Terry Flanagan: Reflections on Geneva Patch Turning One

The first time I saw the Geneva Patch I thought it was smart, well-written, and fresh. Pretty much what you’d expect from Rick Nagel. But I had my doubts that it would find a permanent place among the numerous and ever-expanding sources of information available to Geneva residents. We not only have some decent local newspapers, but they also have an online presence, as do all of the major media outlets in the region. There were plenty of places to get the local news. Not only would Patch need to compete against these other news sources, but it would have to do so while focusing on issues of importance and interest to the local populace without becoming stale.

It seems that Rick was able to overcome all of these difficulties and the future of Geneva Patch seems more promising than ever thanks to his efforts. Rick will, of course, downplay his accomplishments and talk about how he needs to do more. But he has taken this project from seedling to one of the garden spots on the web. He has assembled a talented group of staff writers and editors like Beth Bales, Kurt Wehrmeister, Jeff Ward, Denise Linke, Sandy Kaczmarski, Devon Vida, Kim Kozar, Dan Campana, and many others, who each bring their unique perspectives and knowledge of the community to the table in stories that never fail to engage the reader. Rick also does a lot of fine writing for Patch himself, proving he hasn’t grown soft behind his editor’s desk. Patch did give you a desk, right, Rick?

But it’s not just the quality of writing and Rick’s editorial skills that have made Patch successful. Under Rick’s leadership Patch has become the primary information source in Geneva. Everyone I know reads Patch, often to the exclusion of other local news sources. I think part of the reason for Patch’s popularity is that it is more than just an information source. It is a place for the exchange of ideas, a practice that Rick encourages. In some respects Patch is the virtual equivalent of the old general store, a gathering place for the town folk to exchange news, gossip, stories, and ideas. Every Patch story can, and often does, become a forum for further discussion and comment among members of the community.

This can be a difficult medium to manage. I’ve seen many blogs and online discussion forums deteriorate into nasty exchanges of profanity and name-calling. However, Rick moderates the Patch discussions and reminds people of the rules without taking a heavy-handed approach that stifles discussion or causes hard feelings. And this is on top of all of the writing, editing, marketing, planning, and other things he does as Patch editor.

So, Rick, I congratulate you on a job well done. I’m sure I’m just one of many who appreciate all you’ve done for the community and all of the hard work you’ve put into making Patch what it is today. I wish you continued success in the second year and hopefully it will get easier. I’m not sure you can go another year without sleep.