Featured.com, a platform known for bridging the gap between subject-matter experts and journalists, has made a significant move by acquiring Help A Reporter Out (HARO) from Cision. This acquisition highlights a strategic effort to bolster the presence of credible human expertise in the media landscape. HARO, established in 2008, has long served as an essential resource for journalists in search of expert sources and for professionals aiming to contribute their knowledge through earned media.
The transition to Featured.com's ownership marks a return to HARO's foundational goal of fostering authentic human connections within journalism. Brett Farmiloe, the Founder and CEO of Featured, pointed out the critical nature of this acquisition in the current climate dominated by AI-generated content. According to Farmiloe, the inundation of the internet with generic content underscores the necessity for journalists to have access to reliable, human sources now more than ever.
Under its new stewardship, HARO will preserve its original free service model for both journalists and sources, with newsletter advertisements continuing to support the platform. It will keep offering daily opportunities through email, enabling reporters to post queries and efficiently receive responses from pertinent experts. This approach ensures that the platform remains a vital tool for the journalism community.
The acquisition has garnered support from investors such as Great North Ventures, with Rob Weber, the Managing Partner, expressing strong belief in the platform's community-centric model. Weber's comments reflect a broader confidence in platforms that enhance the connections between experts and content creators, emphasizing the value of trust in these relationships.
Featured.com's overarching goal is to democratize access to expert knowledge. With a vast community exceeding 50,000 experts and over 1 million answers submitted, the platform plays a pivotal role in enriching content across a network of more than 2,500 media outlets. By revitalizing HARO in its original form, Featured.com is taking a stand against the surge of AI-generated content, advocating for the irreplaceable value of genuine, human-driven expertise in media reporting.
