Patch Emerges as One of America's Most Important Online Publishers

Patch achieved two milestones this month. We published our millionth article, and we were ranked as the fifth most important online publisher in America.

How about that?

The Magazine of Online Media, Marketing and Advertising, in ranking Patch No. 5 on its list of“The 100 Most Important Online Publishers,”wrote:

“Patch now rivals much, maybe most, of local newspaper and TV coverage. It's also becoming a big factor in Aol's attempts to convince Madison Avenue to act local, even as it thinks global.”

Patch joins Facebook, The New York Times, Huffington Post and Netflix in the Top 5. The Wall Street Journal came in at No. 8, Fox News at No. 9, CNN at No. 10 and the Washington Post at No. 53.

When hiring folks early last year to cover Chicago’s south suburbs, I looked for savvy journalists—experienced in probing, public service reporting—as well as sharp newcomers schooled in the latest technology and tactics. All were eager to leap into an industry churning with historic transformation.

But a Patch editor needs more than smarts and skill to make a go in this business. Our editors bring a personal touch to news and conversation. They've flung themselves headlong into their communities, too, meeting people on the street, at local festivals, in schools, in coffee shops and on the local playing fields.

And we've seen readers embrace our editors, personally, just as much as they've embraced their Patch.

Over at Oak Forest Patch, Sheila Drenthe Noreikis told our editor, "I enjoy reading the posts. My favorite thing ... is you. You are so very real and so willing to get out with the people. Makes great reading. Thank you for doing that! :-)"

People feel connected to their Patch, but many also feel a bond with the editors themselves. That's a big part of what makes Patch important and successful.

Bob Levy, a Homewood Patch user, recently told us: “I believe the ‘Patch’ process I see is the BEST method of providing insight into the way people really feel and what is really important to the average person.”

In celebrating our one-millionth article, Patch Editor-in Chief Brian Farnham wrote:

“… we publish a new piece of original content every 12 seconds. That stat persistently wows me, because it speaks to the work our nearly 1,000 editors put in every day. ... That adds up to over 382 million words. All that in just 30 months, and with over 600 of our sites having launched in the last eight months. (Another number we love? 391. That's how many articles we've published about lost pets - and in many cases, we've heard that our stories helped reunite those pets with their owners. Woof.)”

In Orland Park, we've published the most far-reaching coverage of what's happening with the Main Street Triangle project and local businesses. In Oak Lawn, you'll catch in-depth coverage of village politics and on-the-spot breaking news, like the devastating Eva's Bridals fire. You'll also connect with the past—just listen to the . In Oak Forest, you may have been touched by the Juliana Ramos story. In Frankfort, we covered the end of the Gas City empire and debate over its demise. And in Palos, the story of bank robbers dressed as nuns captured national attention.

Last year, just a few months after their debut, two of our Patch sites — Oak Lawn and Lemont — produced stories that earned their editors spots as finalists for the Chicago Headline Club Peter Lisagor Award.

Our mix of news, conversation and information—and our highly involved audience—are helping Patch sites become true community hubs.

It's hard to believe the Southland's Patch sites haven't seen their first birthdays yet. But we shall soon witness a few more milestones.

Palos Patch, the first south suburban Patch site, sees its first anniversary later this month. Orland Park, Tinley Park, Mokena and Oak Lawn will mark a year of publishing in the weeks that follow.

In the last year, you've flocked to our sites and chewed over key civic issues in robust debate. You should know, we feel blessed and privileged that you've taken to your local Patches with such enthusiasm. Your feedback and suggestions along the way have made us better.

And we promise, this is only the beginning.

Find Patch in the South Suburbs

• Orland Park Patch, edited by 
• Oak Lawn Patch, edited by 
• Tinley Park Patch, edited by 
• Palos Patch, edited by 
• Oak Forest Patch, edited by 
• Evergreen Park Patch, edited by 
• Homewood-Flossmoor Patch, edited by 
• Mokena Patch, edited by 
• Frankfort Patch, edited by 
• New Lenox Patch, edited by 
• Chicago Heights Patch, edited by 
• Lemont Patch, edited by 

You can find Patch’s brand of journalism online, via iPhone and Android apps, and in the Local section of the just-released Editions iPad app from Aol.

Dennis Robaugh is editor of Patch's south suburban region. You can reach him atdennisr@patch.com. Follow Dennis on Twitter and Facebook.