One part journalism junkie, one part free-spirited adventuress, Joanna loves meeting new people and sharing their stories. She graduated with a magazine journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and brings her love for community journalism and experience with in-depth feature writing to her position as editor of Glenview Patch.
Joanna has worked at small-town daily newspapers and national consumer magazines alike. From the Kansas City Business Journal to Cosmopolitan, she has contributed to a wide range of media outlets. Joanna enjoys diving into a community head first, learning an area's personality and culture. She first scratched her journalism itch in high school when she landed an internship at the Chicago Sun-Times sports desk and pulled too many all-nighters as an editor at her high school newspaper, the U-High Midway.
Following college, Joanna worked as a freelance writer in Kansas City. Her work for a variety of business and lifestyle publications allowed her to travel and meet a broad cross section of people— Two of her favorite perks of the journalism gig. As a born and raised Chicagoan, Joanna is thrilled to be back in the Chicago area and is excited to be working with an innovative and forward-thinking company like Patch.
When Joanna isn't writing she loves people watching, traveling (most recently she ventured to Barcelona and Ibiza), decorating (and redecorating) her apartment and obsessing over life's little details. She's also pretty fanatical about her Main Coon cat Charlie.
Please feel free to send Joanna an email if you have any news tips or story suggestions. She'd love to hear from you!
Beliefs
At Patch, we promise to always 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. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics
How would you describe your political beliefs?
It really depends on the issue but I've learned to see things from all sides. Regarding social policy, I gravitate towards liberal views that champion individual rights and freedoms—This includes LGBT rights, reproductive choice and equal education, employment and healthcare access and opportunities. I'm a strong proponent of supporting education and healthcare however I also value fiscal transparency and responsibility in government.
Are you registered with a certain party?
No.
Religion
Do you identify with a certain religion? If so, which one? How religious would you consider yourself?
I'm Jewish and very proud of my culture and heritage.
Local Hot-Button Issues
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? Where do you stand on each of these issues?
Many of you have lived in Glenview for years. I'm still getting to know the community and working to identify hot-button issues. It seems ongoing construction, the Glenview library project and upcoming elections are all at the forefront of community consciousness however I will reserve drawing any conclusions until I have a chance to better familiarize myself.
He could do for pizza what Jared did for Subway. One Maryland man earns national spotlight for extreme loyalty to pizza-only diet.
Following the tragic massacre at Sandy Hook in 2012, high school students in Newtown, Conn., will now receive mental health screenings.
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The annual swimsuit issue and the ‘doll who started it all’ team up for an #unapologetic 50th anniversary (not everyone is happy about it).
From nose picking, to biting and that excited scream you just wish they would hold for outside playtime, your kids can bring home some annoying (and gross) behaviors. Blogger Kimberly Pendergrass shows parents how to stop some of the worst.
A Massachusetts high school has banned yoga pants and leggings, calling the body-hugging style ‘distracting’ and inappropriate for a classroom environment. Should yoga pants and leggings be banned from a school’s dress code?
A Massachusetts high school has banned yoga pants and leggings, calling the body-hugging style ‘distracting’ and inappropriate for a classroom environment. Should yoga pants and leggings be banned from a school’s dress code?
The opioid epidemic is growing. If you or a loved one needs treatment for opiate abuse, here’s what you need to know.
Blogger Laura Madsen reflects on the heartbreaking causalities of addiction.
Marketing strategist Suzen Pettit shares her secrets to capturing an online audience.
Just in time for the 2014 Winter Olympics, cookbook author and Patch blogger Colleen Walsh Fong shows readers how to whip together a simple and delicious Greek Salad.
Attorney, mother, Patch blogger. Lori Duff shares a comical look at what happens when conflicting temperature needs exist in the same space.
Patch blogger and mama of two sheds light on the mistakes most parents make – and the checklist you need to get things right.
Patch.com columnist Christine Wolf shares how hyperlocal news connects her to her community.
Time flies when you’re having fun. Take a walk down Memory Lane with Facebook—and try not to wince at those ‘incredible’ status updates and photos you shared through the years.
Jennifer Senior talks 'paradox of parenting' in new book, 'All Joy and No Fun.'
Whip up much more than chicken wings and pizza for the Seahawks vs. Broncos battle this Sunday.
Elementary students at a Salt Lake City school faced humiliation and empty stomachs earlier this week when their food was taken and thrown out. The reason? Their parents were behind on payments.
For small biz owners: a roundup of the latest industry news and headlines from Small Business Patch.
