Phone: 203-816-1731

Email: johnd@patch.com

Bio: John was born and raised just outside of Baltimore. He earned a bachelor's degree in 2008 from Columbia University, where he served as editor in chief of the Columbia Daily Spectator.

After graduating, John interned at Talking Points Memo and the Baltimore Examiner and was a contributing writer for Who Runs Gov. 

John joined Patch in February 2010, initially working as an editor in Southbury and Darien, Connecticut. He transferred to Maryland in November 2011, where he covered Riverdale Park-University Park before being named editor of College Park Patch and Laurel Patch.

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 and human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal certain key beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report, and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever think you see evidence that we failed in this mission, we wholeheartedly invite you to let us know.

Politics

▪ How would you describe your political beliefs?

Liberal. That said, I was accused of being "in the pocket of right-wing agitators" at a previous publication. Take from that what you will.

Religion

▪ How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious?

I was raised Episcopal, but nowadays I'm unaffiliated.