{
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
  },
  "cite_as": "Newsprint, \"HARO: new features and launches\", https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/, updated 2026-10-28",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-28",
  "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/",
  "markdown_url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro.md",
  "title": "HARO: new features and launches",
  "opening_answer": "We confirmed 6 product launches from HARO since March 2008. The latest, Featured relaunches Connectively; HARO unaffected, was announced May 26, 2026. We also record 3 acquisitions, 1 new company and 2 shutdowns.",
  "period": "2008 to May 26, 2026",
  "methodology_url": "https://www.newsprint.com/updates/pr-software/#methodology",
  "company": {
    "id": "C066",
    "slug": "haro",
    "name": "HARO",
    "aliases": [
      "HARO (Featured)",
      "Help a Reporter Out"
    ],
    "site": "https://www.helpareporter.com/",
    "summary": "HARO is a free email service that sends journalist queries to sources three times a day. Sources sign up free and pitch by email to a masked journalist address, and journalists manage queries in a web dashboard. Featured owns HARO and runs it with ads.",
    "founded": 2008,
    "categories": [
      "requests"
    ],
    "status": "active",
    "price_note": "free, email-based, ad-supported; free sign-up as a source; Featured sells the paid workflow layer separately.",
    "update_channels": [
      {
        "kind": "changelog",
        "url": "https://blog.helpareporter.com/category/change-log/"
      },
      {
        "kind": "blog",
        "url": "https://blog.helpareporter.com/"
      }
    ],
    "updated_at": "2026-10-28",
    "category_names": [
      "Journalist requests and relationships"
    ]
  },
  "confirmed_product_launches": 6,
  "dated_product_launches": 6,
  "undated_launches": 0,
  "launches_data_url": "https://www.newsprint.com/data/launches.json",
  "count": 12,
  "launches": [
    {
      "id": "E357",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "Featured relaunches Connectively; HARO unaffected",
      "summary": "Featured announced Connectively's revival as HARO's paid-platform sister brand, saying HARO itself was not going anywhere.",
      "kind": "feature",
      "features": [],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": null,
      "stage": null,
      "announced_on": "2026-05-26",
      "available_on": null,
      "date_precision": "day",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://blog.helpareporter.com/connectively-is-back-and-haro-isnt-going-anywhere/",
          "name": "HARO Blog",
          "quote": null,
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-13"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": null,
        "checked_at": "2026-10-13",
        "content_hash": "18b835ba10d2acc98769537bfc8f118fabb63e50d51d503c44af01939fa5cc22"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-09-29",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {},
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-E357",
      "issues": []
    },
    {
      "id": "R181",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "AI-Generated Response Detection",
      "summary": "Journalists can filter out pitches flagged as AI-generated and see a per-response AI-likelihood indicator in HARO.",
      "kind": "feature",
      "features": [
        "journalist-requests"
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": "ml",
      "stage": "ga",
      "announced_on": "2025-07-08",
      "available_on": "2025-07-08",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://blog.helpareporter.com/haro-now-detects-ai-generated-responses/",
          "name": "HARO Blog",
          "quote": "Hide AI-generated responses... HARO will automatically filter out pitches flagged as likely AI-generated",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-13"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": null,
        "checked_at": "2026-10-13",
        "content_hash": "6a1317dc54c23b43a12b5db93b6976dfde5288247b3d27deda21c57060b2df1f"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-09-29",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {
        "journalist-requests": "https://www.newsprint.com/features/#feature-journalist-requests"
      },
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-R181",
      "issues": []
    },
    {
      "id": "N173",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "Journalist Dashboard to view and manage queries",
      "summary": "Journalists got a dashboard to track and manage the queries they submitted.",
      "kind": "feature",
      "features": [
        "journalist-requests"
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": "rules",
      "stage": "ga",
      "announced_on": "2025-06-23",
      "available_on": "2025-06-23",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://blog.helpareporter.com/haro-journalist-dashboard-view-manage-queries/",
          "name": "HARO blog (Change Log, 23 Jun 2025)",
          "quote": "Help a Reporter Out has launched a new Journalist Dashboard to help you easily track and manage your HARO queries in one place.",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-14"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": "Sol",
        "checked_at": "2026-10-14",
        "content_hash": "4d31b705077d22bce5924d96b2bfae76e0cc7c14b774bb638c8930e27e0bfeda"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-10-14",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {
        "journalist-requests": "https://www.newsprint.com/features/#feature-journalist-requests"
      },
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-N173",
      "issues": []
    },
    {
      "id": "N172",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "Podcasts category for guest requests",
      "summary": "HARO added a category where podcast hosts post queries for guests.",
      "kind": "feature",
      "features": [
        "podcasts-and-awards",
        "journalist-requests"
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": "rules",
      "stage": "ga",
      "announced_on": "2025-06-16",
      "available_on": "2025-06-16",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://blog.helpareporter.com/find-podcast-guests-for-your-podcast-with-haro/",
          "name": "HARO blog (Change Log, 16 Jun 2025)",
          "quote": "Help a Reporter Out now has a Podcasts category!",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-14"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": "Sol",
        "checked_at": "2026-10-14",
        "content_hash": "f10178422c0573621eb379135d2109756c72466c3152d5af357717f0d999f3ae"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-10-14",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {
        "podcasts-and-awards": "https://www.newsprint.com/features/#feature-podcasts-and-awards",
        "journalist-requests": "https://www.newsprint.com/features/#feature-journalist-requests"
      },
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-N172",
      "issues": []
    },
    {
      "id": "E260",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "First HARO edition under Featured ownership",
      "summary": "Featured sent the first HARO email digest under its ownership, reviving the free, ad-supported newsletter.",
      "kind": "feature",
      "features": [],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": null,
      "stage": "ga",
      "announced_on": "2025-04-22",
      "available_on": "2025-04-22",
      "date_precision": "day",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://featured.com/about",
          "name": "Featured: About",
          "quote": null,
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-13"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": null,
        "checked_at": "2026-10-13",
        "content_hash": "9a71880186dd1fffc564f4763e97e2bb645f2f727f40a08df6c9afcb15042fc5"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-09-29",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {},
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-E260",
      "issues": []
    },
    {
      "id": "E256",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "Cision sells HARO brand to Featured.com",
      "summary": "Cision announced the sale of the Help A Reporter Out (HARO) brand and name to Featured.com.",
      "kind": "acquisition",
      "features": [],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": null,
      "stage": null,
      "announced_on": "2025-04-15",
      "available_on": null,
      "date_precision": "day",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.cision.com/about/press-releases/2025-press-releases/cision-announces-sale-of-help-a-reporter-out-haro-to-featuredcom-302427990/",
          "name": "Cision press release",
          "quote": null,
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-13"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": null,
        "checked_at": "2026-10-13",
        "content_hash": "225df401bcc3af9d42cd42514e34ca4d0cc43fd8eebcb45364f38995560a3b19"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-09-29",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {},
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-E256",
      "issues": []
    },
    {
      "id": "E225",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "Connectively (formerly HARO) discontinued",
      "summary": "Cision permanently discontinued the Connectively (HARO) platform to focus on its CisionOne product.",
      "kind": "shutdown",
      "features": [],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": null,
      "stage": null,
      "announced_on": "2024-12-09",
      "available_on": null,
      "date_precision": "day",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.cision.com/connectively-has-been-discontinued/",
          "name": "Cision",
          "quote": null,
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-13"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": null,
        "checked_at": "2026-10-13",
        "content_hash": "b5a9781632c540e2155c8d592dcc6d91097f1d0fcf6d7124193fc63509fa0bf1"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-09-29",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {},
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-E225",
      "issues": []
    },
    {
      "id": "E189",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "HARO email digest ends, users moved to Connectively",
      "summary": "HARO's daily email digest ended as subscribers were required to create new Connectively accounts to access queries.",
      "kind": "shutdown",
      "features": [],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": null,
      "stage": null,
      "announced_on": "2024-04-02",
      "available_on": null,
      "date_precision": "day",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.swordandthescript.com/2024/04/goodbye-haro/",
          "name": "Sword and the Script",
          "quote": null,
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-13"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": null,
        "checked_at": "2026-10-13",
        "content_hash": "5cc7049fa86b86b5a8ef9cbf06bfe04270548b88ee3f20245dd78ac4ef70fc1e"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-09-29",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {},
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-E189",
      "issues": []
    },
    {
      "id": "E027",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "Vocus merges with Cision",
      "summary": "Vocus, HARO's owner, merged with Cision Inc., making HARO a Cision brand.",
      "kind": "acquisition",
      "features": [],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": null,
      "stage": null,
      "announced_on": "2014-01-01",
      "available_on": null,
      "date_precision": "year",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help_a_Reporter_Out",
          "name": "Wikipedia: Help a Reporter Out",
          "quote": null,
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-13"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": null,
        "checked_at": "2026-10-13",
        "content_hash": "76161520dfaa28a00283857ae65acd6b8b15522ab0425edc794da5bf71a73690"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-09-29",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {},
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-E027",
      "issues": []
    },
    {
      "id": "E014",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "Vocus acquires HARO",
      "summary": "Vocus, Inc. acquired Help A Reporter Out; founder Peter Shankman joined Vocus as VP.",
      "kind": "acquisition",
      "features": [],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": null,
      "stage": null,
      "announced_on": "2010-06-01",
      "available_on": null,
      "date_precision": "month",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help_a_Reporter_Out",
          "name": "Wikipedia: Help a Reporter Out",
          "quote": null,
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-13"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": null,
        "checked_at": "2026-10-13",
        "content_hash": "1cfdeb60a1eda28f28c66efc23a362392affbf07f8b5d4c0177e146087ae7f3d"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-09-29",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {},
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-E014",
      "issues": []
    },
    {
      "id": "N171",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "Help A Reporter Out thrice-daily source-request email",
      "summary": "HARO sent reporters' source requests to an opt-in email list three times a day from helpareporter.com.",
      "kind": "feature",
      "features": [
        "journalist-requests"
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": "rules",
      "stage": "ga",
      "announced_on": "2008-03-01",
      "available_on": "2008-03-01",
      "date_precision": "month",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://www.poynter.org/?p=93220",
          "name": "Poynter (Help A Reporter Out: What Do Journalists Really Want?, 16 Dec 2008)",
          "quote": "In March, Shankman migrated the group to a thrice daily e-mail newsletter that he assembles based on queries that come through a form on his site.",
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-14"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": "Sol",
        "checked_at": "2026-10-14",
        "content_hash": "447825e8aa24796372fae95ecdfc5ef8c17bd2a30c72888ea7df1cd5fbfb357b"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-10-14",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {
        "journalist-requests": "https://www.newsprint.com/features/#feature-journalist-requests"
      },
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-N171",
      "issues": []
    },
    {
      "id": "E008",
      "company": "haro",
      "product": null,
      "title": "HARO founded",
      "summary": "Peter Shankman founded Help A Reporter Out (HARO) as a Facebook group connecting journalists with sources.",
      "kind": "founded",
      "features": [],
      "tags": [],
      "categories": [
        "requests"
      ],
      "tech": null,
      "stage": null,
      "announced_on": "2008-01-01",
      "available_on": null,
      "date_precision": "year",
      "sources": [
        {
          "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help_a_Reporter_Out",
          "name": "Wikipedia: Help a Reporter Out",
          "quote": null,
          "retrieved_at": "2026-10-13"
        }
      ],
      "verification": {
        "status": "confirmed",
        "model": null,
        "checked_at": "2026-10-13",
        "content_hash": "bf44a11de9da1bd43530be674b80e03130a3d7ee0ebb1af70b1ff0d1fffa244f"
      },
      "recorded_on": "2026-09-29",
      "issue": null,
      "supersedes": null,
      "updated_at": "2026-10-20",
      "skill_grade": null,
      "needs_paid_data": null,
      "install_url": null,
      "recognition": null,
      "people": [],
      "feature_urls": {},
      "url": "https://www.newsprint.com/companies/haro/#launch-E008",
      "issues": []
    }
  ]
}