Community Corner

Patch Announces Plans to Launch New Hampshire Sites

Company also launches first military base Patch.

One of the areas in which Patch has been especially well received here in Tewksbury and hundreds of other communities, has been with our election coverage. Residents have looked to Patch for information on candidates, their positions on the key issues and, of course, for breaking political news.

With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that Patch has its sights set squarely on in-depth, grass roots, hometown coverage of the 2012 Presidential Election.

Monday, Patch,  announced that it will launch 33 new sites in New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina – the first three states to hold primaries in 2012. In addition, Patch has announced the launch of the first Patch Military site: Camp Pendleton Patch.

Find out what's happening in Tewksburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 “With its hyperlocal focus, Patch has the ability to be the eyes and ears for what is happening at the grassroots level all across the country,” said Arianna Huffington, President and Editor-in-Chief of AOL Huffington Post Media Group. “By expanding to key primary states, Patch positions itself squarely on the front lines of the presidential campaign and will be able to deliver a real-time snapshot of how pivotal communities are reacting to candidates – as well as immediate feedback on whether the issues that matter most to these towns are being addressed."

The 33 new primary state sites will reflect the traditional Patch model of local news, information, and community interaction, and provide a platform for citizens, candidates, and influencers to discuss local issues and events, including the impact of national and state issues on the local landscape heading into the 2012 election season.

Find out what's happening in Tewksburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Designed as a non-partisan forum, the sites will utilize Patch's team of local professional journalists to offer comprehensive coverage of the issues in play, instead of a “horse race” approach to reporting. Additionally, the sites will offer interactive features like blogging and polls, social media tools, candidate questionnaires and video interviews.

“Since our launch in 2009, Patch’s mission has been to offer the most trusted local news and information via our platform, our team of professional journalists in each town, and active participation in the communities we serve,” said Warren Webster, President of Patch Media.  “These new sites perfectly align with that mission."

The launch of the first Patch Military site is an extension of Patch's mission to offer in-depth coverage designed to improve residents' lives and connect them with neighbors, events, and services in their communities. Camp Pendleton Patch, which is not sponsored by the base, will cover both Camp Pendleton and neighboring Oceanside, CA.

Patch Military sites will be modeled after traditional Patch sites and will also provide service members and their families with the detailed information they need on and around their installations. The sites also aim to help deployed service members remain connected with their communities back home.  Patch currently operates several sites in communities with significant military populations; additional Patch Military sites will debut later this year.

Patch recently launched its blogging platform, “Local Voices,” inviting engaged citizens and civic leaders to share their perspectives and have a voice in their communities.

Patch is now in over 800 communities in 18 states plus Washington, D.C.


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