The WMF Archives: Writing Opportunity: AOL's Patch

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Writing Opportunity: AOL's Patch

6:00 AM

This past week, I spoke at a Society of Professional Journalists conference here in Seattle. It was sponsored by Patch, AOL's new hyper-local community news initiative. At lunch, I got a chance to chat up some of the folks from Patch and learn about what they're doing...and most importantly what they pay writers.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this is not like Seed, AOL's cheapo content mill experiment currently in Beta-test mode. You may recall AOL used to use Demand Studios but recently peeled off to make their own low-cost content. I've heard nothing but negative comments about how Seed works, so I was highly skeptical about Patch.

But they are paying $50-$300 an article! It's flat fee, not dependent on clicks or ad revenue or anything. Size and complexity of the article determines the rate, I was told.

This really got my attention, because when I first started writing nearly 20 years ago, those are exactly the rates I got paid at the L.A. Reader (now gone). Obviously, with inflation, two decades later, local-news articles at a break-in, small-circulation market should pay more now.

But in our current climate of $10 and $20 articles, these rates make Patch a pretty solid move-up market for those looking to earn better than mill rates.

The catch: At the moment, Patch is only in 13 states. But look for them to spread like wildfire. They're just arriving now in Washington State. It appears to be a system where they hire an editor for each neighborhood, who then writes and also assigns content to other writers as they seek to create a small-town virtual paper for their neck of the woods.

If you enjoy reporting on doings in your community and wouldn't mind calling up local leaders, or maybe getting out to a protest, community event or city-council meeting, Patch could be an interesting place to try.

If you've written for Patch, please leave us some feedback and tell us more about it in the comments below.

Image via AOL Patch.

Labels: AOL, Carol Tice, Demand Studios, Patch, Seed, writing opportunities

26 comments:

Pam Houghton said...: OMG OMG OMG - I just got back from talking with an editor from Patch for our local community - and I got hired to write a parenting column twice a month, more if I find I can handle more frequent columns. I think it's a super opportunity and I am super-di-duper excited! I just can't believe you posted this today. What the hey! OMG!!! :-); September 30, 2010 12:32 PM
Pam Houghton said...: Oh, and I found out about it on Craig's List.; September 30, 2010 12:33 PM
Rebecca said...: I received something about Patch in my inbox but wasn't sure it was legitimate. Thanks for clearing this up for me!; September 30, 2010 12:34 PM
Angela Atkinson said...: Yay! Congrats Pam!!! And thanks Carol for a great post! :); September 30, 2010 12:34 PM
Pam Houghton said...: Thanks Angie!; September 30, 2010 12:40 PM
Carol said...: I think Patch is like the community newspaper of the 21st century. This could be a great place to break in for people who're sick of writing sourceless quickie articles and would like to try some real reporting.

Glad you enjoyed, all!; September 30, 2010 1:25 PM
Anonymous said...: Seems like just a slightly higher end content mill to me. They are NOT getting high marks from MediaBistro.com. Good for amateurs though, I guess....; September 30, 2010 1:45 PM
Pam Houghton said...: From my brief experience Anonymous I'd have to disagree. I'll be getting paid a nice little chunk of change for each column I write, and there's always the possibility of it getting shared with another, or multiple, Patch sites, which they will then additionally compensate. And which provides additional exposure for me.

Also - it won't be up to me to push it out into cyberspace for search engine hits. Which means I get to focus on the writing AND have an impact on the community.

True, it's not full-time writing money, but what single freelance opportunity is?; September 30, 2010 2:01 PM
Carol said...: @Pam -- I didn't know they offer reprint fees -- that's very nice. Few publishing networks seem to do that anymore, so I'd consider that a distinct advantage. And as you say, they don't expect you to go out and make their traffic happen, which as we all know is WORK.

@Anonymous -- Having talked at length with the Patch folks about their model, I didn't get a content-mill feeling out of it. As I said, the rates are exactly what I got at a free weekly when I started out. I don't know any mills that have $300 article assignments. Also, the type of work is different from most mill work, as they want actual reporting, interviews, go out on the street and write about what's happening. Which I think is a great deal more enjoyable work that preps you to move up to many better-paying jobs, in a way that mill work does not.

If you know me you know I am NO fan of content mills generally. I think this is an interesting opportunity. Obviously it's not $100 an hour. But if you've been writing for mills and wishing you knew how to get the skills you'd need to earn $500 or $2000 an article, Patch could be your platform.; September 30, 2010 6:46 PM
Carol said...: Pam --

After you've worked for Patch a bit, can you please do a new post and share your experience with them?

Given the questions and comments I'm seeing here and on LinkedIn forums, sounds like many people would be interested to know whether they're really a cut above the mill world or not.

My bet is they are -- but you have to be efficient with your time to get better pay from an hourly-rate perspective. Betting clips will be better. But come back on and tell us the reality soon!; October 3, 2010 6:09 PM
Pam Houghton said...: Sure...although I imagine I will give it a few months before I'll feel ready to post. Also, I don't look at this as strictly a monetary opportunity...it will be a personal and professional growth opportunity as well. But yes, it will surely be worthwhile to report on my experience later on.; October 3, 2010 6:48 PM
Anonymous said...: @Pam I have not heard of reprint fees - did Patch executives tell you that specifically?

Also, while Patch pays comparatively to other local newspapers for stringing work and columns, I have yet to hear of anyone earning the $300 fee for a contribution. Has anyone?; October 3, 2010 10:02 PM
Pam Houghton said...: The editor mentioned it at our meeting. The first issue doesn't launch until November so I don't have any experience that supports or refutes that notion yet. At this point, it's not a game-changer for me.; October 4, 2010 6:22 AM
Anonymous said...: A couple of caveats working with Patch (I've already been writing for them awhile): when you are quoted a price, remember you will need to provide photos and Patch likes a lot of photos. You have to download them on the site and provide captions. This can be time consuming. Ask for more money than what your offered unless you want to end up working for less. It's worth a shot. Also payment seems to be at the discretion of the editor. I've had some Patch editors offer me less than the advertised $50 for 400-500 words. Let the writer beware.; October 4, 2010 10:04 AM
Carol said...: Thanks for the input, anon.; October 4, 2010 11:38 AM
Anonymous said...: @Carol, you could be right about Patch becoming the new 21st century news source. I've seen VERY similar news sites popping up here and there, although on a much smaller level. I think traditional media is watching Patch closely to see how well it does before jumping in themselves with both feet.; October 4, 2010 2:17 PM
Anonymous said...: I contacted my local Patch editor and she said they pay an average of $40/article for 400-800 words. I sent her this link to see if she'd have any flexibility in budget and she said the upper limit is reserved for off-hours reporting on breaking news. Ah, well ...; October 15, 2010 11:01 AM
Carol Tice said...: I'm disappointed to hear they're paying under what they are out telling people they've got in their budget. But that's still twice the price of an article on Demand, and to me gives you a much stronger clip likely.

It's clearly not the Wall Street Journal or Vanity Fair, but does seem like a possible move-up market, especially for those who'd like to gather some clips that show they can report a story...which is the ticket to much better-paying work.; October 15, 2010 1:52 PM
Pam Houghton said...: Not to mention it's much more interesting writing.; October 15, 2010 1:57 PM
Anonymous said...: I got a job with my local Patch despite having no professional writing experience. I was hired on the basis of two newsletters I do for volunteer organizations.

I get paid $50 per article which didn't sound like much to me until I checked out other freelance job postings which pay next to nothing. I've never been paid less than that, except for half payment ($25) when I just provided the photos for someone else's story.

Patch pays promptly. I get assigned stories, but I also get to pitch story ideas and generally get to run with them.

For the untested/inexperienced writer they are a dream IMO.; October 17, 2010 12:09 PM
Carol Tice said...: Hi most recent anonymous --

In the whole big world of freelancing, $50 still isn't much, let me assure you. I regularly write articles from $600-$2,000. Those "other freelance job postings which pay next to nothing"? Ignore, ignore, ignore.

But as you say, Patch offers a pretty decent paycheck at this entry level...and an opportunity to file some reported articles that could help you move up to better-paying markets.; October 17, 2010 6:51 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi Carol Tice - where are you finding work for $600 - $2000? Magazines? Technical? Web? It's tough to get decent-paying jobs today. I have extensive journalism experience and have not been successful finding this type of work since 2008.

Having said that, here is my Patch experience. Payment is on time. That's the positive. As for someone mentioning getting paid if other Patches pick up your story, my editor said that is not the case (and my work gets shuffled all over the place - I could make a decent wage if that were true lol). I'm paid no better for my articles than the college student or inexperienced community member. I find the Patch editors desperate for content but haggle over price. I have learned to choose my editors carefully, I actually call people they have worked with (if they have real journalism experience) to get information on their work ethic. Patch is not an easy job for an editor. I would never accept one of these positions. I understand the stresses, but clearly some editors run better sites than others and if one is looking to build a clip file and experience, choose your editor carefully. There are lots of recent j-school grads working as editors and I avoid those. Someone mentioned photos. Taking the time to get photos to run with a story can be time consuming and costly (gas). It brings the rate you are earning per story way down. Finally, there is a lot of controversy about AOL and Patch as a news outlet and I know a few writers have not benefited from writing for a Patch when looking for a job. Good luck!; November 18, 2010 6:45 AM
Pam Houghton said...: I probably spoke too soon on the additional compensation issue when stories are picked up by other sites; looking back, it was probably my hopeful interpretation of something the editor said, who'd only been with the company a few months. So I may have taken something literally that was only speculative on her part.

Anyway, so far I am enjoying my experience with Patch. More to come later...; November 18, 2010 8:29 AM
Anonymous said...: I'm a Patch contributor, and they don't pay extra when your story runs on multiple sites. What the editors will do is split it; so if 5 editors use a story that you've agreed to do for $50, they'll each pay $10. It's a pain in the butt because all editors DO NOT pay promptly. So then you have to send e-mails reminding them, 'hey, you still owe me $25 for these three stories.' Which they sometimes ignore, necessitating another 2-3 e-mails. My Patch experience has been decidedly mixed...I've written for 7+ editors, and only two of them pay on time. It makes me wonder if the others will actually pay at all, or whether I'd have to take them to small claims court or something.; March 13, 2011 3:49 AM
Angela Aktinson said...: @Anon--regarding your payment issues: if you are having trouble with a specific editor, you could contact your regional editor to get the issues resolved. I have been lucky, I guess. I write for a number of editors in my area and haven't had any trouble getting paid. But if I did have trouble, I know that I could go to my regional editors and they'd help me out. Just a thought. I hope things get better for you!; March 13, 2011 8:56 AM
Nichole Richardson said...: I too write for a Patch and I have only had payments posted late 3-4 times. I have written over 20 articles for them at this point so that isn't bad odds.; May 24, 2011 3:50 PM

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