HARO (Help a Reporter Out), the journalist request platform owned by Featured.com, will host its second HARO Happy Hour on Thursday, November 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, and drinks are provided. The first event, held April 16, 2026, at the same venue, drew 60 attendees and filled the room.
The event brings together journalists who post queries on HARO and the PR professionals, founders, and experts who respond. There is no formal program; attendees can expect conversations with Arizona media professionals and optional breakouts on how HARO works and what the team is building next. "Our first HARO Happy Hour showed us how much the people who use HARO want to meet each other in person," said Brett Farmiloe, founder and CEO of Featured.com. "Journalists and the sources who answer them work together every day through HARO queries, and this is a chance to put faces to names."
For brands, the event offers a no-cost opportunity to reach a targeted audience of PR and media professionals. Every guest leaves with a HARO Gift Bag, and brands can apply to include a physical product. There is no placement fee; brands supply the product and cover shipping to Scottsdale. Products are selected based on fit for a PR and media audience, with a minimum of 35 units and 70 or more preferred. Selected brands are named with a link in the HARO Happy Hour recap article, mentioned in the recap post on LinkedIn, and may include a branded gift tag or sticker. Products must arrive by Thursday, November 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/.
Attendees can RSVP at https://luma.com/glcd3i3y. The event is open to anyone who has used HARO, pitched through it, responded to a query, or simply wants to learn more. HARO, founded in 2008, was shut down by its previous owner in December 2024 and relaunched by Featured in April 2025. It delivers journalist requests in three weekday editions and sent more than 100 million emails in the past year. The newsletter is free for journalists and sources and is supported by advertising. Learn more at HARO.
This event matters because it strengthens the local media ecosystem by fostering face-to-face connections that can lead to more accurate, timely news coverage. For brands, the gift bag provides a low-barrier entry to media visibility, potentially increasing brand awareness and credibility. As HARO continues to rebuild under Featured, such gatherings signal a commitment to community and could inspire similar events in other cities.
