New Editor Reflects On Life And Path To Patch

PLAINFIELD, IL — Author Mary Shelley wrote: "Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change." Although not a luddite, I have always had a hard time accepting something new and I am averse to changes in my life. But, over the past one year, unexpected situations have presented themselves, including the one that got me here today.

Just a month ago, I was an editor at 22nd Century Media, complacent in writing about Lockport. But as the coronavirus wreaked havoc across the country, the company was forced to suspend all operations, depriving me of my passion. Sure that sounds like an exaggeration, however, I loved my job and was precariously close to transforming into an absolute workaholic.

Since the age of 14 — when I started my first job as a reporter for a newspaper only distributed to schools — I knew I wanted to be a journalist. Despite the industry’s infamous monetary compensations, I never wanted to try for a more lucrative career. The starry-eyed, impressionable teenager believed she could survive on writing impactful stories even if she wasn’t that rich. And even today, she continues to cling to that vision. So imagine my great sadness when I realized that I might have to look for a different job since the media companies are not doing too well right now.

Fortunately for me, Patch came to the rescue and I have the great privilege of starting as an editor here, writing about Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Oswego and Romeoville. Before I ask you to share your stories with me, I should tell you a little about myself.

I hail from Calcutta — a city in India that is famous for its associations with Mother Teresa. After spending my entire life there, I decided to leave my home at the age of 24 to earn my master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. That was four years ago and even though I pine for my family quite often, I am proud to call Chicago my home.

I learned about several new towns since last year and I am excited to get to know all of you. I love a good human-interest story and want to write about community effort during these unprecedented times.

The global pandemic has been terrifying but each day my faith in humanity is restored when I read about neighbors helping each other. So if you have a story, tell me. Or even if you just want to know me, email me at abhinanda.datta@patch.com.

I am always here to listen to you and I hope I can be the editor you deserve.