I built a prototype of this idea at StoryAid.co: check it out!
Problem: For journalists, finding sources is hard. When you’re writing a story in an area that’s not your expertise and need the perfect quote who do you call? Quite often, it’s HARO (help a reporter out).
HARO “connects journalists seeking expertise to include in their content with sources who have that expertise.” It’s a marketplace (where journalists pay a subscription) for experts and quotes.
For the last 3 years, I’ve been an expert on HARO advising on startups and billion-dollar startup ideas. It’s been great media coverage for BiDSi and even when we’re not quoted it helps me learn where the innovation industry is going.
But with the age of AI, could HARO be upgraded and augmented to be an even more powerful platform? Introducing Promptly.
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Solution: Let’s start by giving you a view of how HARO works. Three times a day (or more depending on preferences), subscribers receive an email about specific topics where reporters need advice.
Here’s an example of 5 HARO posts from last week:
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Biotech and Healthcare
1) Summary: Seeking pest control professionals and travel health experts
Category: Biotech and Healthcare
Email:query-fibp@helpareporter.net
Media Outlet: Anonymous
Deadline: 7:00 PM EST - 17 July
Query:
For a piece about bed bugs and their hitchhiking nature, I'd
like comments from pest control professionals and travel health
experts on the following 1. What risks are associated with
bedbug infestations during summer travel 2. What preventive
measures can travelers take to prevent coming away with bedbugs?
Requirements:
please include a brief bio, preferred gender and website.
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2) Summary: Virtual Reality in medical practice: When does it become billable?
Name: Roy Edroso Part B News
Category: Biotech and Healthcare
Email:query-fiit@helpareporter.net
Media Outlet: Part B News
Deadline: 2:00 PM EST - 17 July
Query:
So far there's only one payable VR (virtual reality) code for
which Medicare pays -- the equipment code for the RelieVRx back
pain treatment.
But there are a number of VR category III codes, which means CMS
is considering making them payable. And given the growth of VR
applications in medicine, it's likely that someday they will.
How quickly, though, will that happen? And are there any
provider types (e.g. psychiatric and pain) who should be
investigating and even investing in this technology in
anticipation of a coming payday?
Thanks, Roy Edroso Part B News https://pbn.decisionhealth.com/
Requirements:
Need an expert in Medicare/medical billing and/or virtual
reality medical applications
Back to Top Back to Category Index
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4) Summary: Please provide me answers for the topic: Hip Replacement Pain After 7 Years
Name: Namita Prasad Clinicspotz
Category: Biotech and Healthcare
Email:query-fir2@helpareporter.net
Media Outlet: Clinicspots
Deadline: 3:00 AM EST - 18 July
Query:
How can I differentiate between normal post-surgical discomfort
and hip replacement pain after 7 years?
Is revision surgery necessary to alleviate hip replacement pain
after 7 years?
Are there any lifestyle modifications or exercises that can help
reduce hip replacement pain?
Is it possible for hip replacement pain to worsen over time?
Can weight management have an impact on hip replacement pain
after 7 years?
Requirements:
Please be precise and brief with the answers. I Would appreciate
if you can provide the answers within the due date.
Back to Top Back to Category Index
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There are already some competitors in the market working on this. They do anywhere from $100k - $5m in annual revenue. Mainly Prowly, Qwoted, and Loganix. To supplement my thoughts, I asked ChatGPT to write a business idea for this.
…Sure, let's call this startup "Promptly". Here's how it could work:
Promptly is a startup that leverages GPT-4 and its plugins to assist reporters by providing valuable insights and content based on their queries in a timely and efficient manner.
Content Generation: Reporters submit their queries on HARO to get responses from sources. Using GPT-4, Promptly could generate a preliminary response to the reporter's query, providing them with a well-researched and detailed answer. For example, if a reporter is seeking input on the topic "Sucralose vs Aspartame: Which is Worse?", GPT-4 can scan its vast knowledge of the topic and generate a detailed comparison of the two, along with citing potential health concerns and benefits associated with each. The generated content could even include potential quotes from imaginary experts, with the understanding that the reporter will replace them with real quotes before publishing.
Contact Recommendations: Based on the query, the system can recommend potential experts or industry professionals to the reporter. GPT-4 can analyze the topic and the requirements listed in the query, and then suggest relevant experts that the reporter could reach out to for quotes or additional information.
Pattern Identification and Predictive Suggestions: Over time, Promptly could start recognizing patterns in a reporter's queries and start offering predictive suggestions. For example, if a health reporter often requests information about new treatments in biotech, the platform could proactively generate relevant content for the reporter.
Time Management and Prioritization: GPT-4 could help reporters manage their time more efficiently by assessing the urgency and importance of each query, based on the deadline given and the nature of the topic. Reporters could use this feature to prioritize their work.
Monetization: Promptly could make money through a subscription model, where news agencies, individual reporters, and content writers pay a monthly or yearly fee for access to the platform. Additional services, such as premium research or personalized contact recommendations, could be offered as add-ons for an extra fee. The platform could also include tiered pricing based on usage, making it accessible to freelancers and smaller agencies while also accommodating larger news organizations.
Contributed by: Michael Bervell (Billion Dollar Startup Ideas)