Email: jason.massad@patch.com

Phone: 678.237.1139

Hometown: Summerville, S.C.

Birthday: I was born Jan. 8, like Elvis - and I like reading about him and his monkey, Scatter.

Bio: I'm a Dunwoody resident that's covered news in metro Atlanta and Dunwoody as a freelance journalist before coming to work for Patch.

Professionally, my love has been journalism. I've been around a bunch of dirty, awesome newsrooms.

Okay, my skills. I've covered mens' college basketball games - a favorite of mine - as well the other big events that just crop up as the world turns.

Here's a funny. I was once bullied by a TV journalist from a "larger outlet." I was near a loud trailer where they were holding a news conference about a major oil spill in a California marsh.

I was there first. The late-to-the-party TV guy told me to move - right now - for his cameraman. I told him no, and espoused points of etiquette. And then I marveled and shook my head at some of the egos in this biz.

I've also done the grunt work of covering city and county government. Burying your nose in paperwork, however, can have its rewards. I uncovered DUI missteps in police casework that got many thrown out of court.

Outside of work, I like to camp, fish and boat in the foothills of North Georgia, especially in the summer.

I'm a big college basketball fan, as I said. I have a tough, terrier mutt named Wally who is adopted from a local rescue. Fortunately, he likes camping and watching basketball a lot, too.

My 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'd say I'm basically conservative on fiscal issues and liberal on many social issues. A cop-out, maybe, but true.

Take gay marriage. It's my opinion that everyone should have the same legal rights, tax incentives and social benefits under state and federal law. I also think that people have the right to view these kind of unions however they choose when they worship on Sunday.

Religion: I am Roman Catholic, not strictly, but "spiritual."

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

Dunwoody has a lot of interesting things going on. It's a young city that is taking control of its own destiny on things like redevelopment and zoning, which will set the course for future city growth.

The energy that the City Council has put into its formative years is admirable. Dunwoody's also a real desirable place for some heavy-hitting companies to do business.

Gardening is a big deal in Dunwoody, too.