AOL’s Patch.com lays off 40 percent of its staff

AOL CEO Tim Armstrong announced Friday that 40 percent of the staff running the hyperlocal news operation Patch.com would lose their jobs and that 20 percent of the Patch sites would be consolidated with others or be shut down. Another 20 percent will be partnered with other media sites, according to jimromenesko.com.

The layoffs affect about 480 people nationwide. A Patch.com source who asked not to be identified says two associate regional editors in Seattle were let go along with three other staffers and an intern, all of whom who created content for multiple sites and also worked with readers. Other staffers in Washington reportedly are to be let go on October 15.

The 15 Patch.com sites in Washington remain up and running for now. They are supervised by seven local editors.

Seattle Business magazine reported on Patch.com’s foray into local journalism in its November 2011 issue.