Problems at Patch.com

And there are some out there who figure that is Pulitzer material.

 

Podunk High played West Podunk and lost 0 to 42 Friday night.

All of the Podunk players tried really hard, especially my grandson, Jimmy. He's the best and he looks so cute in his uniform.

The band and cheerleaders did really good two. Go Podunk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Patch can be awful, but has anyone taken a look at 95 percent of newspapers around the country? Plenty of papers winning the race to the bottom.

 

RJ, I can't say I've actually looked at ALL 95 percent of newspapers around the country, but OK, I get what you're saying about the overall decline. But Patch isn't just winning the race to the bottom, they're redefining it.

Here's an example of a run-of-the-mill crappy Patch story that's probably worse than you'll see at the 95 percent you mention.

http://norton.patch.com/articles/new-kid-take-early-lead-in-deutsche-bank-championship

Why anyone would look to Patch for coverage for the Deutsche Bank Tournament is in itself a head-scratcher. But crappy lead aside, they misspelled Korean golfer Seung-Yul Noh's name two different ways (He's Seung-Yui Noh in the deck, and Seung-Yuo Noh in the second graf). And the reporter is actually a "regional editor," so he's got 10-12 local editors in the company who report to him.

But here's where I think Patch is really in another league.
http://parkslope.patch.com/articles/jake-steinfeld-personal-fitness-guru-gives-tips-to-keep-kids-fit

This story doesn't just blur the line between journalism and marketing, it obliterates it. It seems to be consistent with a Columbia Journalism Review story describing their transition into some kind of suburban craigslist-facebook hybrid that makes no sense.

 

Yeah, Patch is journalism...

http://jimromenesko.com/2012/09/07/patchs-ugly-hats-are-the-last-straw-for-one-editor/

 

Saw the original post on another area Patch site. Not sure if this is the regional editor's doing, or if it comes from higher up, but it sure explains why they don't need stringers any more.

EDIT: Just read the Romenesko link. Ouch.

 

I thought there would be interest here in the following, http://jimromenesko.com/2012/12/28/patch-editors-say-staff-and-budgets-are-being-cut-in-2013/

Would it have been better to start a new thread on this? What is the general rule?

 

Patch's new business model is to have citizens write ridiculous articles that say that deer can't read deer crossing signs so everyone on twitter tweets out the link and makes fun of it.

http://avon-oh.patch.com/blog_posts/animals-cant-talk

 

When's the next open-bar party in NYC?

 

Her stuff has to be performance art, right? Or link bait?

http://avon-oh.patch.com/blog_posts/obamas-going-to-take-your-stuff

 

My local Patch used to provide some pretty decent coverage of goings-on around town, particularly with local government. Now it's all link-bait, with a sub-HuffPo model of offering free blogs to any kook who wants one, and stories designed to goad trolls into arguing with each other as they adjust their tinfoil hats. It's pretty pathetic. I understand the idea of getting paid based on traffic (which I do for my own non-Patch blog), but have some pride, people. The big problem, as I see it, with an all link-bait model is that you drive away regular readers who don't want to fling monkey poo. Alas, Patch's continued existence is telling me their model, so far, "works."

 

The Patch sites in St. Louis haven't hired a freelance reporter since October. Money isn't exactly coming in.