Peter Shankman rocks!
Peter launched Help A Reporter (www.helpareporter.com) which connects journalists with the sources they require using a social media platform. HARO (Help A Reporter Out) is already over 12,000 members and growing, and has a growing stable of national journalists using the service on a daily basis.
Every day he is sending three emails to his subscriber list with requests from reporters. These requests only come from reporters directly to him.
So a few things about this list: First off, yes, it's free. It takes him a few minutes each day to do this, and the good Karma is immeasurable. He is not charging. If you really feel like sending him a donation or something, why not just send a few bucks to an animal hospital or animal rescue society somewhere. Some good places are Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, or The National Search Dog Foundation. That'll keep the good Karma flowing.
Peter is kind but tough, so don't mess with him and his friends - no spamming please! By joining his list, just promise him and yourself that you'll ask yourself before you send a response: Is this response really on target? Is this response really going to help the journalist, or is this just a way for me to get my client in front of the reporter? If you have to think for more than three seconds, chances are, you shouldn't send the response.
