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Connect JournoFinder to Claude, ChatGPT, or your own AI tool

Step-by-step: connect the JournoFinder assistant to Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code, or any MCP client.

Written by Veronica Fletcher

MCP access is currently free for paid users while in beta. Pricing and availability will change.

The JournoFinder AI assistant also runs as an MCP connection, so you can drive it from Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code, or any other AI tool that supports MCP — instead of the in-app chat. This page walks you through each one, step by step.

Before you start

You need two things:

  1. A paid JournoFinder plan. Connecting an outside AI tool is a paid feature. Trial and free accounts can still use the in-app assistant at app.journofinder.com/assistant, but cannot connect an external client.

  2. An AI client that supports custom MCP connectors — for example Claude (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise), ChatGPT (Plus or Pro), Claude Code, or Cursor.

Everywhere below, the server address you paste is the same:

https://mcp.journofinder.com

There is no API key to copy or paste. When you connect, a browser window opens and you sign in with your normal JournoFinder account, exactly like logging into the website. After that, your client stays connected and refreshes access quietly in the background.

Connect from Claude (web and desktop)

Works on Claude Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise. The steps are the same in the browser at claude.ai and in the Claude desktop app.

  1. Open Settings, then go to Connectors. (In some versions this lives under Customize > Connectors.)

  2. Click Add custom connector. You may need to click the + or Browse connectors button first.

  3. Fill in the two fields:

  4. Click Add, then click Connect. A JournoFinder sign-in page opens — sign in and approve access.

  5. Done. JournoFinder now appears as a tool in your chat. Start a message and ask it to build a media list.

On a Team or Enterprise plan? An Owner needs to add the connector once for the organisation, under Settings > Connectors at the organisation level. After that, each member opens Settings > Connectors, finds JournoFinder (it carries a Custom label), and clicks Connect to sign in.

Connect from ChatGPT (Plus and Pro)

ChatGPT support is in beta and takes a few more steps than Claude. Custom connectors live behind ChatGPT's Developer mode, available on Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans on the web. Free ChatGPT cannot add custom connectors.

1. Turn on Developer mode

  1. Go to Settings > Apps & Connectors > Advanced settings. (In some accounts this is just Connectors > Advanced.)

  2. Switch on Developer mode.

2. Create the connector

  1. Go back to Apps & Connectors and click Create.

  2. Fill in the fields:

    • Name: JournoFinder

    • Description: leave empty, or write something like “Find journalists and build media lists”.

    • MCP Server URL: https://mcp.journofinder.com

    • Authentication: OAuth.

  3. Tick I trust this application, then click Create. A JournoFinder sign-in opens — sign in and approve.

3. Use it in a chat

  1. Open a new conversation, click the + in the message box, then More (or Developer mode).

  2. Select JournoFinder, then ask it to build a media list.

ChatGPT may ask you to confirm each action before it runs — that is normal in Developer mode. Approve the steps to let it search and build your list.

Connect from Claude Code

In your terminal, run:

claude mcp add --transport http journofinder https://mcp.journofinder.com

Then start Claude Code, run /mcp, and choose Authenticate for JournoFinder. Your browser opens for the JournoFinder sign-in. Once approved, the tools are available in your session.

Connect from any other MCP client

Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI, custom agents, and most other MCP tools follow the same idea. When the client asks you to add a server, choose the remote / streamable HTTP option and use:

  • Server URL: https://mcp.journofinder.com

  • Transport: HTTP (streamable), sometimes labelled “remote”.

  • Authentication: OAuth — you sign in through your browser, so there is no key to enter.

If a client refuses the address, add the explicit path — https://mcp.journofinder.com/mcp — which also works.

What you can do once connected

Exactly what the in-app assistant does: take in your brief, search journalists and articles, build a live list, then refine, segment, and export it. The flow is identical, so these guides all apply:

Your list lives at its own link under app.journofinder.com/lists, the same as in-app. And if your client shows a list of prompts or shortcuts, look for a build a media list prompt that pre-fills the questions worth answering up front.

If it won't connect

  • “MCP access is not enabled on your account.” That is your JournoFinder plan — external clients need a paid plan. Review options at app.journofinder.com/plans.

  • You can't find “Add custom connector” or “Create”. Your AI client's plan may not include custom connectors — for example ChatGPT Free, or a Claude Team/Enterprise where an Owner hasn't enabled it yet.

  • The sign-in window doesn't finish. Make sure you are logging in with the same JournoFinder account that has the paid plan, and allow pop-ups for your AI client.

Still stuck? See AI assistant and MCP: FAQ and troubleshooting.

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