The digital landscape of journalism is facing a significant shift with the impending closure of Help a Reporter Out (HARO), now known as the Connectively Platform. This platform, which served as a vital connection point between journalists and expert sources, will be discontinued on December 9, 2024.
A Brief History of HARO
Founded in 2008, HARO’s journey began as a simple Facebook group. It quickly evolved into a widely used mailing list, connecting journalists and bloggers with the public for valuable feedback. In 2010, Vocus acquired HARO, followed by Cision’s merger with Vocus in 2014.
HARO’s Impact on Journalism and SEO
HARO provided journalists with a streamlined way to find credible sources for their stories. Experts could contribute their insights by responding to journalist queries, fostering a collaborative environment for news creation. For many SEOs, HARO offered an attractive opportunity to gain brand awareness and potentially acquire valuable backlinks through expert commentary in published articles.
The End of an Era
Cision’s announcement on December 9th sparked concern within the journalism and SEO communities. The company cited a focus on core offerings and an evaluation of their product portfolio as the reason for discontinuing Connectively (formerly HARO).
Here’s Cision’s official statement:
“After assessing feedback from our customers and evaluating our product portfolio, we have decided to focus our attention on core offerings where we see significant opportunities to deliver even more value to our PR & Comms professionals – namely our integrated, award-winning CisionOne platform.”
Cision emphasizes the comprehensive features of their CisionOne platform, including media monitoring, analytics, and journalist outreach tools. However, the platform has a different focus than the niche service provided by HARO, leaving many unsure how it will fully replace the discontinued platform.
Alternatives to HARO
While HARO’s closure is a significant loss, several alternative platforms can help journalists and SEOs continue to connect with experts and build relationships:
- Source of Sources: Founded by HARO’s creator, Ken Burbary, this platform aims to provide a more efficient and effective way for journalists to connect with sources.
- JournoFinder: This platform allows journalists to search for experts and sources based on specific topics and keywords.
- Help a PR Out (HAPO): This platform is similar to HARO but focuses on connecting PR professionals with journalists.
- MediaFish: This platform helps journalists find relevant experts and sources by analyzing news articles and social media.
The Future of Journalism Sourcing
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it’s crucial for journalists to adapt to new technologies and platforms. While the loss of HARO is significant, it also presents an opportunity to reimagine the way we source information and connect with experts.
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