Original Reporting On Patch

What Qualifies as Original Content?

The primary factor is whether the news in the report is substantially our reporting from a primary source. Background links and references to information from other news organizations may appear in your report, but the majority of the information must be our own reporting.

Original content includes the full scope of local coverage: reports on local government and civic issues, breaking news, feature stories, news obituaries, data analysis, etc.

However, it is unacceptable for Patch to deliver aggregated content to our clients. Doing so could jeopardize our agreements with other publishers. Never check the "Original Patch Content" box when your report is based primarily or exclusively on aggregation.

Check off the "Original Patch Content" box if:

• At least 75 percent of your report's content is a result of your own reporting through interviews, data, review of public records (these are primary sources).

• Links and references to information from other news organizations (secondary sources) are only for background reference or a complementary piece of information.

DO NOT check the "Original Patch Content" box if:

• Your article is based solely or primarily on aggregation from other news media or a social media post.

• Your article is based solely on a press release.

• Your article is a crime blotter, real-estate listings, news roundup, week in review, a lost pet/pet of the week, etc.

• Your article is a funeral home obituary without any additional reporting.

• Your article is a "FIB" (fill-in-the-blank) — unless you have a unique, newsy local angle that separates it from the usual FIB.

• If you encounter any other situation not covered here, please consult your manager.