I first met Bracken Mayo a couple of years ago, around the time I’d begun writing for the Pulse. He immediately struck me as a genuine and sentimental guy. Walking through the doors of his office offered a continuity of that character. It is a delightfully eclectic collection of thoughtfully organized memorabilia. The harmonious arrangement of these keepsakes suggests his fondness for them. They are an ensemble of mementos gathered throughout the years from the very same community he serves in his endeavor as founder and editor of the Murfreesboro Pulse newspaper, which in January 2020 celebrates its 15-year anniversary.
Behind every good man there is a good woman, with no exception here. Bracken’s wife, Sarah, is the other half of the equation. Her behind-the-scenes efforts as graphic designer, social media manager and happily dutiful supporter of both the newspaper and her husband complement his skills in the cohesive kind of way that has caused the Pulse to become and remain a staple in our community.
Whether you’re looking for local live entertainment, news and events, the best places to dine, truths, or opinions, the Pulse does not fail to deliver. There is always a wide variety of news available to locals that helps them stay connected to the culture, business and politics of our city.
The Pulse was first conceived as an idea Bracken formed in college at MTSU, where he settled into a journalism major. Once he graduated, it didn’t take long for the Mayo team to get cracking on the idea shortly after starting their lives together. Since then it has become a full-time family business in every way. Bracken Jr., the eldest son of their brood, has already been involved for a while now, participating in the distribution of the paper by accompanying his father once a month to the businesses around the city that carry it. He also stated that he assists on occasion by offering his own feedback on various restaurants located throughout the city.
I really get the impression that this family works very well together. There is a lot of love and laughter, thoughtful conversation and common sense that radiate from them as I get to know them better. They rely on each other, and appreciate the fact that they can.
“He’s such a positive person to be around, and we’re constantly chuckling about something. Even when things are not on schedule or going smoothly, he’s always smiling,” Sarah said about hubby Bracken when I asked about the day-to-day inner workings. Their unity as a family and as a small business is inspiring, and it spills over onto their gratitude list.
“Every single issue of the Pulse depends on the support of the community, of readers, of distributors, and of sponsors to carry on,” Bracken said. “We cannot claim to do it all ourselves. Though there are no full-time Pulse employees, there is a great team around us of contributing writers who help make each edition possible, and some have been around almost since the beginning.”
The Mayos make it very clear that the Pulse is itself a small business, dedicated to the promotion and legacy of other small businesses in our community, and they will continue to provide ethical news and information on the happenings of our city with integrity and accountability.
The Pulse is an alternative source of news, which is very important in today’s world. The Mayos recognize the importance of a free press and what that means to our country. As larger news sources align with each other and offer a collective narrative, alternative publications carry a profound responsibility to report alternate views to the public, leaving the reader with the liberty to choose which outlet resonates most with the truth inside of themselves. That’s an important distinction, and one that any ethical media contributor would stand behind.
The mission statement of the Pulse also stands behind this theme, solidifying its stance as an honest voice reporting news and events as accurately as possible, correcting for accountability whenever applicable, before or after publication, and looking out for the health and the heart of Murfreesboro and its residents.
“The mission of the Pulse,” Bracken relates, “involves seeking the truth, reporting it, and celebrating creativity and community life.”
Indeed, that it exactly the spirit I feel from this family of four who have dedicated the last 15 years of their lives expressing the love of their city by celebrating successes, mourning losses, reporting on happenings, keeping us informed of events, and sharing their profound sense of joy that comes from even the smallest meaningful connections made on a day-to-day basis with members of the community.
It is with my own sincere gratitude that I contribute this article, and look forward to what’s yet to come in our city, in our country, in our world, and in news outlets like the Pulse, whose ongoing efforts seek to provide its readers with clarity in an increasingly muddied world.
