How AOL Uses Patch to Reach Communities
Leading global Web services company AOL has launched Patch’s 100th site, Morristown Patch (http://morristown.patch.com). It also announced that Patch plans to rapidly expand to more than 500 U.S. neighborhoods in 20 states by the end of 2010.
Additionally, with over 500 journalists still to be hired, Patch expects to be the largest hirer of full-time journalists in the U.S. this year, according to AOL.
Patch is a local content and advertising platform.
“We began with just three Patch communities in February 2009,” said Warren Webster, president, Patch Media.
How Patch works? Every Patch site is run by one professional local editor who, along with freelancers, provides quality original news and information to its community. As part of its expansion, Patch continues to hire experienced professional journalists to fill important new roles in the organization, says the company.
In addition to being a destination for original content produced by professional journalists, Patch is a platform for community members to comment on stories, share their opinions, post photos and announcements, and add events to the community calendar.
Patch sites are already up and running in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia.
The 2010 expansion includes plans to extend Patch’s reach into more than a dozen new states including Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin.
A “Patch 100” logo was created in celebration of the Morristown site launch and is reflected on all 100 Patch sites. Also, an estimated 400 Patch employees across the country will participate in a volunteer day in the communities in which they live and work.
Patch will also donate advertising space to charitable organizations in its local communities.
Photo courtesy: Patch
