and US attorneys, private practitioners, sheriffs, and legislators. I still remember the disclaimer that began, “’It’s Your Law’ is meant to inform, not advise…” This was a public affairs program that I both produced and syndicated statewide.
But I still didn’t think of myself as a public affairs practitioner: I was a PR person.
The Castle Group’s Public Affairs Approach
Today, many years later, my Castle colleagues and I have relationships under that Golden Dome, in the Brutalist City Hall building, in other municipalities, public offices, and federally that also help to “inform.” We’ve been practicing communications-driven, stakeholder-centric, issues-based public affairs for all of Castle’s 28 years, mostly thinking of it as communications.
Castle’s approach to public affairs is rooted in relationships and fastidiously creative in our use of communications. It’s impossible not to blur the lines between our discreet practice areas. There’s a symbiotic relationship between PA, PR, social media, crisis management, marketing, and events, all of which live within our Castle. That makes us stronger, which makes our clients—and their results—more impactful.
Over the years, as our influence and team have grown, we’ve found ourselves at the center of the issues that matter most. Today, more than ever, we lean into our concern about our world to support clients on issues related to racial and gender equity, climate and sustainability, immigration, women’s reproductive health, food insecurity, health equity, environmental justice, antisemitism, the power of art, access to education, development, urban health, and so much more.
We’re usually not more than a phone call away from those who can help advance our clients’ messages, causes, legislative priorities, projects, and more. Most importantly, we are squarely rooted in the mindset that it’s about the people behind them. They’re us, they’re you, they’re our neighbors. And our signature behind-the-scenes scrappiness is what drives that success.
Looking for Public Affairs support?
Read more about our services here.
