Featured.com Expands Its Media Influence with HARO Acquisition

Featured.com Acquires Help A Reporter Out (HARO)

In a significant move for media and communications, Featured.com, a platform dedicated to connecting subject-matter experts with journalists, announced its acquisition of Help A Reporter Out (HARO) from Cision. This transaction marks an important step forward for both feature organizations, especially in an age when the demand for genuine human expertise in journalism is more critical than ever.

A Legacy of Trust: The Role of HARO in Journalism

Founded in 2008, HARO quickly established itself as a trusted resource for journalists seeking expert opinions and for professionals eager to share their insights through media exposure. Over the years, HARO has facilitated thousands of connections, proving invaluable for reporters and contributors alike. Cision, which has owned HARO since 2014, successfully maintained this service's integrity; however, under Featured's fresh leadership, HARO is set for a revival.

“Now is the perfect time to bring back HARO,” asserted Brett Farmiloe, the Founder and CEO of Featured. “As artificial intelligence swamps the internet with generic content, there is a heightened need for reliable, informed human voices.” His vision for HARO involves safeguarding its core strengths while introducing modern functionalities that align with today's media dynamics.

A New Vision for HARO

Under Featured's stewardship, HARO will maintain its free service model for journalists and sources alike, supported by advertisements in their newsletters. The platform will revert to its original effective format, offering succinct daily opportunities for reporters through email. This will allow journalists to submit their inquiries and receive pertinent expert responses swiftly, enhancing the efficiency of their source-finding process. Early access sign-up is already available for interested parties via helpareporter.com.

Farmiloe highlighted the revival's focus: “We’re thrilled about evolving HARO's legacy to ensure that journalists can feature credible and diverse voices in their narratives.” This renewed commitment underscores Featured's mission to democratize expert knowledge and make it readily accessible to media professionals.

Investment in Journalism's Future

The acquisition is supported by a collaboration with several investors, including Great North Ventures, underlining a strong belief in community-oriented platforms that nurture genuine connections between experts and content creators. Rob Weber, Managing Partner at Great North Ventures, expressed enthusiasm about their role, stating, “Supporting Featured in reviving HARO showcases our confidence in community-driven platforms that promote trusted relationships.”

This move not only emphasizes HARO’s potential but also reinforces Featured.com’s dedication to connecting experts with opportunities in the media landscape. The operational independence of Featured.com will be maintained with both its platform and HARO rebuilding themselves around the core principle that “everyone is an expert in something.”

Conclusion

The future looks promising for Featured.com and HARO. By revitalizing HARO and its beneficial services, Featured aims to address the prevailing challenges faced by journalists today. This includes not only the proliferation of AI-generated content but also the necessity for authentic, human expertise in storytelling and reporting. As the media landscape evolves, initiatives like this one will play a crucial role in restoring trust and relevance to journalistic endeavors, ultimately benefiting the entire industry. Featured.com continues to embody the spirit of collaboration and authenticity that modern journalism requires, one answer at a time.