E-mail: amanda@patch.com
Phone: 630-886-7917
Hometown: Romeoville
Birthday: January 28
Twitter: twitter.com/LemontPatch
Facebook: facebook.com/LemontPatch

As a lifelong resident of Romeoville, I couldn't be more excited to be covering the neighboring town of Lemont.

After graduating from Romeoville High School in 2006, I headed to Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism to pursue my dream of becoming a writer. I began working for the school's newspaper, The Daily Northwestern, in the spring of my sophomore year. I worked for City Desk, covering everything from the city council to education to breaking news. In March of my junior year, I headed to Orange County, California, for an 11-week internship at the Orange County Register. During my time reporting on the city of Fountain Valley, I developed a deep appreciation for "hyperlocal" community journalism. When I returned home that summer, I continued reporting community news during an internship with the DuPage County office of the Daily Herald.

During my senior year, I was able to spend six months doing investigative reporting with the Medill Innocence Project. This experience was truly profound, as I learned a great deal about the importance of truth, integrity and empathy. The principles are the foundation of both my work and my everyday life.

In June 2010, I graduated with a B.S. in Journalism with a concentration in newspaper and online reporting. Though I hope to eventually pursue a master's degree, I'm excited to focus my efforts on the current chapter of my life—Lemont Patch.

When I'm not reporting, I try to relax as much as I can. I enjoy hanging out with family, reading, running and crossword puzzles. I love sports—I was born a diehard fan of both the Chicago White Sox and Blackhawks. The 2005 World Series and 2010 Stanley Cup will always be two of my favorite memories.

My Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.

Politics
During my time at Northwestern, I developed a strong interest and appreciation for government and politics. As a reporter, I love covering both. However, I believe it’s important for journalists to refrain from mixing personal political beliefs with their work.

Religion
I believe in hope and faith. As a journalist and a human being, I strive to understand and accept people of all religious (and non-religious) backgrounds.

Local Hot-Button Issues
Like most communities, Lemont is in a period of transition following a difficult economic recession. The state's financial crisis has forced schools, businesses and local government agencies to come up with new ways to meet the public's needs, and it hasn't been easy. I look forward to covering these issues fairly and accurately, and making Lemont Patch the number one source for Lemont news.