links for 2010-08-17

Patch, which has already established itself as the biggest network of neighborhood blogs in the country since being acquired by AOL last summer, plans to accelerate its growth dramatically. Patch president Warren Webster tells us the company will add a staggering 400 hyperlocal sites over the next six months, bringing its total to 500. In order to accomplish its goal, Patch will hire 500 more reporters in 20 states, making it - by far - the biggest new hirer of full-time journalists in the US.

SlideShare,the “YouTube for presentations,” has been focusing its efforts on becoming the premier platform for professional and business content. Today, SlideShare is going freemium with the announcement of tiered, paid plans for businesses.