HARO (Help a Reporter Out), the journalist request platform owned by Featured.com, will host its second HARO Happy Hour on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. MST at Industrious in Scottsdale Fashion Square, 7014 E Camelback Rd Suite B100A, Scottsdale, Arizona. Admission is free with RSVP. The first event, held at the same venue on April 16, 2026, drew 60 attendees and filled the room, prompting HARO to organize another gathering before the end of the year. Those interested can RSVP at https://luma.com/glcd3i3y.
The event's significance lies in its role as a rare in-person touchpoint for the HARO community, which typically interacts through digital queries and email exchanges. HARO Happy Hour brings together journalists who post requests and the PR professionals, founders, and experts who answer them, fostering relationships that can lead to more effective media placements and stronger professional networks. According to Brett Farmiloe, founder and CEO of Featured.com, "Our first HARO Happy Hour showed us how much the people who use HARO want to meet each other in person. Journalists and the sources who answer them work together every day through HARO queries, and this is a chance to put faces to names."
The event has no formal program or agenda, but attendees can expect conversations with PR, communications, and media professionals from across Arizona, as well as optional short breakouts on how HARO works and what the HARO team is building next. It is open to anyone who has used HARO, pitched through HARO, responded to a HARO query, or wondered how the platform operates, including PR and communications professionals, journalists and media creators, founders, marketers, and operators.
For brands, the event offers a unique, no-fee marketing opportunity through the HARO Gift Bag. Every guest leaves with a gift bag, and brands can apply to include a physical product. Selected brands are named with a link in the HARO Happy Hour recap article and mentioned in the recap post on LinkedIn. Each brand may also include a branded gift tag or sticker that tells guests about the brand. Products must arrive by Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. Full requirements and application details are available at https://blog.helpareporter.com/haro-happy-hour-in-scottsdale-on-nov-19-rsvp-and-haro-gift-bag-details/.
HARO, a free newsletter connecting journalists with expert sources, was founded in 2008, shut down by its previous owner in December 2024, and relaunched by Featured in April 2025. It delivers journalist requests to subscribers in three weekday editions and sent more than 100 million emails in the past year. The newsletter is free for journalists and sources, supported by advertising. Learn more at HARO. Featured, the AI co-pilot for PR, owns and operates HARO and Connectively as standalone products within its portfolio. Learn more at Featured.
The event underscores HARO's commitment to rebuilding and strengthening the connections between journalists and sources, which is critical for the flow of accurate, expert-driven news. By facilitating face-to-face interactions, HARO Happy Hour aims to create a more cohesive community that can respond more efficiently to media requests, ultimately benefiting both the media industry and the experts who seek visibility.
