Featured.com Revives HARO, Combating AI-Generated Content with Human Expertise

Featured.com, a knowledge-sharing platform, has acquired Help A Reporter Out (HARO) from Cision, signaling a strategic move to preserve human expertise in media reporting. The acquisition comes at a critical time when artificial intelligence is increasingly generating content across digital platforms.

The platform, originally founded in 2008, has been a vital resource for journalists seeking expert sources and professionals looking to share insights through earned media. Under Featured's new ownership, HARO will return to its roots, providing a free service that connects journalists with authentic human experts.

Brett Farmiloe, Founder and CEO of Featured, emphasized the importance of human expertise in an AI-dominated landscape. By maintaining HARO's core functionality of delivering daily opportunities via email, the platform will enable reporters to quickly find relevant expert sources and diversify their storytelling.

The revival of HARO represents more than a simple business transaction; it underscores a broader commitment to maintaining journalistic integrity and human-driven knowledge sharing. With over 50,000 experts in its community and connections to 2,500 media outlets, Featured is positioning itself as a critical bridge between subject-matter experts and content creators.

Great North Ventures, an investment partner in this acquisition, sees potential in community-driven platforms that foster trusted connections. Rob Weber, Managing Partner at the firm, expressed confidence in Featured's mission to unlock and amplify expert knowledge.

As digital content continues to evolve, HARO's relaunch signals a deliberate push back against the potential homogenization of information through AI-generated content. By prioritizing human expertise, Featured.com is offering journalists and readers an alternative to algorithmically produced narratives.

The platform will remain free for both journalists and sources, sustaining its operations through newsletter advertisements. Professionals and reporters interested in participating can sign up for early access, continuing HARO's legacy of democratizing expert knowledge.