Patch Makes CBS Evening News

On Sunday, the CBS Evening News aired a segment that focused on Patch.

Specifically, it highlighted Chris Vaccaro, editor of the site in Sachem, N.Y. It also alluded to how Patch is filling the community news void that continues to grow as newspapers, television, radio and other media outlets are trimming their staffs.

Meanwhile, Patch is now the largest hirer of journalists in the country. According to the CBS segment, we will have hired 800 journalists by year's end. In the Puget Sound, you'll see another eight sites by January.

Personally, I think Patch's growth is a good thing for local journalism. It means more small to midsize communities are getting coverage. In Bonney Lake and Sumner, local politics, sports, business and volunteer news are no longer vying for an elusive spotlight.

But I also think that the way Patch is approaching news is at least as important as its growth. If we're accused of parachuting into a community, then I argue that we don't move once we land. In other words, there are local journalists who are working the scene. Some of us live in the community, others have covered them for years.

We're also approaching news in a different way. Call it a product of being an online media outlet. Patch is very much dedicated to a conversational news model in which reader engagement isn't just a bonus, it's a goal. I speak for all local editors when I say that the more feedback, comments, photos and other material you contribute to the site, the better.

It's one of the many reasons that Patch is starting to gain attention, including that of the CBS Evening News.