Blog for Downers Grove Patch

Downers Grove Patch has been live for 10 months and in that time we've constantly evolved as a news and information site written by staff and freelancers, with plenty of comments from readers. Beginning May 4, we're adding another way for you to share your thoughts and opinions: Blogs.

Patch's new community blogging platform will serve as a virtually water cooler where readers share their opinions, expertise and passions. As a Patch blogger, you get to choose the topic you want to discuss. Your blog will be whatever you wish to make it, and you will be able to contribute on your timetable, whether that means daily, weekly, monthly or when ever.

Are you a sports fan itching to discuss the baseball season in painstaking detail? Are you a knitter, a cook, a do-it-yourselfer who has tips and projects to share? Do you have informed opinions about local issues? Do you have historic stories to share of "old" Downers Grove? Do you represent an organization with information and activities aimed at the larger community? Do you have a professional expertise to share? A desire to chronicle your travel or parenting adventures? The ability to find humor in every situation? 

Then we want to hear from you. Our only requirements are that your blog is interesting and relevant to Downers Grove residents, and that it avoids unfounded claims and defamation.

Patch bloggers are different than staffers and freelancers. They won't be paid because they are writing what they want, when they want. They will, however, gain exposure to Downers Grove Patch's robust local audience. And because Patch is part of the Huffington Post Media Group, your posts may occasionally appear before a huge national readership.

You will retain ownership of your Patch posts, which means you also can feature them on a personal blog or other site. Patch will review your submissions to ensure they meet our guidelines, but beyond changing the occasional obvious typo, we will keep our hands off your work.

If this sounds like an opportunity you'd like to pursue, email me at elaine@patch.com or call 630-433-0082. Feel free to also submit a sample blog post.