5 Things to Know About Your Community Editor

Let me introduce myself.

My name is Lisa Rossi and I’m the community editor for several Patch.com sites in Maryland.

My job is be a resource for readers who want to post their pictures, ideas and events on Patch.com sites.

Here are a few things to know about me.

1)   I love interacting with you on social media.  I will often post simple questions to a Patch Facebook page in efforts to learn more about your town. Where are your favorite spots to hang out? Where are the dangerous intersections? When you see a post signed by “Lisa,” that is me asking the question.

2)   One of my favorite parts of the job is reading the blog posts you write on Patch. I enjoy what you have to say about just about anything, but some posts that stick in my mind are those that truly come from the heart. A mother writing a heartfelt note to her daughter. A 79-year-old writer remembering a special gift from her youth. A storyteller recalling the agony of losing her late husband’s cufflinks.

3)   I work on a team with your home Patch local editor. That’s why you will sometimes see several voices contributing to a Patch website or Facebook feed.

4)    I make an effort to comment on your blog posts. I want you to know I appreciate your writing. Want to help me create even more of a community on Patch? Offer an encouraging comment on another blog post on your local Patch. Ask a question to spur more conversation. Half the fun of writing is knowing that others are reading, right? And once you start talking to your neighbors on Patch, you’ll see a fun thing start to happen. They’ll start talking to you too. And it’s very gratifying.

5)   One more note from me on what makes a good blog post: Believe that you have something to add to the conversation. (Just don’t libel anyone or quote information without attributing your source. See our full terms of use here) But don’t be afraid to take a risk. Are you concerned about how cars interact with bicyclists on the road? Write about it. Think your child's school is overcrowded? Or do you just want to thank someone who made a difference in your life or someone else’s? Go for it.

One last thing: Have a question about how to start a blog on Patch? Email me at lisa.rossi@patch.com