Get to Know New Chatham Patch Editor Laura Silvius (A Q&A By Departing Editor Zach Subar)

Laura Silvius has flexed her Patch muscles for close to six months now, ever since she started writing for Madison Patch earlier this year. She's got her M.A. in journalism from Syracuse University and she's been writing professionally ever since she wrote published travel articles when she was 16.

Now she's your local editor, covering everything under the sun in Chatham. I sat down with her last week to ask her how she felt about her new role and to discuss why she just might employ clones and time machines in an effort to bring you news.

Zach Subar: How did you feel when you first heard you were going to be taking over Chatham Patch?

Laura Silvius: Really thrilled. I've been freelancing for different Patches for a while, but it had been so long since I had done journalism full-time, not really since grad school. And that's sad. I really wanted this job.

ZS: What do you think of Chatham so far? I know you've only been there for a couple of days.

LS: I've been a resident of Madison for just shy of a year, and there's a lot of local pride that goes into a lot of these small towns. People in Morristown get very proud of their particular businesses and their particular local characters. People in Madison are the same way, and people in Chatham, I find, are the same way as well.

ZS: Are there any particular issues that you want to cover?

LS: I'm looking forward to covering (accused murderer Jose) Feliciano. I know that is an issue that touches emotionally many Chathamites.

It's going to be a challenge to cover, certainly, but one that—it would be unfair to say I'm looking forward to it, but I understand that this issue still touches people. And I'm looking forward to covering an issue that's going to be important to people.

There's also the pool. There are elections coming up. There are a few things going on, but Feliciano—it's not going to stir up the same kind of resentment and animosity and fighting, neighbor against neighbor things that some of those other issues might.

ZS: How do you see yourself establishing your own unique character on the site?

LS: I am still figuring that part out. And this is where I envy you, since you had several weeks to find your voice (before the site launched Dec. 28).

I'm the person posting the articles, but I'm not covering myself. This is not Laura's editorial blog. This is Chatham Patch. And as you said in your farewell note, it's about people who get involved with the stories that they send you, and how willing they are to open up to you. Everybody else is really setting the tone for the site. As a newspaper writer and a reporter, you cover the stories that people care about.

ZS: People love to see Patch people out and about at events. How do you see yourself covering sporting events—do you see Patch having a good presence at those?

LS: I would love to be at every game but I'm not sure that's going to be possible for a variety of reasons, without time machines, clones and a bigger budget. Not necessarily in that order. (Laughs.)

This is going to be particularly challenging going into the fall—getting a feel for which are the games that will be of particular importance. You've got some familiarity. That's the sort of thing I need to learn to take the pulse of.

I'll certainly take the opportunity to beg, plead and ask the Chatham community to not be shy. If you see me out on the street, please come up and tell me what I need to be doing. My phone number (973-349-6872) and my email address (laura.silvius@patch.com) are right there on the Web site. Please get in touch with me. I really have to find my ground here and I have to do it very quickly.

ZS: What are your feelings on covering news in such a small community? Do you see yourself being able to have good relationships with the people you're covering.

LS: Well—I'm young. I'm smart. I have a nice smile and a decent handshake. I find that most people are pretty willing to talk to me. (Note: Laura would like to state for the record that this was said tongue-in-cheek and is not meant seriously. Zach would like it noted that he included this quote to illustrate Laura's personality.)

As far as covering it well—as a journalist you should ever stop worrying about how to cover something well. If you stop worrying about that, you start to get a little cocky, and then your coverage goes down anyway. So I really hope that every time I'm out there with a recorder and a camera and a notebook that that's exactly what I'm worrying about—covering something well.

Come back Wednesday to read Laura's Q&A with Zach as he leaves Chatham for Philadelphia.