Source of Sources Review
Free daily email digest connecting journalists with expert sources, from the founder of HARO
Source of Sources is a free email list, plain and simple. Peter Shankman, who built Help a Reporter Out (HARO) before selling it to Cision, rebuilt a simpler version here after HARO was effectively killed off. If you are an expert looking for low-effort media opportunities, signing up takes 30 seconds and costs nothing. Do not expect a platform, a dashboard, or any analytics. This is email-based PR sourcing at its most minimal.
Pros and cons
- Completely free for both journalists and sources, no paid tiers
- Founded by Peter Shankman, who built and popularized the HARO model
- Up to three email digests per day with journalist queries
- Zero friction to sign up: name and email, done
- Good for emerging experts or small businesses who cannot afford PR tools
- No platform, dashboard, or search interface of any kind
- No filtering by topic, industry, or deadline
- Query volume and outlet quality are not publicly documented
- You respond directly to journalists, no tracking or analytics
- No API, integrations, or CRM features
- Smaller reach than established alternatives like Qwoted or Connectively
What is Source of Sources?
Source of Sources (SOS) is a free journalist-to-source matching service run by Peter Shankman, the entrepreneur who originally founded Help a Reporter Out (HARO) in 2008. HARO became the dominant platform in this space before being acquired by Cision and later shut down in its original form. SOS is Shankman's attempt to recreate what made HARO useful before it was commercialized.
The model is deliberately simple. Journalists submit queries looking for expert sources. Those queries get compiled into email digests sent to the SOS subscriber list up to three times per day. If a query matches your expertise, you reply directly to the journalist. No platform login, no dashboard, no intermediary software layer.
Shankman runs SOS almost as a side project, describing it as something that takes only a few minutes per day to operate. In lieu of charging users, he asks those who benefit to donate to animal welfare charities or give him a social media shoutout. This is grassroots infrastructure, not a scalable SaaS product.
Core features
Daily journalist query emails
Up to three times per day, subscribers receive an email digest containing journalist queries from various media outlets. Each query lists what the journalist is looking for and how to respond. The format is nearly identical to the original HARO digest, which Shankman designed.
Direct journalist contact
Unlike platforms that intermediate the connection, SOS lets you reply directly to the journalist from the query email. There is no in-platform messaging, no approval queue, and no platform tracking the exchange. The relationship is yours from first contact.
Reporter query submission
Journalists can submit queries through a simple form on the SOS website. Shankman reviews submissions and includes relevant ones in the next digest. The vetting is manual and human, which is both a quality control mechanism and a throughput constraint.
Strict relevance enforcement
SOS operates with a strict no-spam rule: if you pitch a journalist off-topic, Shankman will remove you from the list with no appeals. This enforced quality standard is what differentiates SOS from lower-quality source request lists and is also what limits its reach, as off-topic pitchers are purged quickly.
Pricing
| Feature | Free $0 |
|---|---|
| Daily journalist query emails | ✓ |
| Direct journalist contact | ✓ |
| Dashboard or search interface | ✗ |
| Topic filtering | ✗ |
| Analytics or tracking | ✗ |
| API access | ✗ |
Who it is for
Looking for media exposure without a PR budget. SOS is free to join and free to use. If a journalist happens to be looking for your expertise, you can respond directly without paying for a platform or hiring a publicist.
SOS offers a simple query submission form and a dedicated subscriber base of experts willing to respond. The platform's strict relevance rules mean responses tend to be more on-topic than platforms with no enforcement.
Managing clients who cannot afford monthly PR tools. SOS alongside a few other free journalist request platforms can create a zero-cost earned media pipeline that supplements more expensive outreach tools.
Verdict
Source of Sources is worth subscribing to because it costs nothing and takes seconds to sign up. As a serious PR tool, it is too limited: no search, no filtering, no analytics, and volume that cannot match established platforms. It is best used as one free channel in a broader PR mix, not as a standalone strategy. If you need something more structured, Qwoted or Connectively offer more functionality at still-low cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is Source of Sources the same as HARO?
No, but they share the same founder. Peter Shankman created Help a Reporter Out (HARO) in 2008, sold it to Cision, and then launched Source of Sources after HARO was wound down by Cision. SOS is a simpler, independently run version of the same concept.
How do I sign up for Source of Sources?
Go to sourceofsources.com and enter your name and email. You will receive journalist query digests up to three times per day. There is no credit card, no subscription, and no platform account to manage.
Can I filter queries by topic or industry?
No. SOS does not have filtering, search, or categorization. Every subscriber receives the same full digest. If you need topic-filtered journalist requests, Qwoted or Connectively offer that functionality.
What happens if I send an off-topic pitch?
Shankman removes off-topic pitchers from the list with no exceptions or appeals. This is a firm policy meant to protect journalists from being spammed through the SOS network.
How does SOS make money if it is free?
It largely does not. Shankman describes running SOS as a few minutes of work per day. He asks beneficiaries to donate to animal welfare causes or promote SOS on social media rather than paying him directly.