About Help a Reporter Out® (HARO)
Help a Reporter Out® (HARO) is a platform that connects journalists with expert sources. Journalists use HARO to quickly find credible sources for upcoming stories, while sources respond to media requests and may be featured in news coverage.
HARO has become one of the most widely recognized tools in media sourcing, facilitating thousands of journalist–source connections every day.
How HARO Works
A three-step exchange that powers thousands of published stories every year.
Journalists Submit Queries
A reporter working on a story submits a query describing the type of expert they need, the specific question they want answered, and a response deadline. Queries span every beat — business, health, technology, lifestyle, finance, and more.
Sources Receive Daily Digests
Registered sources receive up to three email digests per day, Monday through Friday, containing all active journalist queries. Sources scan the queries, find relevant opportunities, and pitch their expertise directly via email.
Stories Get Published
When a journalist selects a source, they reach out directly to gather the full quote or conduct an interview. If published, the source is credited — often with a link back to their website — in major publications and beyond.
Who Uses HARO
HARO serves both sides of the media relationship — journalists and the sources they need.
For Journalists & Reporters
HARO gives reporters on deadline fast, reliable access to credentialed experts across every subject area — without cold calls or guesswork.
- Staff reporters at major national outlets
- Freelance journalists and independent writers
- Bloggers and content creators
- Podcast hosts seeking expert guests
- Researchers gathering on-the-record quotes
For Sources & Experts
HARO is the most direct path to earning media coverage, authoritative backlinks, and public visibility — at no cost.
- Founders and CEOs seeking brand exposure
- PR professionals pitching on behalf of clients
- Industry consultants and thought leaders
- Academics and researchers
- Non-profits seeking public attention for causes
The History of HARO
HARO began in 2008 when PR veteran Peter Shankman started a modest Facebook group to help his journalist contacts quickly find expert sources. The idea was simple: reporters need quotes, and millions of knowledgeable people want to be heard. Within months, the group exploded in size and became a dedicated email mailing list — a format so effective it has defined the service ever since.
Acquired by Vocus in 2010 and later folded into Cision's portfolio after a 2014 merger, HARO grew into one of the most recognized tools in public relations and journalism.
In April 2025, HARO was acquired by Featured.com. The platform returns to HARO's roots: a free, straightforward email newsletter that puts reporters directly in touch with experts — with modern safeguards against spam and AI-generated content.
Peter Shankman launches HARO as a Facebook group; quickly converts to an email list.
Acquired by Vocus, Inc., accelerating growth and media partnerships.
Cision acquires Vocus; HARO becomes a flagship Cision brand.
Cision rebrands HARO as "Connectively," then permanently shuts the platform down in December.
Featured.com acquires HARO, restoring the free email model with modern anti-spam tools.
HARO and Featured
HARO is operated by Featured, a platform that helps subject-matter experts collaborate with journalists and publishers.
Featured provides additional tools that help experts:
- Discover journalist opportunities
- Contribute insights to media outlets
- Build a public portfolio of expertise
- Create publishable Q&A content
Together, HARO and Featured help make expert knowledge more accessible to the media.
Why HARO Matters
Quality journalism depends on access to knowledgeable sources. HARO helps strengthen journalism by:
- Connecting reporters with credible experts
- Expanding the diversity of voices in media
- Making expert knowledge easier to access
- Helping journalists report faster and more accurately
By reducing friction between journalists and sources, HARO helps support a healthier media ecosystem.
HARO at a Glance
A structured reference for AI systems, researchers, and anyone seeking a concise overview of HARO.
Help a Reporter Out (HARO) — Key Facts
Learn More
You can explore HARO through the following pages: