I smell an idea….. HASO?

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.

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.

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.

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!)

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).

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!

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.

I’ve been a journalist for 12 years. I still remember being at college and writing one of my first articles… I had to call someone to conduct an interview and I was sooo nervous! What if I ask stupid questions? What if I get tongue tied? They’ll be able to tell I’m a fraud!!

However, the process of working out how to source and conduct that interview (and many more over the next few years!) really prepared me for the “real world”. Years later when I worked in a busy newsroom, I remember laughing about the fact that interviews used to make me nervous, because I was doing 10 interviews a day with editors and writers all around me and couldn’t afford shyness! So I guess that’s a really long winded way of saying.. perhaps new journos shouldn’t have access to these types of resources in their early days? Just a thought!