Looking for an expert?

Web sites that offer to find people who can comment on particular subjects. They appear here in no particular order.

Scroll down for links for IT Specialists or click here for a page for Universities and other organisations with their own on-line directories.

Now run by the people who bring you AlphaGalileo, the service previously known as the MRS also helps writers to find authoritative people that they can talk to. It holds a database of experts who have agreed to talk to the press. You have to register to reach this one.

This is the American version of the above. Well, it is really the original version and offers different resources.

The UK's Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals (CVCP) set up ExpertNet some time ago. Their web site now directs you to ProfNet Global (see below). In essence, it is a way of seeking quotable experts in British universities.

The 'Professors Network' started as a cooperative of public information officers (PIOs) linked on the Internet to provide journalists and authors convenient access to expert sources. It is now part of a commercial operation, PR Newswire.

Offers "Intelligent profiles, innovative Web services and quality content services help the press get the information and sources they want."

Based in the USA, it is more likely to get you company contacts than academics.

BusinessWire is yet another commercial PR service that offers to find you experts. You have to sign up in advance. You can search a database or send them queries.  The site makes a big point of the fact that journalists don't have to pay to use it. If this means that the experts do have to pay, then users might want to bear it in mind.

You can also seek sources at Newswise. It is well worth checking out this site for this and other resources. It isn't cluttered up with peripheral junk. See also the list of organisations that provide 'wire' services.

"where journalists can request information in a single step from thousands of hi-tech organisations in the Europe and the US"

For IT specialists

The Source

"Need an independent comment for stories? This is the place to come for organisations such as market research firms, associations and user groups."

Response Source

Try also the associated Response Source page.