HARO (Help a Reporter Out), the journalist request platform owned by Featured.com, is set to 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. The event follows a successful first gathering on April 16, 2026, which drew 60 attendees to the same venue. Admission is free with RSVP via https://luma.com/glcd3i3y.
The significance of this event lies in its role as a rare in-person bridge between the two sides of the media equation: journalists who post queries and the PR professionals, founders, and experts who answer them. In an industry increasingly reliant on digital communication, HARO Happy Hour offers a tangible space for relationship-building that can lead to more effective media placements and stronger professional networks. As Brett Farmiloe, founder and CEO of Featured.com, noted, "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 agenda, emphasizing organic conversation over structured programming. Drinks are provided by HARO, and attendees can expect discussions with PR, communications, and media professionals from across Arizona, along with optional short breakouts on how HARO works and what the HARO team is building next. This informal setting is designed to lower barriers and encourage authentic connections that can translate into future collaborations. For anyone who has used HARO, pitched through it, or simply wondered how the platform operates, the gathering offers direct access to its community.
Brands have a unique opportunity to gain visibility through the HARO Gift Bag, which every guest receives. There is no fee to participate; brands simply supply a physical product and cover shipping to Scottsdale. Products are selected based on fit for a PR and media audience, with a minimum of 35 units required and 70 or more preferred. Selected brands will be named with a link in the HARO Happy Hour recap article and mentioned in a LinkedIn recap post. Each brand may also include a branded gift tag or sticker to tell guests about their company. 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/.
This initiative underscores HARO's commitment to fostering a vibrant community since its relaunch by Featured in April 2025. HARO, originally founded in 2008 and shut down in December 2024, now delivers journalist requests to subscribers in three weekday editions and has sent more than 100 million emails in the past year. The platform remains free for journalists and sources, supported by advertising. For more information, visit HARO.
The event's location at Industrious in Scottsdale Fashion Square, next to the Apple Store, provides convenient access with parking available in the Fashion Square Parking Garage off Scottsdale Road. As the media landscape continues to evolve, gatherings like HARO Happy Hour play a crucial role in sustaining the personal connections that drive effective storytelling and mutual professional success.
