HARO Response to Temple University Article on Student Journalists
Help A Reporter Out was founded on the principle that we could easily connect journalists with sources all around the globe, for all media outlets.
In the beginning, we accepted all forms of media, from anyone claiming to be a reporter. As we got bigger, we had to start implementing certain rules and guidelines as to which forms of media were allowed to use the site to search for sources.
Sometime in late 2008, word got out to several college and university journalism departments about HARO. Professors started telling their students to use HARO to find sources for their college writing assignments. Unfortunately, many of the students didn’t tell us that they were writing not for publication, but rather, simply for a class assignment.
Now Imagine you’re the CEO of a company who is told by your PR agency that a freelancer wants to interview you. You take time out of your day to prep, and prepare notes. Finally, the call comes in, and you discover that you’re the subject of a Journalism 201 paper for Joe Sophomore. Needless to say, this doesn’t sit well with you. More importantly, it undermines the credibility of HARO.
As such, we instituted a ban on students using HARO for school projects. Unfortunately, students would simply revert to calling themselves “Reporters” for their university paper, and when pressed to provide an editor’s contact information or assignment desk email, would usually withdraw the query.
As such, we had no choice but to place a ban on student newspapers. As the old adage goes, “one bad apple ruins the bunch.”
We’re more than willing to identify new and better ways to work with student journalists. I’m a graduate of the journalism program at Boston University, and was a reporter for the Daily Free Press, BU’s student newspaper. I got my start on a college paper, just like almost every journalist currently working today. Believe me, having to prevent student journalists from using HARO is not a position in which we enjoy being. We look forward to your comments on how we can better differentiate between working student journalists, and students looking to abuse HARO for a class paper.
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:29 am
I smell an idea….. HASO?
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Journalism students still have access to social media platforms to assist them in gathering sources. HARO is not the right platform, so they’ll need to learn about how to reach the “everyman” source via Twitter, Facebook, etc. If they’re looking for a specific source for a story, they’ll have to do some down and dirty research to find the right person.
March 4th, 2009 at 6:03 am
We work primarily with authors, some with the target audience of college students. A college newspaper, in these cases, would be acceptable. As long as a student is honest about their project, we could choose if we wanted to respond. From HARO’s perspective, it may open the door to too many college queries and the admin that goes along with it. HASO could be a great opportunity for both college students and people looking to hone their PR skills and message with trial first interviews with students. Just think of the advertisers looking to reach this target audience! Could be a great opportunity.
March 4th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Peter, I agree that Journalism students should not be allowed on HARO. Primarily because it makes things too easy for them. I was in Journalism school about a decade ago. We were encouraged to pick up the phone and make relationships to find sources. The skills these students learn now will stick with them through out their career, why not make them put a little sweat into it? It’s like learning to drive on an old POS car, because if you can drive that, you can drive anything. Same should go for Journalism students.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Hey Peter about a second HARO style mail list specifically for student journalist that way people can opt for that list and chose to be contacted. It keeps with HARO principals of helping a reporter out even if it is a student. In the title of the Queries is can say the school and if it’s for the student paper or class.
Blue Skies (This year I will make it to the Ranch!)
March 12th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Peter,
What about a student section within HARO? Limited to the best 1 query per issue? That way we all know what is being offered and what we can expect in return, students will still have to do their research the way we all did and learn those skills, and at the same time, they learn how to sell their story ideas, also an important skill (plus they get a taste of what it’s like to be in PR!) And, limit one chosen query per student per 6 months (this might be a record-keeping nightmare, but I bet there’s a simple solution somebody here can add).
November 5th, 2009 at 9:33 am
As a journalism instructor at Columbia College in Chicago, I can tell you that it IS challenging for students to find sources.
Also, a good number of our student assignments get published. In fact, students must publish in order to get A’s in many of the upper-level classes. A few students find publishing outlets on their own, but the college has a high quality newspaper, magazine, numerous newsletters and websites that publish their work. The circulation of our newspaper is 10,000-plus, which is greater than some of the trade pubs I write for myself.
Students get discouraged being told “we don’t talk to students.” But then, there are other people who are generous and happy to help students. A separate HARO site for students would be great!
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:35 am
The notion that burgeoning reporters should still hone old-school skills is extremely accurate. They should learn to have a “hit-the-pavement” attitude and certainly spend the time seeking out and gaining sources. This is part of the gig and should not be skipped over.
On the other hand, when the phone was invented, did “old-school” reporters of that day tell the newer generations: “You don’t get to use the phone, that’s too easy. You have to do it like I did when I was new?” Perhaps it was the same with the TV, or any other progression in technology within the industry?
I am a section editor for an award winning publication at a university with no journalism program. We compete not only with other college presses, but also other dailies and weeklies in Portland, Ore. The paper is respected and carries weight in our local area.
I feel that a ban on all reporters who also happen to be students negates an entire population of genuine reporters, even beginning ones. As one commenter here noted, journalism students do have a difficult time—beyond the normal strain of a reporter’s source seeking skills—to obtain sources and relationships.
The issue with student’s using the HARO service for school-oriented projects is valid, and should not be allowed. However, throwing university-related publications into the same mix is a sad mistake, if not a dispiriting one.
Everyone here has a significant point, but in the end, putting a ban on all students is taking the issue to heights it need not go. Simple measures can be taken to prevent abuse, and it would not put any strain upon HARO.
For example, a reporter/writer could simply build credit with HARO after setting up an account and later providing proof of publication after using the service (a simple link to the story, etc). Those who cannot provide this, get their accounts blocked.
Or simply building a relationship with publications and being aware of their significance. Other suggestions here are also very well thought out, such as easily offering an “opt out” choice for sources.
I would ask that you reconsider your stance on your student ban. It is a discouraging move in an already discouraging industry.