Problems at Patch.com

If someone wants to pay you good money, especially if you're not in the best of situations, you're not going to turn it down. The moral of the story for AOL employees is be sure to beef up your savings, keep your resume updated, and have good references when the ax inevitably comes down.

 

Sage advice for any start-up opportunity. You go in understanding there's a good chance it won't make it, and it may not have the first thing to do with the quality of product. You work your ass off, do your part to make it a going concern, and it either results in a strong job or a strong clip file when the bottom falls out.

I won't lie; if Patch somehow got back on relatively terra firma and expanded into my hometown, I'd absolutely try to snag a job there. Any job > no job. I'd damn well make sure I was positioning myself for the next move all the while though.

 

The Truth About Those AOL Layoffs You're Hearing About

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-truth-about-those-aol-layoffs-youre-hearing-about-2012-3

Also, why is this same Patch thread allowed to be regurgitated over and over? I thought there was a board rule about digging up old threads.

 

This sucks. I know several good journalists working at Patch sites. I'm hoping they can avoid the ax.

 

Damn, I can't believe it's been a year. I remember rushing to get one last freelance feature in for you before The Sporting News took over. I was so bummed when it all went down, I can't even imagine what it was like for the fulltimers.

 

I hope this story is accurate and Patch isn't getting the ax. I don't wish that on anyone.

 

Well, that first link - and no offense, Simon, since you are the one that posted it - really was just conjecture that some people at Patch would be among those to get the ax. I'm sure Patch is hit or miss around the country. I like what they do in our community.

 

I spoke with someone who works at a Patch site and he's under the impression that those who get axed will be from areas where too many Patch sites are too close, such as neighboring towns. He doesn't believe it's a wholesale shutdown of Patch.

 

There are plenty of problems to overcome in the field. The name shouldn't be one of them. But ... the word "Patch" doesn't exactly bring journalistic images to mind. Makes me think of the pants I wore as a 6-year-old.

 

I used to get pretty conistent work from the Patch sites in my area but they've basically cut all sports coverage without really saying why.

Now they're basically like a big Groupon with polls. My Facebook feed is flooded with posts about voting for the best hair salon in town, best pizza joint, etc.