Email: jonathan.cribbs@patch.com
Phone: 678-490-6497
Hometown: Owings, MD
Birthday: Aug. 2
Bio: I moved to the Atlanta metro area in 2008 and freelanced for several publications before The Champion Newspaper in Decatur hired me to cover the news in DeKalb County in 2009. I joined Patch in October 2010.

I live in the North Druid Hills community and have worked for daily and weekly newspapers in Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas. I graduated from the University of Maryland in 2005 with a degree in English Language and Literature, a wonderful field of study that will challenge and engage you even as it lays the groundwork for your future unemployment. (But you'll know how to chart our nation's secular transformation from the works of Charles Brockden Brown to Seinfeld. FYI: Moby Dick is a turning point.)

I grew up in southern Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay. I'm a huge ice hockey fan and played the sport through middle and high school. I also love movies and own a somewhat sad collection of more than 500 DVDs.

As a journalist, I've covered everything from large national stories (the Washington, DC, snipers in 2003) to the smallest story you can think of, including pizza day at Lady's Island Elementary School in Beaufort, SC.

Your Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to 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? Are you registered with a certain party?

I've never been registered with a political party. The more I read, the less certain I am of anything. I also refrain from voting in any election to which I'm journalistically connected.

Religion
How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)

I grew up in the United Methodist Church, but I'm not terribly religious. That said, I have enormous respect for the church and people who have sincerely devoted themselves to their faith.

Local Hot-Button Issues
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?

The quality and stability of local schools must be the most important issue in my Patch. Traffic and transporation are up there as well. After that, I'd go with local taxes and property values.

You can also reach me on Twitter and Facebook.