HARO connects journalists seeking expert sources with people who can answer their questions. Its history matters: the original service was replaced and then shut down under Cision, before Featured acquired and revived the HARO brand in 2025. This is a desk review of the current official service, not a claim that NewswireJet tested a paid account or achieved placements through it. The old article's first-person claims and plan details should not be treated as a current review.
What the current service says it does
According to HARO's own description, a journalist submits a query with the expertise needed, a question, and a response deadline. Registered sources receive email digests on weekdays, select relevant requests, and reply directly. A journalist may then contact a source for a quote or interview. Being included in a digest does not guarantee a reply, a published quote, or a backlink.
HARO's official about page currently presents the email service as free for journalists and sources. Featured operates it and offers related tools through its own platform. Check the live site and terms before assuming that a particular feature, digest schedule, or price still applies.
A useful source response
Select narrowly
Respond only when your expertise matches the reporter's stated topic, geography, and deadline.
Answer first
Give a clear, original answer to the actual question. Put credentials, a concise bio, and contact details after the substance.
Show evidence
Link to public work or a primary source for any factual claim. Distinguish a personal observation from a measured finding.
Respect the deadline
Send a complete response before the cutoff, then be available for verification or a follow-up interview.
Keep attribution honest
Do not invent expertise, submit fabricated quotes, or demand a link as a condition of helping the journalist.
Where HARO helps—and where it does not
The format can surface relevant expert opportunities without building a full media list. It can also be noisy, competitive, and time-sensitive. A short, relevant answer is usually more useful than a generic pitch mailed to every query. For sensitive topics, an organization should clear who may speak and verify facts before replying.
Measure time spent, relevant responses sent, conversations started, accuracy of any resulting coverage, and whether the resulting audience is useful. Do not value the service only by speculative SEO benefit. PRSA's ethics guidance applies to source pitches as much as it does to a formal press release.