HARO Data Reveals AI's Impact on PR: Human Pitches 3x More Likely to Get Featured

Since Featured relaunched HARO (Help a Reporter Out) in April 2025, the service has sent over 100 million emails connecting journalists with sources, according to new data released by the company. The statistics provide a revealing look at how artificial intelligence, spam, and crowded inboxes are reshaping the dynamic between PR professionals and the media.

The data, published on HARO's 2026 statistics page, shows that 21% of all pitches submitted through HARO are now entirely AI-generated. In response, more than one-third of journalists (35%) now choose to block AI-generated responses when submitting requests. This trend underscores a growing tension: while AI tools can help produce pitches at scale, journalists are increasingly filtering them out in favor of more authentic, human-crafted responses.

Brett Farmiloe, CEO of HARO, emphasized the value of human input. "Human-written pitches are about 3x more likely to get featured than AI-written ones," he said. "The sources who stand out typically come from fully human teams who can provide credible information, respond to what the journalist actually asked for, and make the journalist’s job easier. As inboxes get more crowded, being helpful becomes the differentiator."

The data also reveals other challenges in the media landscape. HARO bans a user every 23 minutes, primarily for spam and violations of its terms of service. Additionally, 32% of journalist requests are rejected during the approval process after a review of the journalist, publication, and request for quality and legitimacy. These measures aim to maintain the integrity of the platform and ensure that journalists receive relevant, credible pitches.

Every pitch submitted through HARO is analyzed using AI detection technology provided by Pangram. Journalists can also report unhelpful pitches, which triggers a manual review by the HARO team. This dual approach—automated detection and human oversight—reflects the ongoing effort to balance efficiency with quality.

The implications for PR professionals are significant. As access to journalists increases through platforms like HARO, earning their attention becomes more challenging. The data suggests that relevance, credibility, and expertise are becoming critical differentiators. For businesses and organizations seeking media coverage, the message is clear: invest in authentic, targeted pitches that address the journalist's specific needs, rather than relying on AI-generated mass outreach.

HARO, originally founded in 2008, was shut down by its previous owner in December 2024 and relaunched by Featured in April 2025. Featured is an AI co-pilot for public relations that helps communications professionals find earned media opportunities, draft responses, and secure coverage across journalist requests, podcasts, bylined articles, speaking engagements, awards, and generative engine optimization (GEO). The company owns and operates HARO and Connectively, supporting more than 100,000 users and helping 2,500 publishers fill content gaps with expert insights.

For more information about HARO and its services, visit helpareporter.com.