Patch Wants 8,000 Bloggers

Forbes reports that AOL’s Patch seeks to supplement its network of local editors with community bloggers.

Per the Huffington way, contributors will be paid in glory.

As Jeff Berkovici writes:

Arianna Huffington must not be taking that class action lawsuit against her too seriously. Not only is AOL’s new content chief not cutting down on the use of unpaid bloggers, she’s doubling down — literally. Patch, AOL’s network of hyperlocal news sites, is trying to recruit as many as 8,000 bloggers in the next eight days, according to editor in chief Brian Farnham.

Note that the effort comes quickly after all former freelancers were released. In a memo to staff, Patch Editor In Chief Brian Farnham writes:

We’ve set a big goal here but I KNOW we can hit it. Ten times 800 sites is 8000 bloggers—wouldn’t it be amazing to have that many local voices sounding off right out of the gate? Let’s shoot for it and let’s do it.

Eight thousand free and willing contributors? Amazing, indeed.