ONA Live Blog: Schiller, Armstrong & Swisher Speak at Annual Conference
Mallary Jean Tenore covered the recent Online News Association Conference where AOL CEO Tim Armstrong was asked about negative coverage of AOL Patch which includes, rather prominently, the plagiarism issue here in New Rochelle.
2:08 Armstrong: Can you give me the three-legged stool of evilness? Why do you think it’s evil?
2:10 Audience member who asked the last question followed up by saying: Corporate going into the local scene is one evil aspect of it. What is the motive?
2:11 Armstrong: We’re working the Patch people to death. 75 percent are paid as much or more as they were in their last job. 25 percent are freelance people. Of that 25 percent, I don’t know whether they’re making more or less than they were before.
2:15 Armstrong: Says the media doesn’t always cover some of the good stuff Patch is doing. Media (news orgs) covering media (AOL) may be contributing to the “evil” factor.
2:15 Armstrong: The essence of what Patch brings to the community is information. What’s the consumer need in the town and are you meeting it? It’s highly likely we’ll do create partnerships with local bloggers and others.
