Farewell, HARO: Cision Bids Adieu to a Media Staple — winsome.pr

Published in

Winsome Marketing

2 min readApr 10, 2024

So, here’s the scoop: Cision is waving goodbye to Help a Reporter Out (HARO), and it’s making waves in the media world.

They dropped the bombshell in an email to us loyal subscribers, outlining the game plan:

We’re saying sayonara to logging in at helpareporter.com.

Instead, you’ll find connectively.us for all your HARO needs.

Oh, and those trusty daily newsletters? They’re getting a makeover with a shiny new query feed on Connectively.

Psst, they’re also sneaking in some premium features, hinting at a fresh direction for HARO.

The curtains closed on April 2, 2024, marking the end of an era.

A Story of Innovation and PR Magic

Back in 2008, a genius named Peter Shankman birthed HARO as a humble Facebook hangout for journalists hunting down sources.

Fast forward, and it morphed into a tech-savvy email service, hooking journalists up with contributors incognito.

HARO became the holy grail for PR pros, boasting sky-high engagement and ads that actually worked.

In 2010, PR juggernaut Vocus swooped in and scooped up HARO, unleashing a new chapter in its saga.

But as with any makeover, not everyone was sold.

Changes in ads and content stirred the pot, leaving some users scratching their heads.

Still, the acquisition aimed to soothe journalist jitters about PR spam, even if it meant weathering a few storms along the way.

When Vocus snagged HARO, it thrust PR peeps into the spotlight, drawing fire from journalists and media mavens.

But defenders of the faith stood firm, championing HARO’s role in ethical media relations.

Amidst the chaos, lessons were learned, and bonds between PR and journalism grew stronger.

As HARO bids adieu, its legacy lives on, leaving an indelible mark on the PR scene.

Though its sun has set, the spirit of “helping reporters” lives on, reminding us of the power of collaboration and integrity in media relations.

HARO may be gone, but its essence endures, guiding us as we navigate the ever-changing media landscape.

With HARO in the rearview mirror, new platforms emerge, offering fresh avenues for media engagement.

As the industry evolves, so do we, embracing change and innovation in our quest for media mastery.

So let’s raise a glass to HARO, a true trailblazer in the world of PR and journalism.

And here’s to us, as we forge ahead into a future filled with new possibilities and endless opportunities.

Originally published at https://winsomepr.com on April 10, 2024.