Pros
Unbeatable work experience and opportunity. I was able to pitch and report on my own story ideas with little oversight from the salaried management. Politicians in my area are beginning to respect Patch and I was able to secure a number of high-level interviews despite my new status. Able to arrive and get access to breaking news scenes. Able to shoot photo and video that would get published. Basically a great way to start a journalism career.
Cons
Freelancers are paid next to nothing and at similar levels, even if they have obviously more skill. Despite having a journalism degree and able to report on complex topics I would be paid the same amount as a different freelancer who covered a local library event or wrote a "frugal family" column about a couple locations to save money in the community. The editors struggle to keep up with their day-to-day tasks, particularly the mandates from the New York offices and have little time to anything but spot reporting journalism. No way to pay writers who think up and report on complicated features or shoot really good photos. The comment streams on their website should be monitored and promoted. They have yet to figure out how to handle those. Lack of ability to be promoted in the company. The company started a hiring spree in early 2009, which has largely dissipated except for the three areas where Queen Huff is interested in (South Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire). So even if you are qualified freelancer who understands his or her community very well, has the capability to write and report better than other editors in the area, the chance of moving up in the company is slim right now. Whoever is selling ads in this company should fired. So many sites are wildly popular in their communities and still don't sell ads. This company could be making so much more money than it is.