Comments on: Help a Reporter Out: Too much of a free service? http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/09/12/help-a-reporter-out-too-much-of-a-free-service/ Living and loving the freelance life—on your own terms. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:46:01 +0000 hourly 1 By: Karen Elliott http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/09/12/help-a-reporter-out-too-much-of-a-free-service/comment-page-1/#comment-177924 Karen Elliott Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:17:11 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=610#comment-177924 I've posted four queries on HARO. The first time was a train wreck - I wasn't specific enough and I received multiple off-topic pitches. I recently posted my fourth query, I was painfully specific, and I still got off-topic pitches. One of these recent pitches was for members of the military who had done a tour in Iraq (I was very specific in the query). I received a query from an agent who had a client who had worked in Iraq. Operative word - "worked", not served. I blasted her even though it appears that she was affiliated with a movie production company; she apologized (I guess because she thought I'd tattle to Peter). Another query I posted was for psycohologists or psychiatrists for families or couples. I got a response from a gentleman in CA who coached people on gay issues. I have received multiple good contacts, which have enriched my ideas and queries. And beware the PR people! In my experience I have come to realize they are more interested in getting their client's name in the spotlight, not helping the writer with their current assignment. I went back and forth with one PR person so many times, I told her I was starting to feel uncomfortable about it. I got the answers to MY questions in her next email. As a new freelancer who doesn't yet have her first clip, I'm somewhat timid about complaining to Peter. So my advice - be overly-specific, and prepare yourself for those pesky PR people who will try to jimmy the lock on the back door. I’ve posted four queries on HARO. The first time was a train wreck – I wasn’t specific enough and I received multiple off-topic pitches. I recently posted my fourth query, I was painfully specific, and I still got off-topic pitches. One of these recent pitches was for members of the military who had done a tour in Iraq (I was very specific in the query). I received a query from an agent who had a client who had worked in Iraq. Operative word – “worked”, not served. I blasted her even though it appears that she was affiliated with a movie production company; she apologized (I guess because she thought I’d tattle to Peter). Another query I posted was for psycohologists or psychiatrists for families or couples. I got a response from a gentleman in CA who coached people on gay issues. I have received multiple good contacts, which have enriched my ideas and queries. And beware the PR people! In my experience I have come to realize they are more interested in getting their client’s name in the spotlight, not helping the writer with their current assignment. I went back and forth with one PR person so many times, I told her I was starting to feel uncomfortable about it. I got the answers to MY questions in her next email. As a new freelancer who doesn’t yet have her first clip, I’m somewhat timid about complaining to Peter. So my advice – be overly-specific, and prepare yourself for those pesky PR people who will try to jimmy the lock on the back door.

]]> By: HARO rescues writers stuck for sources « WordCount/by Michelle Vranizan Rafter http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/09/12/help-a-reporter-out-too-much-of-a-free-service/comment-page-1/#comment-124798 HARO rescues writers stuck for sources « WordCount/by Michelle Vranizan Rafter Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:01:17 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=610#comment-124798 [...] source-finding services, namely too many off-topic responses, which you can read more about in this post about it on The Renegade Writer blog. Get around that by making sure your queries are as specific as possible. And state up front that [...] [...] source-finding services, namely too many off-topic responses, which you can read more about in this post about it on The Renegade Writer blog. Get around that by making sure your queries are as specific as possible. And state up front that [...]

]]> By: Crissy http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/09/12/help-a-reporter-out-too-much-of-a-free-service/comment-page-1/#comment-122964 Crissy Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:09:33 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=610#comment-122964 I just tried HARO for the first time.. actually, this is the first time i've tried getting sources for any article. It was amazing! The very next day I had 15 emails, of which several were from PR people, but even a couple of them were relevant to my story. I agree... all thats needed is a few clicks of the delete key. The rest of the information, at least for my query, was exactly what i needed. I just tried HARO for the first time.. actually, this is the first time i’ve tried getting sources for any article.

It was amazing! The very next day I had 15 emails, of which several were from PR people, but even a couple of them were relevant to my story.

I agree… all thats needed is a few clicks of the delete key. The rest of the information, at least for my query, was exactly what i needed.

]]> By: HisGirlFriday http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/09/12/help-a-reporter-out-too-much-of-a-free-service/comment-page-1/#comment-122212 HisGirlFriday Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:06:09 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=610#comment-122212 Just wanted to add that HARO has been AMAZING for me in the past. I've used it a half dozen times and sure, I got some responses that were not quite what I was looking for. But more often than not, I got direct hits. Once I had someone respond even though her answering my questions did nothing to help her client. (Her family fit the bill for a really obscure "real person" source I was seeking.) Keep it up, Peter! HARO rocks! That said, reporters should really try to be as specific as possible. Diana's example is perfect, especially pointing out what you want and what you DON'T want. Just wanted to add that HARO has been AMAZING for me in the past. I’ve used it a half dozen times and sure, I got some responses that were not quite what I was looking for. But more often than not, I got direct hits. Once I had someone respond even though her answering my questions did nothing to help her client. (Her family fit the bill for a really obscure “real person” source I was seeking.)

Keep it up, Peter! HARO rocks!

That said, reporters should really try to be as specific as possible. Diana’s example is perfect, especially pointing out what you want and what you DON’T want.

]]> By: Anne http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2008/09/12/help-a-reporter-out-too-much-of-a-free-service/comment-page-1/#comment-121918 Anne Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:00:58 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=610#comment-121918 Not only is this part of the territory when putting out these kind of requests as opposed to going out and actively looking for what you need, you can also get good leads from off-topic responses. I've got some great feature ideas from these and some great commissions as a result. Not only is this part of the territory when putting out these kind of requests as opposed to going out and actively looking for what you need, you can also get good leads from off-topic responses. I’ve got some great feature ideas from these and some great commissions as a result.

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