How much does ProfNet cost?
ProfNet, along with all of PR Newswire’s services for journalists, is always free for reporters.
How do I register for ProfNet as a journalist/blogger?
To register, go to https://profnet.prnewswire.com/PRNJ.aspx and click on “Register Here,” which will take you to the PR Newswire for Journalists registration system, where you’ll be asked to fill out a short registration form.
Registrations can take up to 30 minutes to become active. Once your registration is active, you will be able to log on to the ProfNet site at https://profnet.prnewswire.com/PRNJ.aspx and submit a query.
I’m registered, but I can’t seem to log in. What do I do now?
Because registrations can take up to 30 minutes to become active, you may not be able to log in right away upon registering. If you are still unable to log in, even after 30 minutes, please drop us a note at profnet@profnet.com and we’ll investigate the issue. If you need to send a query out right away, you may also e-mail it to us, and we’ll input it for you. Please put “Query” in the subject line when e-mailing us a query.
How do I send out a query?
To send a query, go to https://profnet.prnewswire.com/PRNJ.aspx and log in. The query form will automatically come up in the middle of the page. You may also click on “Submit Opportunity.”
You may also use our simplified query form at http://budurl.com/profnetquery — we’ll take care of the rest.
I filled out the query form. How do I know it went through?
Once a query is submitted successfully, you’ll see a confirmation page on your screen. If you don’t see that, drop us a note at profnet@profnet.com and we’ll check to see if we received it.
I sent out a query and got a great response, but would like more. Can I re-send it?
You may resend any query up to three times. To resend a query, log on to the site and click on “Inbox,” then on the query subject. Once the query is open, click on “Resend Opportunity.” You will have the option of changing any of your original query preferences, such as deadline, regions and institution types. You may also edit the text of the query as necessary. Once you’re done editing, click on Submit.
Are ProfNet members vetted?
All ProfNet members must also be members of PR Newswire, which verifies that members are legitimate businesses.
In addition, all ProfNet members must sign our Terms & Conditions, which state:
1. ProfNet Opportunities (queries) are not to be used as stepping-off points for pitches that have no relevance to the request.
2. Contact with reporters submitting Opportunities is to be made only via the channels specified by the reporter in the request.
3. ProfNet Opportunities are to be treated as confidential, disclosed to others in your organization only on a need-to-know basis.
4. Opportunities are never to be posted to an electronic mailing list or shared with others on a public site.
5. ProfNet members shall in no way attempt to badger or coerce a reporter into contacting or quoting a given source.
6. E-mail addresses obtained through ProfNet are not to be used in any list for unsolicited, mass-distributed messages.
7. All Opportunities are to be viewed as exclusive to the writer or organization submitting the request.
8. ProfNet Opportunities are not to be used to advance personal interests or agendas, except in cases where reporters explicitly request responses that are personal in nature.
Also, ProfNet members may edit their query preferences to receive queries in specific categories and subcategories (e.g., a member can sign up to receive only technology requests). This means they are less likely to receive — and reply to — queries that are not in their experts’ specific areas of interest, and you are less likely to receive off-topic replies.
What do I do if a ProfNet member violates one of the rules listed above?
If one of our members sends you a response that violates our Terms & Conditions, please alert us at profnet@profnet.com and we will investigate.
I’m a freelancer. What should I put in the News Outlet field?
In the News Outlet field, you should list the publication/program/etc. for which you’re requesting experts. If you would like us to leave the publication/program/etc. name off the query, you may “cloak” your request (see below).
What is cloaking?
Cloaking means we omit the publication name from the query. Instead, we only provide a generic description of the publication (e.g., national women’s magazine, Northeast daily, regional business journal).
If you are a freelancer, we do still include your name and e-mail address in the query. The only information we cloak is the publication name.
If you are on staff and your e-mail address identifies the publication/news outlet, we will withhold your name and e-mail address. When members respond to your query, they will do so via the ProfNet Web site.
I’d rather just e-mail my queries to you. May I do that?
Absolutely. You may submit queries by e-mail to profnet@profnet.com. Please put “Query” in the subject line so we don’t mistake it as spam.
You may also use our simplified query form at http://budurl.com/profnetquery. We’re happy to take them either way.
How can I search your Experts Database?
To search the Experts Database, log on to the site and click on “Search Expert” in the dark blue section along the top of the page. You will be able to search the database by keyword(s) and location.
My registration information is outdated. How can I update it?
To update your registration information, simply e-mail your info to profnet@profnet.com. Please note: It may take up to 30 minutes for the changes to take effect.
May I submit a request for products?
If you are on staff at your publication, you may submit requests for products for review. If you are a freelancer, we will ask you to provide documentation confirming your assignment. (Usually, we ask to confirm it with your editor, but alternate forms may be acceptable.)
What are Expert & Topic Alerts?
Expert Alerts are sort of a “reverse query” — instead of a reporter asking for an expert, a PR person will compile a few sentences “alerting” reporters to an expert who is available to discuss a timely topic. Example:
LAW: New Patent Rules Equal New Strategies for Lawyers, Companies.
Jim Murphy, intellectual property attorney with Thompson & Knight: “New rules designed to make the government’s patent examination process more efficient likely will force significant change in the way some companies and attorneys manage the process. The rules essentially place limits on the number of continuations that can be filed and on the number of claims that can be made for each application without penalty. It will make it much more expensive and more difficult to justify stringing cases along as a protective or competitive strategy, requiring firms to make a more precise initial set of claims.” Murphy cautions that it may take at least a year to assess the full impact of the new rules, which go into effect Nov. 1. Contact: …
Sometimes, ProfNet editors will put together a Topic Alert, which includes various experts on the same topic. Examples of recent Topic Alerts: “Pirate Attacks,” “Earth Day,” Legalizing Marijuana,” “Stem Cell Research.”
Alerts are sent to reporters according to the following feed schedule*:
Mondays: Business & Technology
Tuesdays: Education & Science
Wednesdays: Government & Law
Thursdays: Health & Medicine
Fridays: Entertainment & Living
Alerts are distributed to reporters by e-mail, posted on PR Newswire for Journalists, and sent to more than 5,000 news organizations via PR Newswire’s US1 newswire.
To receive Expert & Topic Alerts in any of the above feeds, e-mail your contact information to profnetalerts@prnewswire.com. Please make sure to indicate which feed(s) you want to receive.
* Subject to change, depending on volume and breaking news.