Problems at Patch.com

From Poynter and Forbes, reporting on the AOL earnings' call today, Patch traffic and advertisers have grown 40 percent year to year, and revenue has grown 100 percent: http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/173310/aol-earnings-reports-tell-history-of-patch-since-2009/

 

Considering the complete lack of ads on a lot of Patch sites in the past, the revenue growth isn't surprising.

 

Leaks and holes, with no sufficient patch in sight amid realignment and layoffs:

http://jimromenesko.com/2012/05/22/patch-realigns-lays-off-key-leadership/

 

The Patch "realignment" has claimed at least one of my former colleagues, a regional editor who was a relatively early hire. It appears the other guys, at least one of whom was also a regional editor, have been spared.

I'm curious whether the town sites will be further combined, costing more jobs.

 

Hmm. I can't find that post about the open bars and New York City party. What happened?

 

Everyone, you owe it to yourselves to click through on that link and read the memo, which ends: "Go Patch!"

 

It's still there.

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/posts/2970344/

 

Ah, was looking on the wrong thread.

 

This memo is troublesome on so many levels, but leaving aside this ethically questionable "One Team, One Goal" plan and the silly "Go Patch" ending, I don't remember ever seeing a layoff notice that at least didn't give lip service to those who just lost their jobs. Seems like this memo is tailored more for shareholders than internal consumption.

 

I'm a bigger supporter of Patch than most around here, but damn, "Go Patch!"? WTF???

 

Does anyone here even look at any of the Patch.com sites on a regular basis? The only time I even think about patch.com is when someone posts something about it here.

 

I look every weeks to see what they're making former colleagues do and I cry... It seems like what's been called the Scientology of journalism has turned into a hostage situation.