• Jason MassadPatch Staff Verified Patch Staff Badge

  • Dunwoody, GA

<b>Email: </b>jason.massad&#64;patch.com

<b>Phone: </b>678.237.1139

<b>Hometown: </b>Summerville, S.C.<b> </b>

<b>Birthday: </b>I&#39;m a Capricorn.<b><br></b>

<b>Bio: </b>I&#39;m a Dunwoody resident that&#39;s covered news in north and metro Atlanta as a freelance journalist before working for Patch.

Professionally, my background and love has been journalism. Prior to moving to Georgia in 2010, I worked for more than a decade at daily newspapers in Montana, California and Arizona.

I&#39;ve covered men&#39;s college basketball games - which are a favorite of mine - as well as a big oil spill in a pristine California marsh. I&#39;ve also done the less glamorous grunt work of covering city and county government.

Burying your nose in the paperwork of government machinery can turn into interesting stuff, though. A law enforcement agency in Arizona that I covered wasn&#39;t running controls on its in-house breathalyzer for months. A lot of police work went down the drain as those cases had to be tossed out of court.

Outside of work, I like to camp and fish in the foothills of North Georgia, especially in the summer. I&#39;m a big college basketball fan, as I said, and I have a terrier mutt named Wally who is adopted from a local rescue. Fortunately, he likes camping and watching basketball a lot, too.

<b>My Beliefs:</b> 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.

<b>Politics: </b>I&#39;d say I&#39;m basically conservative on fiscal issues and liberal on many social issues.

Like gay marriage, for instance. It&#39;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.

<b>Religion: </b>I am Roman Catholic.

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

Dunwoody has a lot of interesting things going on. It&#39;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. It will be interesting covering the results of those efforts.

Dunwoody&#39;s also a real desirable place for some heavy-hitting companies to do business.

Crime, and what&#39;s being done about it, is real important in any community. Gardening is a big deal in Dunwoody, too.

 

 

 

<b><br></b>

Posting Activity

Dunwoody|News|

'Walk To Remember' Returns

Sixth annual event stresses the importance of organ donation.

'Walk To Remember' Returns
Dunwoody|News|

The Circus is Coming to North Fulton

Big Apple Circus will set up its big top tent in Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre's parking lot in February 2013.

Dunwoody|News|

'The Impossible' is Intensely Entertaining

In theaters this week, an impossible journey to the core of the human heart in the true life story of a family swept away in one of the worst natural disasters in our lifetime.

'The Impossible' is Intensely Entertaining
Dunwoody|News|

8 Ways to Beat Stress in 2013

Is your New Year's resolution to destress already stressing you out? Dunwoody Patch has some tips to help you unwind and get on the right track to removing many stressors from your life and not making the goal a stress unto itself.

8 Ways to Beat Stress in 2013
Dunwoody|News|

Nancy Jester Responds to DeKalb Schools' Probation

Jester says that she uncovered many of the financial issues cited in an oversight report that painted a picture of a dysfunctional board, and now that report puts her postion at risk.

Nancy Jester Responds to DeKalb Schools' Probation
Dunwoody|News|

DeKalb Schools Start Winter Break Monday

Students in the City Schools of Decatur come back to class on Thursday, Jan. 3. DeKalb students return Tuesday, Jan. 8.

DeKalb Schools Start Winter Break Monday
Dunwoody|News|

Make Christmas Candy Wreaths

Have fun with the kids and make your home more festive with this holiday craft.

Dunwoody|News|

City Council to Meet Monday

The council is scheduled to consider a range of appointments to city commissions and will hear an update from Police Chief Billy Grogan on a false alarm ordinance.

City Council to Meet Monday