AOL Inc. is eliminating about 500 positions at its struggling Patch local-news business, or close to half of the division’s more than 1,000 employees, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.About 350 people will lose their jobs today, and roughly 150 will be asked to stay for 60 more days as the company seeks partners for some of the 900 Patch sites, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential. Chief Executive Officer Tim Armstrong, who apologized this week for firing a staff member in front of colleagues, announced the job cuts this morning to Patch workers.Mr. Armstrong, who has said he aims to make Patch profitable by the end of the year, told the staff last week that 400 sites would close down or look for partners, such as other local-news publishers. Today, Mr. Armstrong told employees the company may shutter as many as 20% of the Patch sites, with another 20% destined for partnerships or consolidation, the person said.Patch, which covers school-board meetings, local businesses and other neighborhood stories, has been a costly part of AOL’s strategy to transform the dial-up provider into an advertising-driven content publisher. The company has spent more than $300 million developing the sites, which serve communities and neighborhoods across the country.“Patch’s strategy will be to focus resources against core sites and partner in sites that need additional resources,” AOL said today in an e-mailed statement. “The... Continue reading at 'Crains New York'
[ Crains New York | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Graeme Neill and Katie Allen Publication Date: Fri, 25/02/2011 - 16:44 Bookstart has had its funding slashed by 50% after the government pledged to continue funding the bookgifting scheme for the next two years. C.e.o of independent charity Booktrust, which administers the scheme,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Bookseller Staff Publication Date: Wed, 23/02/2011 - 15:33 A High Court challenge is being launched over library closures in Gloucestershire and Somerset, in what is believed to be the first case of its kind. A challenge to the coalition government's "vague" Big Society concept,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Wed, 23/02/2011 - 17:51 Waterstone's has made 17 members of staff redundant from its head offices in Brentford and Solihull. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Benedicte Page Hounslow council has postponed proposals to save money by cutting eight libraries, after a public consultation showed a majority of residents wanted to keep them all. The Hounslow Chronicle reports however that campaigners say libraries are not yet safe, as the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Benedicte Page Essex county council has vowed not to close any of its libraries, or to cut back its mobile library destinations. But consultation is to begin next month on proposals to reduce opening hours to 54 of its 73 libraries. Jeremy Lucas, cabinet member for heritage, culture... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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By Joe Wilcox, Betanews Sadly, I must reaffirm my position stated during Apple CEO Steve Jobs' last medical leave, in January 2009: His health situation isn't a private matter, and, frankly, it's even less so now. The seeming suddenness of Jobs' more recent medical leave, which this time is... Continue reading at Betanews
[ Betanews | 2011-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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