Email: Brandon.Baker@patch.com

Phone: (216) 296-9896

Hometown: Warrensville Heights, OH

Birthday: November 15

Bio: I am a a Local Editor at Patch, providing coverage to sites in Mentor and Mayfield-Hillcrest.

I come to Patch with six years of community journalism under my belt. My reporting background includes coverage on small and large businesses, municipalities, transit systems, health care and crime in Lake, Geauga and eastern Cuyahoga counties for The News-Herald. You can also find some of my freelance work in a few other publications, including the Cleveland Catholic Diocese's Universe Bulletin.

When I'm not working, I enjoy traveling, visiting with family, exercising, reading, listening to music and following sports with an intense set of eyes. I am also a middle school football coach in Cleveland Heights. Additionally, I'm a volunteer companion for terminally ill seniors.

All facets of any community deserve timely, accurate and objective reporting. I am pleased to provide it with the team at Patch.

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 am largely liberal, but would vote conservatively if I think that type of candidate is deserving.

Religion:

I believe in Christ, as my families have roots in both the Catholic and Baptist churches. I mostly refrain from conversations about religion, preferring to keep my relationship with God between the two of us.

Local Hot-Button Issues:

Given the variety of communities I'll be covering, every possible hot-button issue will be represented in my contributions. I think economic development strategies, finances and safety are among the issues readers will be most passionate about. I relish the opportunity to report and discuss them with the public.