Paul Dailing, Patch Staff

<b>Email:</b> pauld&#64;patch.com<b><br>Phone:</b> 708-261-8247<b><br></b><b>Originally from</b>: Rockford, Ill.<b><br>Birthday</b>: Sept. 3

Paul has a bachelor&#39;s degree in news-editorial journalism and a history minor from the University of Missouri and a master&#39;s degree in new media journalism and science writing from Northwestern University.

Before Patch, Paul worked as the education reporter for the Aurora Beacon-News and the government reporter for the Kane County Chronicle. During his time at the Chronicle, he won several awards for stories ranging from the misuse of electronic voting machines to the fallout from a fatal teen brawl.

He has written for the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Agence France-Presse wire service in Thailand and the Huffington Post. His work has appeared in newspapers and magazines from Bangkok to Melbourne to Sugar Grove, Ill.

Paul enjoys reading, biking and travel. He dislikes olives (both green and black) and has never trusted that Oprah Winfrey. She&#39;s up to something.

If Paul gets a dog, he&#39;s naming it Stet.

<b>Beliefs <br></b><i>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. We also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. In the spirit of simple honesty, we encourage editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license to inject our beliefs into stories or dictate coverage according to them. Rather, we hope the knowledge our beliefs are on the record will cause us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair and balanced manner. If you ever see evidence we failed in this mission, please let us know.</i>

<b>Politics<br></b>I&#39;ve voted for Democrats, Republicans and even the occassional Green candidate when I didn&#39;t like any of the other options (2006 gubernatorial race, anyone?), but I tend to lean donkey. That&#39;s a tendency, not a creed.

<b>Religion<br></b>My mother is Jewish and my father Catholic. I believe this cross-cultural upbringing brought me a perspective looking past the trappings that divide us, into the characteristics that make us all human. But to answer the question most people want to know: Yes, I did get presents for both Christmas and Hanukkah.

<b>Local Hot Button Issues</b><br>Development – both commercial and residential – is always a hot topic, particularly where some see healthy growth and others see urban sprawl. Mokena is a family-oriented community, so any news that affects families is big news here (schools, schools, schools). Where do I stand on these issues? If I do my job right as a journalist, you&#39;ll never know.