Help a Reporter Out

Photo: Marissa PalmieriBy Marisa Palmieri
Senior Editor
Golf Course Industry

Via Seth Godin’s blog, I came across this relatively new give-and-take service for journalists and sources called Help a Reporter Out. I hear it’s similar to the PR Newswire/Profnet service, which I have never used myself, but what I like about Help a Reporter Out is its grassroots-ness. Founded by a publicist and run as a free service, HARO allows journalists to query the site’s database of some 23,000 potential sources. These folks have signed up to receive HARO’s query e-mails, and they’re supposed to honor an unofficial code that says “don’t waste a journalist’s time if you aren’t an expert on a requested topic.” I can’t attest to how well this service works yet – I just came across it today – but it seems uncomplicated and useful. I’m curious if any ASBPE members have ever used it?

Labels: ,

Posted Thursday, September 11, 2008 @ 7:40 AM
Permanent link to this post •  • 
Comments:
I have not used it, but I am going to send this link to my coworkers.

Thanks for the lead!
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : September 11, 2008 at 9:48 AM
 
Interesting post Erin. Seth Godin is one of my favorite bloggers.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : September 11, 2008 at 10:46 AM
 
I haven't used it yet either, but will if a broad enough topic comes up. The problem I've had with similar sites is that my information needs are generally too niched for their experts.

I'd also urge B2B editors to sign up as experts in their topic area. That way, consumer media folks can get more nuanced information about our fields, something that's all-too-often lacking right now.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : September 11, 2008 at 2:39 PM
 
Good point, Sue! I would never have thought of doing that.
# posted by Blogger Martha Spizziri : September 15, 2008 at 12:12 PM
 
Post a Comment



<< Home