My first full-time job in the news business was for a paper outside of Peoria covering the local farm beat. It was a long way from a glamorous life and had me spending most of my days traveling the lonely roads of west-Central Illinois looking for stories.

My wife and I moved to the suburbs in 2000 and I began working immediately at a community newspaper in Downers Grove. That's where I had been since I came to work for Patch. I did just about every job in the newsroom at one time or another, and loved every minute of it.

My Beliefs
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.

Politics
I suppose it's no great surprise to find a liberal journalist. I wish I could say I broke the mold, but I tend to take a pretty liberal view most of the time. I find the older I get, though, a little more likely I am to moderate on certain topics, especially those that affect my family.

Religion
Searching for faith.

Contact

steven.jack@patch.com