Hackettstown Patch Launches Editor Office Hours​—Virtually

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ - Over the last decade Patch has found its way into more than 1,000 communities across the nation delivering the best mix of hyperlocal, regional, state and national news over its burgeoning and free platform.

And one of the best ways editors were able to connect with a community went beyond attending municipal meetings and firemen's carnivals and traffic accident. It included "office hours" in town. Editors would often park themselves in a diner, a pizza joint or a coffee shop and indulge in a local delicacy or three while meeting with anyone who wanted to stop by.

As Patch grew, and territories grew that practice fell by the wayside. But now, due to a burst of pandemic influenced growth, office hours are returning—virtually.

So twice a month, to start, Patch editor Russ Crespolini will be inviting you into his virtual office space to meet and share ideas, address concerns, ask questions and give news tips.

You have to bring your own snacks, though.

This week we will be meeting from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Friday. Simply sign in below!

CLICK RIGHT HERE TO CONNECT

Phone Numbers
(‪US‬)
‪+1 617-675-4444‬
PIN: ‪904 884 490 0564#‬

And while we have you here, beyond speaking with a Patch editor, there are many ways you can use the platform to connect with your community - and beyond. Check it out:

• In the Neighbor Posts section, you can ask a question, share a news tip, recommend something to your neighbors or start a local discussion. (You can also write a more traditional press release, column, letter to the editor or obituary in the form of an article.)
• On the Events calendar, you can add your own events to the local lineup.
• In the Classifieds marketplace, you can sell or give away your old stuff; find housing, tenants or roommates; find job candidates or offer your services; and make other local business announcements.

Log in or sign up to start posting. Or find out more about Patch’s various posting types below.

What to post where

Neighbor Posts

You want to post a:

• Question about your community
• News tip about something going on in the neighborhood
• Recommendation for a local business or service
• Opinion about a local issue
• Photo you took in town
• Other quick local updates

The Neighbor Posts section is a community forum and social platform designed to connect you to other neighbors — as well as Patch reporters, local officials, nonprofits, businesses and experts in your area.

When you post in this section, your post will appear at the top of the Neighbor Posts page. If it receives enough attention and engagement, it may likewise appear on the homepage for your community or in an email sent to local readers.

You can also reply to any other posts you see on Patch, to help answer your neighbors’ questions and participate in local discussions. We encourage neighbors to come together to help each other understand their community better — because Patch reporters can’t catch everything, and it takes a village to keep track of what’s happening on the ground.

Always remember to keep your posts and replies local, clean, friendly and factual, in keeping with the Patch Community Guidelines. And to make Patch a better place for neighbors, please flag any other posts or replies that don't follow these rules.

(Are you a local official? Make sure to apply for a local official badge, so the community knows to trust your posts and replies.)

Articles

You want to post a:

• Press release
• Column or op-ed
• Letter to the editor
• Obituary

If you’re looking to contribute in a more formal or traditional way, you have the option to complete one additional verification step in order to post a press release, column, op-ed, letter to the editor or obituary in the form of an article.

When you publish an article on Patch, it will be labeled as “Neighbor News” and will show up in the Neighbor Posts section of your home community. If your local Patch editor sees fit, they can also choose to share it with nearby communities or include it in an email to readers.

Patch also welcomes vetted contributors interested in sharing their expertise and reporting on their communities more deeply. To apply, email contributors@patch.com with a link to your Patch profile, some examples of your work and a few sentences on why you’d like to contribute.

Events

You want to post a:

• Fundraiser
• Yard sale
• Open house
• Festival or parade
• Other local activities
Once posted, your event will appear in the main Calendar section for your community, and sometimes in other event preview sections across Patch and in emails to readers. To boost your listing and give it extra visibility, you can also pay to promote it as “Featured” across the region for $1 per day per community. (Plus, your money will help support more local journalism in the communities you care about!)

Classifieds

You want to post about:
• Lost & found pets or other items
• Housing (seeking or offering)
• Gigs & services (seeking or offering)
• For sale items
• Free stuff you want to get rid of
• Announcement about your business or org

The Classifieds section serves as a local marketplace where you can sell or give away your stuff, look for work, find roommates or tenants and make other local business announcements. Once posted, your classified will appear in the main Classifieds section for your community, and sometimes in other preview sections across Patch and in emails to readers. Interested parties can use a contact form that will appear inside your post to email you directly about your offer. To boost your listing and give it extra visibility, you can also pay to promote it as “featured” across the region for $1 per day per community.

Still have questions about posting on Patch? Read more in our FAQ section, or contact our support team anytime at support@patch.com.

Many of you reading this have signed up for our daily newsletter, but haven't opted in to our breaking news or other news updates. And you should. And you should also send the info to a friend.

How? Glad you asked! Simply send them to https://patch.com/subscribe to sign up.

Unlike many news services there is no paywall, there is no "only for subscribers" section. Patch exists not only as a journalism platform, but as a user platform to interact with and post your own content.

At Patch, we believe that local news and information have the power to unite a community. We also believe in giving neighbors the power to tell their own stories and help keep each other informed about what’s happening at the local level.