Some big news…
So… A bit of HARO news below. The only real takeaway to know (for those ADOS like me) is that I’m not going anywhere – I still write the HAROs, Mike still edits them, and they’re still as wonderful as they ever were. Now, though, I’m fortunate to have help to grow HARO to the next level.
Stick around for the ride, guys. It’s gonna be freakin’ awesome. 
N E W S R E L E A S E
HARO NAMES THOM BRODEUR TO EXECUTIVE TEAM
PR Pro and Former Marketwire Executive Joins Fastest Growing Journalist/Source Matching Service
NEW YORK – June 1, 2009 – Help A Reporter Out (HARO), the largest media source repository in the world, announced today the addition of Thom Brodeur to its senior management team. Brodeur joins the company as its chief operating officer, where he will assume responsibility for corporate strategy, marketing, sales, business development and operations.
“I hate press releases, so I’ll just say this. In one year, HARO has changed the way reporters find sources, and changed the face of public relations for both small mom-and pop businesses and large, Fortune 1000 companies as well. HARO has shifted the playing field and allowed anyone who is an expert at anything to be found by the media, while making the media’s job a bit easier, in a time where “easier” and “media” don’t go together that often. As HARO grew, it became obvious to me that I needed to take it to the next level, and I’m smart enough to know what I do well, and with what I need help. Bringing Thom in made sense on several levels, not the least of which being his impressive track record for corporate growth,” said Shankman.
“Now let’s Tweet this,” he added.
A seasoned executive, Brodeur brings to the HARO team more than 16 years of expertise in global strategy, brand management, marketing, communications, product and business development. Brodeur joins HARO from the third largest commercial newswire in the world, Marketwire, where he recently served as a senior vice president, global strategy and development overseeing the company’s product development, media relations and M&A efforts. Prior to Marketwire, Brodeur was an executive with Brodeur Partners, an Omnicom Group company that provided strategic marketing, communications and public relations services to mid-market to global 2000 enterprise clients in the consumer, high technology, aerospace, nanotechnology, services and telecommunications industries.
“I met Peter Shankman while I was at Marketwire,” said Thom Brodeur. “From my experience with other alert and matching services as a PR practitioner, I was deeply interested in how HARO was matching reporters and sources so simply, efficiently and…free of charge. I believe that HARO is the future of crowd-sourced journalism, and is a brand on the brink of greatness. I am thrilled to join the company at this critical time in its evolution, and look forward to working with Peter and the management team to expand the business domestically and abroad.”
Brodeur will be based out of HARO’s U.S. offices in Los Angeles and will report to Shankman.
About HARO
Launched in March of 2008 as a Facebook group with 120 members, Help A Reporter Out (HARO) is now the world’s largest source repository, with over 100,000 members and journalists matching on a daily basis. Composed as a 100% free email, members receive upwards of fifty queries, three times per day. If members can answer any of the queries, they can reply to the reporter directly. Anyone can join HARO at http://helpareporter.com, and journalists can submit source requests at http://helpareporter.com/press.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:04 am
Looks like some exciting changes at HARO – can’t wait to see what happens next.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:40 am
Congrats!
June 1st, 2009 at 6:10 am
Peter, I am happy that your company is growing. Well deserved growth! Glad you’ve found such a great match to join the P.R. revolution you created. Bravo, and welcome aboard, Thom! Can’t wait to see what comes next!!
June 1st, 2009 at 7:51 am
¡Felicitaciones!/Congratulations! It’s evident that HARO is IT! And to bring on Thom is such a terrific (and strategic) move. Here’s to more success Peter. Glass of vino to celebrate tonight!
June 1st, 2009 at 8:15 am
Congrats & good move. Looking forward to the next step in HARO’s evolution. You’ve yet to disappoint.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:16 am
congratulations! I look forward to the next step in HARO’s evolution. You’ve yet to disappoint!
June 1st, 2009 at 10:10 am
Congratulations to you both. And a great choice, Peter. Thom is a genius. I’m genuinely excited to see how HARO continues to unfold.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:42 am
Many congrats Peter! I hope this means you’ll be able to sleep like a normal person? And by the way, would love to visit HARO’s US offices in LA!
June 1st, 2009 at 11:25 am
I’ll say it again.. Smartest man I know!!!
Congrats! xoxox
June 1st, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Congratulations, Peter!
June 1st, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Congrats on the big announcement. I can’t wait to see what’s next from you guys. Keep up the great work.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:42 pm
as one of your earliest and most vocal supporters, I think I deserve royalty payments. but I’ll settle for 5% of the company, if that’s easier.
cheers,
dt
June 1st, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Many congratulations – the next year should be even more of a fun ride than the last. Now it’s time to give the cats a seat on the board.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Congratulations and all the best to Thom! Seeing that you started in March of 2008, I checked my e-mail file to learn I joined the list on March 20, 2008. Hard to believe it grown so big in little over a year.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:19 pm
[...] example of Web 2.0 Working perfectly! Correct strategy, good implementation and voila, success! http://shankman.com/some-big-news/ 2009-06-01 20:03:46 · Reply · View ViperGeek: RT @stejules: HTTP is Dead, Long [...]
June 1st, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Congratulations Peter! To see you’re idea go from a mere idea and have it bloom into something like this is so inspiring! I remember the days when you just had 2 – 3,000 subscribers! Way to go!
June 1st, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Rock On, HARO, Rock On!
June 1st, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I’ve always wanted to say this…
I was one of the FIRST people on Haro as a source back in the facebook days!
Peter, you’re persistence is an inspiration. Keep your chute on and fly high.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Congrats – I am glad you are part of my professional network – enjoy HARO – look for many more great things in the future – I to will raise my wine glass in a toast!
June 1st, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Yay for Peter!!
June 1st, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Congrats Peter (and Thom)
Peter, I enjoyed meeting you in Raleigh last fall and I will be eager to watch HARO expand its footprint in the realm of media and communications in general. Now hire me. Ha!
Really.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Go on with your bad self!
June 1st, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Great news. I’m sure it will only get better.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:09 am
Congratulations Peter. It is truly inspiring to see HARO continue to grow. I am a strong supporter of your company – look forward to my emails every day, as well as your commentary.
Can’t wait to see what comes next for you guys!
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
[...] marketing, sales, business development and operations from L.A., because Shankman says in the press release he’s “smart enough to know what I do well, and with what I need [...]
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Are you going to get a “real” office now???
June 5th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Mazel Tov! (or maybe more appropriately Mazel Thom!)
June 9th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Great reward for a long time effort. Congratulations!
June 11th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Did anyone else notice that first reference full name Peter Shankman is missing in the quote? You do hate press releases!