Both HARO and Terkel are excellent sources for journalists. Journalists go to HARO (Help A Reporter Out) and Terkel and use these services to publish queries for blog posts they are writing. Bloggers go to the services and pitch the journalists. Those chosen get published and receive benefits from getting chosen. For instance, the resulting link to the journalist's website boosts SEO, and being quoted by a journalist boosts branding.
Call me old fashioned, but when I need an expert for an article, I pick up the phone and call various organizations and ask to speak with their CSOs. Many people are happy to take the call since we have evolved toward favoring email. It is also much more effective than a cold email. I have built a network of security experts by doing this and no longer have to cold call, plus they sometimes call on me to discuss the latest in security, or ask for my opinion on a course of action for their company’s cybersecurity. Name: Eric Florence Website: https://securitytech.org/ Title: Cybersecurity Analyst
Finding helpful sources can be tough and tracking down expert sources isn’t always simple as it seems. Reach out to high-level experts in a particular scientific field using Google Scholar to locate recent academic papers on the subject you are reporting on, and then looking up the authors of those papers as potential sources is a great way to find expert sources.
One of the most effective ways to find expert sources for journalists is to utilise Twitter's advanced search functionality. The platform's intuitive filtering enables journalists seeking an expert comment to quickly identify the most relevant and reliable sources simply by inserting specific keywords, hashtags and accounts. It also helps them to eliminate any substandard sources in the same way, and this removes the manual work otherwise required when scouting out the best candidates to approach for a quote.
Sign up for online news sites like The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times, and read the articles. You can also follow journalists on Twitter and join the conversation. Ask them questions about their stories, and tell them that you want to write a blog post about their reporting. When you have the chance to interview an expert, read the questions that other journalists have asked and try to think of new ones. Ask open-ended questions to get the most out of your interview. And make sure that you have a recording device or a notebook to write everything down.
A journalist may not inherently know the proper expert to contribute to a given story. Certainly, they have a pre-conceived idea of that expert, but the world is full of diverse opinions and experiences. Upon posting an initial thought relating to their topic in a crowdsourced forum, it can spark a creative process that may take the article in a completely different (and much improved) direction. At a minimum, it stands to support the more obvious options, but at most could really innovate and enhance an article offering. I think it's these unique spins on previously tackled concepts that make an article truly worth reading. Another option is to not limit the respondents. Another critical flaw I see is when journalists specify the exact type of expert they deem appropriate to respond. On any given topic, numerous other areas of expertise come into play, and to strike these out the gate loses the diversity of perspective that makes one's writing memorable.
Reach out to a contact at a nearby university, and use that person to connect you to the expert you’re looking for. Universities are a great starting point when looking for expert sources, as many in that community have wide-ranging connections and are aware of which voices carry the most weight in their field. Even if your contact’s expertise seems completely unrelated to the type of question you’re asking, that doesn’t mean they can’t connect you to the perfect source.
If you are a journalist looking for more female voices for your piece, try using SheSource. This media center focuses on only female and female-identifying voices across a variety of topics. This service allows journalists to sign up for email updates similar to HARO but with SheSource you are able to search via keyword, place, or industry. So there is more of a niche.
ProfNet is a platform that connects journalists with expert sources. Sign up with queries that include details like what you’re looking for, your deadline, and specific organizations, industries, or personnel you’re looking for. You can also register for an “expert alert” newsletter with sources for news-worthy events. ProfNet is great for journalists who need to get connected with expert sources quickly and seamlessly.
Founder and Executive Chairman at Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corporation
Answered 4 years ago
Look, if you don't have an existing network of sources already. and you need a source right now because you're under deadline then the service Help A Reporter Out (HARO) is probably your go to resource.
Marketing & Outreach Manager at ePassportPhoto
Answered 4 years ago
One way is to use an online tool like Help a Reporter Out (HARO). HARO is a free service that connects journalists with sources who can provide expert information on various topics. Additionally, you can search for them on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also try searching for experts in databases like the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Expert Query Service. Finally, you can always reach out to professional organizations in your field of interest and ask for referrals.
HARO is a free tool that journalists and other professionals use to find expert sources. Journalists simply submit questions using the form on the HARO website and wait for responses. Each request is filled with details and requirement to ensure journalists receive the insight they seek. Members are sent three emails every day, each with a unique set of requests for expert sources. HARO is among the industry’s top platforms for journalists to easily receive expert sources to round out their stories.
I heard about HARO last year and became its fan eventually. HARO is a worldwide platform and helps journalists get expert sources from all over the world. Journalists put their queries here for their articles and several expert sources reply to them. Journalists get more than 100 responses to a single query here for free. Isn't it crazy? Experts are generally liable and trustworthy on HARO. Thus, journalists can select the best sources for themselves.
Individuals who are directly involved with a story are the key gateway journalists can use to source more information. This includes experts on a topic. More information can often be gleaned from experts who are important to key hierarchies, when first talking to players directly involved in stories like corporate, crime or healthcare related pieces. Some examples of these would be talking to a forensic expert after interviewing a patrol officer who was on the scene of a crime, or sourcing quotes from a corporate manager after speaking with an employee. A nurse caring for patients who have contracted a rare disease, can point journalists in the direction of a doctor at the hospital with an expert background in that particular illness. Sourcing information from individuals who are close to the story is a valuable method for journalists, especially when it comes to expert sources.
There are several companies that connect you with reputable sources. Sourcebottle, HARO, Help a B2B reporter out, and Terkel all offer this service. You can add your request and then wait for replies. You do have to filter, and some of them are less relevant, but you will find some gems.
Help a Reporter Out, or HARO, is owned by Cision, a Chicago-based media intelligence company, and it’s a free subscription service that lets journalists from non-subscription-based outlets submit a query elaborating their story synopsis, deadline, and requirements. The HARO editors analyze the query and send it via email to registered sources or their media representatives. The interested sources then pitch to the querying journalists, who can opt to remain anonymous. As per the company, 55000 journalists and 800000 sources are registered with the service, and contact emails will be given.
As a journalist, you most likely have established relationships with people with different backgrounds. You can use these connections and ask about their recommendations regarding experts in a field that you want to write about. It’s a great way to grow your network and save time looking for sources that are not a good fit for you. Once your partner recommends someone to you, you can run a quick check on that person and reach out to them with a specific description of your focus area. You will see that this strategy will help you gather more adequate sources and build new relationships that will benefit you in the future.
When finding expert sources, don't rely only on popular online services used by journalists searching for expert sources. They are helpful, and you should definitely use them. But go ahead and create your own database considering the topic you are dealing with. So make a database with names, email addresses, and areas of interest of people you have previously worked with. Based on desk research, supplement it with information about new experts. Check websites of universities, scientific institutes, consulting companies, specialists commenting in interviews, or even Twitter. Include all experts you find online who can help your cause. Your database may not be impressive at first, but it will grow as new contacts are added to it over time. Within months or years, you will create something precious - a comprehensive database that you can rely on and always have at hand.
Getting expert sources can be pretty doable with the following strategies: Source information from your niche or industry on Terkel. It's a great opportunity since it gets your name out there whilst getting good links for your brand. Search for unused backlinks you can fulfill with content you already have and pitch it to the site's editor. Nobody likes to have broken links on their site, so this could be a win-win situation. Please credit Brenton Thomas (bthomas@twibiagency.com), founder and CEO of Twibi https://www.twibiagency.com/
You want to make a call that opens the door for a treasure trove of legal experts? Call your state bar association. Each one has a media relations person who can find groups of attorneys who specialize in every facet of American law – constitutional, criminal, civil, personal injury, etc. A resourceful journalist can access any state bar website and perform their own advanced searches to identify and locate the best legal experts in a particular field. I knew one journalist who needed to find the best immigration experts he could on deadline. He found five top-tier experts after making one phone call to the state bar.