New Editor Reflects On Path To Patch

AURORA, IL — Over the coming months, I will be asking countless people throughout the region about their lives, so I think it is only fair that I start by telling readers a little about mine.

I was born and raised in the coal country of eastern Pennsylvania before leaving for Penn State University to pursue an accounting degree. After very quickly changing my mind, I discovered a passion for the news, or more accurately, for delivering the news. I worked across a number of beats at the school’s student-run newspaper and knew I had found my career path.

I landed my first reporting job at The York Dispatch in central Pennsylvania, covering everything in the city, from council meetings to potential toxic-waste sites to local businesses. Though I was the paper’s lone city reporter, I also became our de facto expert on national health care proposals as they took centerstage in 2017.

On New Year’s Eve 2017, I packed up a U-Haul and moved to Chicago to experience a different pace of life. After several months of freelancing, I took over The Glenview Lantern, a weekly newspaper in Chicago’s north suburbs, where I worked until the end of March. Like many small businesses and local news organizations, The Lantern’s parent company, 22nd Century Media, was forced to close due to difficulties brought on by the outbreak of the coronavirus.

I joined Patch a week later to take over its local coverage in Aurora, Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles, and I am beyond excited to get to know the people who make these cities what they are. I’m also grateful to once again be in a position to provide readers with vital local news, which has become more important than ever.

I know it may be a while before I get the opportunity to see your cities for what you know them to be, with all public events cancelled for the foreseeable future. But I know there will be so many stories that will reveal the true spirit of community during this unprecedented period of social isolation.

If you have a story or news tip, I want to hear it. You can reach me any time at jason.addy@patch.com.