Email:  jennifer.rodgers@patch.com

Phone: 610-295-7751

Hometown McLean, Virginia - but my family and I have lived in the Lehigh Valley for the past 16 years. 

Birthday Oct. 17

Marital Status: Married, with three sons

Professional Background: I've been a journalist for almost 20 years. I started at a weekly in Newark, Del. where I fell in love with community journalism. From there I worked at a daily, The Cecil Whig, in Elkton, Md., before moving to Allentown in 1996. I was about to have my first son when we moved to PA so I decided to freelance instead of working full-time as a reporter. Over the years I've written for the Morning Call, The Eastern PA Business Journal, Lehigh Valley Magazine, Lehigh Valley Marketplace and a couple national publications. In 2010, I started working at the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce as their special events coordinator - it was a great way to try something other than writing and a fantastic experience.

High School/College: I graduated from McLean High School and then from West Virginia University with a B.S. in News Editorial/Journalism. I minored in English.

Hobbies: Reading is a luxury with three boys to keep up with but I love it when I get the chance. I also like to tackle home improvement projects and decorate. The thrill of finding a "treasure" while scouring second-hand stores or antique shops is one of my favorite pastimes.  

Jennifer's 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

I'm a registered Republican. I tend to lean toward conservative economic platforms and sway back toward the middle on social issues. Mostly I'm a middle-of-the-road person and I prefer to gather as many facts as possible about an issue so I can reach an informed opinion.

Religion

I am Roman Catholic but I wouldn't say I am a learned Catholic. That's probably why I usually stick to taking attendance and grading papers for the PREP class my husband and I teach at church.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?

I've found most people just want to provide a better life for their families. The challenge for any community is to provide services  (good schools, police, fire, parks and recreation, charitable ventures and commerce) that can uplift a community and not overburden it with high taxes.

Where do you stand on each of these issues?

The reason journalism has always appealed to me is because it's objective. I don't think I can say I have a unwavering stance on any one issue because I find my opinion changes as circumstances changes. It's best to keep an open mind!