Peter founded Help A Reporter Out, (HARO) which has become the home base for thousands of journalists looking for sources on deadline. It gives them over 180,000 sources from around the world, all wanted to be quoted in the media or get their clients press. HARO is currently the largest free source repository of PR leads in the world, sending out over 1,300 leads from worldwide media each week.

PR Week Magazine describes Shankman as “redefining the art of networking,” and Investor’s Business Daily has called him “crazy, but effective.” Whatever way you look at it, Peter is changing the game in the public relations industry. He is recognized internationally for his fresh way of thinking about marketing, social media, public relations and customer service.

Peter is also the founder and CEO of The Geek Factory, Inc., a boutique Marketing and PR Strategy firm located in New York City, with clients worldwide.

A marketing pundit for several national and international news channels, including Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, Peter is frequently quoted in major media and trade publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, and USA Today.

Peter began his career with America Online as a Senior News Editor, helping found the AOL Newsroom and spearheading coverage of the Democratic and Republican conventions in 1996.

Peter was born in New York City and still lives there with his two psychotic cats, Karma and NASA, who consistently deny his repeated requests to relinquish the couch. In the few hours of spare time Peter has per month, he’s a frequent runner, with 13 completed marathons and three Olympic distance triathlons to his credit, and a “B” licensed skydiver, specializing in free-flying.