PR Newswire's ProfNet Makes Expert Sourcing Easier with a Simplified Query Form

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PR Newswire's ProfNet, the premier resource linking writers with expert sources, launched a simplified query form to allow journalists, bloggers, authors and other content creators to find subject-matter experts even more quickly and easily.

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"Busy writers, who are often working against deadlines, aren't always afforded the time to search for experts, so we've listened to their feedback and improved the efficiency of the process for them," said Maria Perez, ProfNet's Director of News Operations. "Writers can simply fill out the query form without having to log in to yet another platform, and matched experts come to them. They can then select the experts with whom to follow up."

Writers can target queries to experts in specific regions and institution types and "cloak" queries to hide the news outlet from subscribers. Furthermore, writers can request to have urgent queries posted on ProfNet's Twitter feed for additional visibility. For tips and guidelines on how to craft an effective query, including best practices for freelancers, product review requests and how to handle controversial topics, click here.

ProfNet also provides writers with two alternative ways to find expert sources. Through Expert Alerts, writers are notified of experts who are available to talk about timely topics related to the specified coverage area. Alerts include the expert's professional information, a brief quote about the expert's knowledge on the topic, a link to the expert's bio and social media profile(s), and direct contact details in order to readily make the connection. Expert Alerts are available online or via email.

Additionally, communications professionals can utilize ProfNet Connect, the free, interactive online community where PR professionals, experts, key influencers, and media professionals network and communicate with one another. Writers can search more than 48,000 profiles by keyword and contact experts directly, either via the website or by email. Start your search now at http://profnetconnect.com.

As with all of PR Newswire's services for journalists, ProfNet is always free for media professionals. 

About PR Newswire
PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry 57 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content – from rich media to online video to multimedia – and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company.

Media Contacts:
Rachel Meranus
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Marketing & Communications Associate
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