Problems at Patch.com

We forget how much AOL invented.

That said, it would be amusing if Microsoft Outlook suddenly added a "YOU'VE got MAIL!" notifier.

 

So here's the latest. The NYT reports that Starboard is happy about the $1 billion patent deal, but isn't giving up its proxy fight with CEO Armstrong on Patch. http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/starboard/

And in what may or me not be related news, Patch's editor in chief announced today he's calling it quits...

http://www.thewrap.com/media/column-post/top-editor-aols-patch-resigns-36956

He has nothing negative to say about the company in memo and will stay on in an advisory role, whatever that means.

There's a passage in the memo that seems a little cryptic though:

"... no matter what happens from here on, any future history book about journalism or online media has to discuss Patch. How many more companies are you going to work for in your career where that will be true?"

 

Patch editor-in-chief Brian Farnham resigns:

His resignation email/letter:

http://blog.patch.com/2012/04/11/this-isnt-goodbye/

 

Notice that his position isn't being filled. Need to save cash for the next NYC open bar party.

 

Telling that the only comments on his Patch blog post are from other senior execs. Lightweight Farnham was out of his depth from the beginning.

 

We have an internal board for the LE level, so those comments don't really need to be posted on the public blog. Speaking as a guy working in Rhode Island that met Farnham a couple times, he seemed pretty sharp to me, with a good head for news. It's not like we were best friends or anything - he was about four or five paygrades above me, after all - but he was better than most of the MEs and publishers I've met at the local press awards and what not.

 

FWIW, the highest-profile Patch editor in SoCal called it quits this week...former TV investigative reporter Doug Kriegel, who ran the Sherman Oaks Patch.

http://shermanoaks.patch.com/articles/per

 

Sad statement about our industry that he ever ended up there in the first place...

 

Did he blame the "haters" at BusinessInsider for his resignation?

Those guys are mean.

 

Speaking of haters.

 

Looks like Patch management won a power struggle with Arianna.

http://online.wSportsJournalists.com/article/SB10001424052702303877604577382453776496044.html

 

Investors: Kill Patch...

http://newyork.citybizlist.com/18/2012/5/8/Kill-Patch-Starboard-Tells-AOL.aspx

OK, that's the headline but they do leave a window open to keep Patch afloat through a sale or third party partnership to fund it...

here: http://www.businessinsider.com/huge-aol-shareholder-heres-everything-tim-armstrong-is-doing-wrong-slide-deck-2012-5#so-kill-patch-and-dont-let-tim-armstrongs-personal-attachment-to-patch-affect-the-board-29