How to respond to journalist queries starts with meeting the reporter’s stated deadline, then sending information the reporter can use, tailored to the outlet. The platforms below are an ordered selection, not a ranking.
This guide sits within the wider work of media relations for tech companies. It concentrates on answering inbound requests rather than pitching outbound, so the first job is finding the right requests and the second is replying well.
How to choose a journalist request platform
A source request platform is a service that passes journalists’ calls for sources and comments to people who can answer them. HARO made the format familiar, and readers searching for HARO alternatives or Connectively alternatives tend to compare the same few factors. Nothing in the supplied evidence justifies ranking the services against each other, so they are presented in a selection order and judged on the criteria below.
- Cost model. eReleases states that ProfNet requires a paid membership. Check the current pricing page of any other service before building a routine around it.
- Delivery. Some services send requests by email, and some also let you search them on a website. Email suits people who want requests to arrive without effort, and search suits people who want to browse when they have time.
- Matching. A platform that scores pitches against journalist-set tags rewards replies written in the same vocabulary as the request.
- Continuity. Services close. Confirm that a platform is still running before you set up a profile or an inbox rule.
Email delivery also shapes how you work. Because requests land in an inbox, a reply can be drafted wherever a laptop is, which matters when the request has a short window.
Request platforms to check
The services below come from eReleases’ overview of options beyond HARO. They suit different working habits, so pick on the criteria above rather than on name recognition.
ProfNet
ProfNet is the paid option. According to eReleases, a membership entitles the subscriber to emails with journalist queries and an online profile, and journalists and bloggers send thousands of story leads every month to ProfNet users. It suits a communications team that answers requests every week and can justify a subscription. The volume is also its limit: a large stream of leads only pays off if you reply selectively, to requests where your expertise genuinely fits.
SourceBottle
SourceBottle delivers queries by email twice daily, and they are also searchable through its website, per eReleases. It suits people who like to scan requests on demand rather than wait for a digest, for instance a founder who sets aside a block of time to search for topics in their field. Confirm pricing and coverage on the platform’s own site before committing.
PitchRate
PitchRate rates pitches on a star scale from 1 to 5. Those ratings are generated from how well keywords in the pitch match the tags set by the journalist, as eReleases explains. It suits writers who want feedback on how closely a reply tracks the request. In practice that means using the journalist’s own terms in your reply instead of internal product language.
Reporter Connection (no longer available)
Reporter Connection was previously one of the best alternatives to HARO, but eReleases reports that the service has been discontinued. Remove it from any list of sources you still follow.
Platform comparison at a glance
| Platform | Cost model | How requests reach you | Planning use |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProfNet | Paid membership | Emails with journalist queries, plus an online profile | Fits teams with a budget and a steady flow of expertise to offer |
| SourceBottle | Check the platform’s pricing page | Emailed twice daily and searchable on the website | Fits people who want to search requests as well as receive them |
| PitchRate | Check the platform’s pricing page | Pitches scored from 1 to 5 stars by keyword match to journalist tags | Fits writers who want to align reply wording with the request |
| Reporter Connection | Not applicable | Discontinued | Do not plan around it |
These details come from eReleases’ guide to finding journalist requests.
Reply checklist for journalist requests
Finding a request is the easy part. Whether a reply gets picked depends on timing, usefulness and fit, and each is a separate check.
Meet the deadline
Reporters work to deadlines, and a LinkedIn article on responding to media inquiries advises finding out the deadline and working hard to meet it. If you will miss it, the same article says to call before the deadline and say so. Read the stated deadline before anything else, since it decides whether you can help at all. A short warning is better than a late reply that nobody can use.
Speed comes from preparation. A LinkedIn guide to media inquiries says to prepare and rehearse, never wing it, and to get clear on goals, key messages and potential questions. Keep a short set of approved messages on your main topics so that a reply to a new request is an edit rather than a first draft.
Lead with usable information
Give the journalist something they can put straight into a story. An expert quote is most useful when it answers the question that was asked, in plain words, with the key point first. The LinkedIn article on media inquiries warns that if you do not provide information, the reporter will go elsewhere for the news. A reply that circles the question hands the story to someone else.
Story quality also drives pickup. The LinkedIn guide puts it simply: if there is a story, it will sell. A reply built on a real development, an unusual finding or a concrete example stands apart from one that lists credentials and hopes for the best.
Fit the outlet
Write each reply for the publication that issued the request. The LinkedIn guide notes that you will not say the same thing to a business publication and a B2B magazine. Check who the journalist writes for and adjust the angle, the level of technical detail and the examples. A reply copied unchanged from request to request is easy to spot.
What to leave out
- Vague status words. The LinkedIn guide points out that, for anyone in media relations, “stable” is not a condition. Replace general labels with a plain statement of what is actually happening.
- Robotic caution. The same guide says to stay human, because a robotic, overly cautious response is less effective. Write the way you would explain the point to a colleague.
- Padding around the answer. Anything that does not help the reporter use the quote is better cut, particularly company background the request did not ask for.
Building on a single reply
One reply that is fast, specific and well matched to the outlet is also the start of a relationship. The guide on how to become a source for journalists covers how repeat, reliable answers turn into return requests. Small teams deciding how much time inbound requests deserve can weigh that against the wider priorities in a media relations strategy for startups.
Frequently asked questions
Which journalist request platforms are free to use?
ProfNet requires a paid membership, according to eReleases. For SourceBottle and PitchRate, check the current pricing on each platform’s own site. Answering requests that reach you directly by email costs nothing.
What if I do not know the answer to a request?
Say so, and commit to getting the reporter an answer. The LinkedIn article on responding to media inquiries advises telling the reporter that you do not know but will find out, which keeps you in the running as a source without guessing.
Can one reply offer several story options?
Yes. A LinkedIn guide to media inquiries describes a journalist who received one organized email with several options instead of multiple emails across the week, and who moved forward from it. Keep the options in a single message and make each one distinct.
