Thank God almighty I’m free at last!
While that may be a clear case of abusing one of the best things anyone ever said, it certainly represents how I feel. Having tendered my resignation at Patch, after toiling in vain for marginal journalistic outlets over the last 8 years, I am officially on my own. 
But before we continue, let me clearly state that Geneva Patch Editor Rick Nagel is a real journalist who, having had to endure some of the foulest conditions you could ever thrust upon a human being, does his damndest to turn Patch into a site worth visiting. Not only that, but Rick gave me my big break for which I am eternally grateful.
But folks, we journalists have to hold ourselves to the same standard we thrust upon everyone else. And Patch and the Huffington Post are abominations that need to die so real journalism can flourish once again.
Beyond Geneva, take a real look at a Patch site. Most of them don’t have editors anymore! They simply post best of lists, polls, police blotters, and, after accusing me of doing it, run slanted stories just to get the loonies to run up the comment count.
The problem is Patch bosses like insipid regional editor Cari Barcas and her crafty cronies think they’re owed free content and believe they know what they’re doing. But as anyone who’s ever read that free Patch bullshit can attest, with very few exceptions, it’s utter drivel on a good day and downright embarrassing on the bad ones.
When was the last time you saw an investigative report on Patch (or in the Chronicle for that matter)?
And they do this because they’ve fired all their freelancers and reporters (except me). The news they do manage to report comes from either enterprising editors who put in 18 hour days or straight from the newspapers. But what happens when newspapers like the Chronicle and Beacon-News go out of business as they will within the next two years?
The Courier-News is already out of business, they just don’t know it yet.
With the exception of Rick Nagel and Geneva Patch, it’s time to boycott these shallow news aggregators who not only have no regard for real journalism, but just like “professional wrestling” renders the actual sport moot, they make real journalism virtually impossible.
Later this week, I’ll present the real story on the corporate Patch folks. And even though my intentions were good, shame on me for participating in this farce.
Thank you for the information about Patch. Will miss your columns there, but now you are truly a free agent to be claimed by someone before someone else gets you.
So what is your next gig? Where will we see your words of wisdom?
Oncoming,
Thank you for your kind words.
You’ll see me primarily here if for no other reason than, in holding my brethren to their own higher standard, I’ve burned so many bridges that you can see the flames for miles. My exit from Patch was classic Jeff Ward.
And as you can see from my blog production today, I’m going to ramp up the postings now.
My new bottom line is, if you want me to write for you, then value my effort and pay me what I’m worth. Otherwise I’ll take my chances with the radio show and blogging.
The DH and I have had some interesting talks, but despite their best intentions there’s no future there. Newspapers see columnists as expendable luxuries.
What I can promise is you’re going to get the no holds barred me from now on.
Jeff
Jeff,
So what’s your plan for “real journalism to flourish once again?”
The industry is in a transition, no one buys newspapers anymore, no one pays for online content. So where is the capital to fund “real journalism?” I really think the core of the problem is a lack of funding in newsrooms. No one has the money to pay a real team of reporters. Fewer reporters means less time to work on stories.
It’s just not the same as it used to be, hopefully in the future the industry will adapt and bounce back to former glory.
Maybe you can fund a team of “real journalists” to investigate Patch and its evil ways.
I really don’t think they have an agenda, most are just former print journos that are experiencing shrinking budgets, just like the rest of the industry. At least they are getting their feet wet in the new online frontier, someone has to do it, and the trail blazers often don’t find it very easy. (Especially in a depressed economy like the one we are experiencing now.)
Pat
Pat,
Excellent questions!
1. There is a collective independent movement afoot to counter Patch and I’m looking into it. In the meantime, as I begin to focus on this blog, I’m making overtures to those eminently talented and currently out-of-journalism folks I’ve previously worked with. From small things baby…
2. Granted the media outlets that tend to go after Patch do so to save their own hides, but it doesn’t take much to expose Patch for what it is. In fact, that won’t take any kind of team at all. An insider leaked their business plan (http://www.businessinsider.com/the-aol-way?op=1) which calls for avoiding breaking news stories!
3. Pat, again, let’s make sure we’re differentiating between Patch Editors and Patch corporate. I have no problem with Patch editors other than they need to stand up to their bosses. They’re some of the most overworked and underpaid people on the planet.
But when it comes to someone like local Patch regional editor Cari Barcas, it’s another story. She came up from Gatehouse media which has a horrible reputation. And the farthest she made it with that group assistant managing editor which is basically a secretary.
And suddenly she’s managing 15+ Patch sites? The reason they hired her instead of someone truly capable like Rick Nagel, is because Rick, a previous publisher (above managing editor), is a real journalist who would question their methodology. They can also pay Barcas far less and she’ll do whatever her bosses tell her to do.
Trust me I’m working on bringing real journalism back.
Jeff