Basics: The best way to reach me is by phone at 404-216-7238 or via email at jaclyn.hirsch@patch.com.

You can also follow Virginia Highland-Druid Hills Patch on Twitter or on Facebook to catch the latest local headlines.

Current City: Atlanta, GA

Birthday: Oct. 8

Bio: I have covered an array of different beats including education, city government, county courts, cops and high school censorship. I have written for The Tracy Press in Tracy, Calif., The Record-Journal in Meriden, Conn. and I worked at The Student Press Law Center in Arlington, Virginia. I graduated from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. with a degree in Print Journalism. In college, I co-founded an independent online campus newspaper, The Quad News, and interned for The New York Post at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

I'm a die-hard Miami Dolphins phanatic and fantasy football junkie. (I went 11-0 in one of my fantasy football leagues last season.) I love watching most sports and you can frequently find me at my favorite local restaurants in the neighborhood catching a game. I also enjoy seeing live music and working out in my free time.

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: Independent

Religion: Jewish, reform

Local Hot Button Issues: I plan to keep a close eye on many local issues, including crime in the neighborhood, APS school board issues and preserving the historic nature of Virginia Highland and Druid Hills.