Filter by deadline and availability
Mark your filing deadline and AI prioritizes experts whose availability window covers it. No more chasing unreachable sources at 4pm on filing day.
Find Expert Sources for Media — AI-Matched, No Commission
AI-matched expert sources for journalists, editors, and producers. 70,000+ verified specialists. Fast turnaround on tight deadlines.
Stories need credible voices. SpeakUp matches journalists with subject-matter experts whose topical depth, availability, and on-the-record history fit the story brief — typically shortlisted within hours of a posted request.
Why book expert source on SpeakUp
Verified, on-the-record experts
Each profile lists previous press appearances, on-record quotes, and topical credentials. You see whether the expert speaks publicly before you reach out.
Free for media teams
Posting an expert request is free for journalists and editors. SpeakUp takes no commission on the engagement — most expert quotes are unpaid by default anyway.
How it works
Step 1
Post your request
Describe your event, format, audience, and budget. Takes about 60 seconds.
Step 2
AI matches speakers
70,000+ verified profiles ranked by relevance, format experience, and availability.
Step 3
Chat & book directly
Message matches in-app, negotiate terms, and confirm — no bureau in between.
Featured Expert Sources for Media on SpeakUp
A curated sample of verified speakers in this format. Browse the full shortlist after posting your event request.
Verified Expert Source
Macroeconomist & central-bank policy commentator
4.9MacroeconomicsMonetary PolicyInflationVerified Expert Source
AI ethics researcher & ML policy author
4.8AI EthicsML PolicyAlgorithmic BiasVerified Expert Source
Cybersecurity analyst & ransomware research lead
4.9CybersecurityRansomwareThreat IntelligenceVerified Expert Source
Clinical psychologist & mental-health commentator
4.7Mental HealthWorkplace WellbeingTherapyVerified Expert Source
Climate scientist & energy-transition explainer
4.9Climate ScienceEnergy TransitionDecarbonisationVerified Expert Source
Legal scholar & technology-regulation researcher
4.8Tech LawPrivacy RegulationPlatform Policy
What Makes a Great Expert Source
Journalists screen expert sources differently than event organizers screen speakers. Editorial value is in the specific, citable insight under deadline pressure — not stage presence. The best expert sources combine sharp expertise with reporter-friendly writing habits: tight quotes, named numbers, and willingness to be wrong on the record.
Quotable, not preachy
Strong expert sources produce 2–3 sentences a reporter can paste directly into a story. They avoid academic hedging ("it is complicated…") and corporate jargon. The best quotes name a specific number, a specific actor, or a specific decision — concrete enough to anchor a paragraph.
Deadline-aware responsiveness
News cycles run hours, not days. Top expert sources respond to media requests within 2–4 hours during business windows, even if just to say "yes, I can talk at 4pm GMT" or "no, but you should call so-and-so." Reporters rebook the experts who responded fast last time.
Calibrated certainty
Reporters need sources who say "I am confident X" and "I am uncertain about Y" without conflating the two. Strong experts qualify their claims by evidence type — peer-reviewed, observational, anecdotal — so journalists can match attribution language to the underlying confidence.
How to Choose a Great Expert Source
Use this checklist when reviewing AI-matched profiles. The strongest shortlists rank candidates on substance — not just visibility.
Criterion 1
Filter by topic depth — the platform tags expert specialty granular enough to distinguish "AI policy" from "AI infrastructure" from "AI ethics."
Criterion 2
Check past media credits — strong sources have been quoted in publications similar to yours, evidence they understand the editorial standard.
Criterion 3
Mark deadline urgency clearly in the brief; the AI weights availability against your filing time.
Criterion 4
Specify attribution level (on-record / background / anonymous) so opted-in experts surface — saves a clarification round-trip.
Criterion 5
For sensitive topics, request a 10-minute pre-interview to test the source’s ability to speak in plain language under pressure.
Criterion 6
Confirm whether the expert wants a backlink to their personal site or institutional affiliation — most still appreciate citation hygiene.
Criterion 7
For long-form features, line up 2–3 experts with different perspectives — single-source pieces predict editorial pushback later.
How Much Does a Expert Source Cost?
Expert-source quotes are an almost-entirely unpaid market. The value exchange is media exposure — a credible citation that lifts the expert’s authority and produces backlinks to their personal site or institutional affiliation. Paid commentary exists but is rare and almost always sponsored or branded content. The dominant model on SpeakUp mirrors the post-2025 HARO standard: free for both reporters and experts.
| Tier | United States (USD) | United Kingdom (GBP) | UAE (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard quote / citation | $0 | £0 | AED 0 |
| Paid expert column / sponsored commentary | $100–$500 | £80–£400 | AED 370–AED 1,800 |
| Sponsored thought-leadership / long-form expert content | $500–$5,000+ | £400–£4,000+ | AED 1,800–AED 18,000+ |
Pricing reflects 2024–2025 market practice. HARO (now Featured.com, free since April 2025) sets the broad-market floor; paid commentary tiers derive from sponsored-content rate cards at industry trade publications and PR-services research. Most expert quotes on SpeakUp remain unpaid — the value is editorial citation, not fee.
Industries That Hire Expert Sources for Media Most
The mix of industries that book this format on SpeakUp — useful for benchmarking your event brief against peers in the same space.
News & Editorial Media
Daily and weekly newsrooms — financial, technology, science, and policy desks — source experts for explainers, analysis pieces, and breaking-news commentary.
Trade Publications
Industry trade press (Bloomberg vertical desks, Reuters specialty, SC Media, MIT Technology Review) source domain-specific experts for in-depth features.
Broadcast Radio & TV News
Public-radio and TV news programs book expert sources for short on-camera or on-mic segments — usually unpaid, deadline-driven.
Independent Newsletter Writers
High-readership Substack writers and independent journalists source experts the same way newsroom reporters do, but with faster turnaround.
PR & Communications Teams
Corporate PR teams use expert-source matching to place leadership commentary in editorial outlets via sponsored or contributed columns.
Think Tanks & Policy Research
Policy research organisations source academic and industry experts to ground white papers, briefs, and congressional testimony references.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can I find an expert source for an article?
Most journalists receive a shortlist within hours of posting a request. For urgent deadlines, mark the request as urgent — AI prioritizes experts whose availability window covers your filing time.
Are expert sources on SpeakUp free to quote?
Most experts respond to media requests without charging — being quoted in credible publications builds their profile. Paid commentary is rare and disclosed upfront when applicable.
Can I request anonymous or background-only sources?
Yes. State the attribution level in your request (on-record, on-background, anonymous). Experts opt in based on the disclosure preference they listed in their profile.
How is SpeakUp different from HARO / Connectively / Featured.com?
HARO (now reverted to free under Featured.com in 2025) is a journalist-broadcast pitch model — reporters post a query and an inbox fills with hundreds of unfiltered pitches. SpeakUp inverts the model with structured profiles and AI matching: you describe the angle and required expertise, and AI ranks 70,000+ verified experts to surface only the strongest fits. Less inbox triage, higher quote yield per minute spent.
How quickly do experts typically respond to a deadline-driven request?
When the request is marked urgent (under 24 hours), most matched experts respond within 2–4 hours. AI weights availability windows, time zones, and historical responsiveness. For background research with a 1–2 week deadline, expect a fuller pool of considered responses within 24–48 hours.
What is SpeakUp?
SpeakUp is an AI speaker booking platform that matches event organizers, podcast hosts, and media teams with verified speakers across 13 formats — no commissions, free iOS and Android apps.
Other guest types on SpeakUp
Explore every speaker format we cover — from podcast guests to corporate trainers.
Keynote Speakers
Inspiring keynotes for conferences, summits, sales kickoffs, and corporate events.
Panel Speakers
Subject-matter panelists for moderated discussions and roundtables.
Session Moderators
Experienced moderators who keep panels and Q&A flows on track.
Podcast Guests
Vetted experts ready to record for any podcast niche or interview format.
Masterclass Instructors
Practitioners who teach intensive masterclasses and skill workshops.
TV Guest Experts
Subject-matter guests for broadcast interviews, news segments, and shows.
Guest Speakers
Featured guest voices for school, association, and community events.
Facilitators
Skilled facilitators for offsites, design sessions, and team workshops.
Corporate Trainers
Trainers for leadership, sales, customer success, and skill-building programs.
Webinar Speakers
Experts ready to present in live and on-demand webinar formats.
Corporate Presenters
Polished presenters for town halls, internal meetings, and product launches.
Guest Lecturers
Academic and industry guest lecturers for universities and programs.
Ready to find your next speaker?
Post a request in 60 seconds. AI matches in hours. No commissions.