AOL’s decision to close or sell unprofitable Patch sites and lay off staffers has renewed attention to hyperlocal journalism in recent weeks.
Dr. Michelle Ferrier, associate dean for innovation, research/creative activity and graduate studies at Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication, is tracking how the Patch changes have affected the hyperlocal news landscape. She has done research and writing on hyperlocal news throughout the years and has a lot of ideas about what it takes to make this type of journalism work.
She shared some of her ideas in a live chat, which you can replay here: