HARO (Help a Reporter Out), the journalist-request newsletter owned by Featured, has launched Advertise in HARO, a self-serve system for purchasing text advertising in its three weekday editions. The move underscores HARO's commitment to keeping its service free for journalists and sources, with advertisers footing the bill. According to the company, HARO sent more than 100 million emails to subscribers over the past year, reaching PR professionals, publicists, marketers, founders, and subject matter experts who respond to journalist requests in categories including business, technology, health, travel, lifestyle, and entertainment.
The new platform allows advertisers to book placements directly at helpareporter.com/advertise without needing a HARO account or a sales call. The process involves selecting a placement, edition, and date from a live calendar that shows prices up to 45 days ahead; writing the ad copy and link text; and paying through Stripe. HARO reviews every ad during business hours, requiring at least one business day between booking and publication. Ads that fail to meet guidelines are declined and refunded in full. This self-serve approach mirrors the simplicity of submitting a query for a journalist, according to Brett Farmiloe, founder and CEO of Featured.
"Some platforms in this category charge PR people a monthly subscription for the right to pitch more often. We took the other route," Farmiloe said. "HARO stays free for journalists and for the experts who answer them. The companies that pay are the ones that want to reach this audience, and now they can book that reach in a few minutes without a sales call." This strategy differentiates HARO from competitors that monetize access to journalists, potentially making it more attractive to both sources and journalists who value open access.
Advertisers can choose from three placement types: Presenting Sponsor at the top of the edition, Spotlight directly below the query index, and Classified in the closing block. Rates vary by placement, edition, and day of the week, with Thursday base rates ranging from $125 for a Classified in the Evening edition to $795 for a Presenting Sponsor in the Morning edition. Volume discounts apply automatically, and fixed-price bundles such as "Try HARO" at $450 for four Classified placements are available. A full guide to placements and guidelines is published at https://blog.helpareporter.com/how-to-advertise-on-haro-a-step-by-step-guide-to-haro-ads/.
The introduction of advertising could have significant implications for the PR and marketing industry. Companies selling to PR professionals—such as software providers, agencies, media databases, and event organizers—now have a direct channel to reach a highly targeted audience. For readers, the newsletter remains free, but they will see clearly labeled sponsored content. HARO's strict advertising standards prohibit ads that promise editorial coverage or present paid placements as news, maintaining trust. As the media landscape evolves, HARO's model may influence how other platforms balance free access with monetization.
HARO was founded in 2008, shut down by its previous owner in December 2024, and relaunched by Featured in April 2025. Featured, founded in 2022 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, operates as Terkel, Inc. and also owns Connectively. With this launch, HARO aims to sustain its free service while offering a valuable tool for advertisers. For more information, visit HARO.
