Janita Poe, Patch Staff

<b>Email: </b>Janita.Poe&#64;Patch.com<b> <br>Phone: </b>404-434-8908<b><br>Hometown: </b>Atlanta, GA<b><br>Birthday: </b>August 28th<br><b>Bio: </b>I am a veteran journalist with more than 16 years experience at four major metropolitan newspapers, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Chicago Tribune. I have a Master&#39;s Degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor&#39;s in Communication from Florida State University. I also have worked as a media consultant and owned several small businesses.

When I am not writing, I am running... and swimming... and biking... and taking a pilates or yoga class. I am an active member of the South Fulton Running Partners and a former member of the Atlanta Triathlon Club. I have won several top Master&#39;s Female and age group awards in area 5k road races and I have completed one triathlon; I love individual sports and fitness.

I enjoy foreign languages and travel, too. I am semi-fluent in Spanish, read and understand French and know a little German. 

<b>My Beliefs:</b><br>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.<br><br><b>Politics: </b>I am conservative on some issues and liberal on others. I am a registered Democrat but do identify with some concerns expressed by members of The National Black Republican Association and am an admirer of famous Republicans such as Jackie Robinson, Colin Powell and Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

<b>Religion: </b>I am an observant Anglican and active member of St. Paul&#39;s Episcopal Church (whose senior choir is feature in my Welcome Video). I love my church and my congregation. We are the second largest predominantly African-American and Afro-Caribbean Episcopal church in the United States and extremely involved in serving our community.

<b>Local Hot-Button Issues:</b><br><strong>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? </strong>I believe education, the reunification of the family and what I like to call &#34;black anti-gayism&#34; are the biggest issues right now in my community.