Email: paige.austin@patch.com
Phone: 714-721-1222
Hometown: Garden Grove
Birthday: Gemini
I learned how to be a reporter at the Orange County Register, where I covered, of all things, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach. After a couple years, however, I broke through the Orange County barrier, landing one county away at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside. I covered everything from cities, to the national forest, to courts and prisons. I do have some pretty colorful war stories from those beats. So if you see me around town, you tell me your stories, and I'll tell you about the time I met Gov. Schwarzenegger…in prison…while wearing a stab-proof vest. Or I can tell you about the time I watched a Manson girl give a talk on anger management.
I joke around. A lot. However, journalism might be the only thing I take seriously. It's a very humbling job. Everyday, people trust you with their voice on topics that matter to them, and you have to try to live up to the responsibility. If I ever fail, I need you to tell me about it, so that I can get it right. It's important.
I am insecure enough to tell you about some of the journalism awards I have won – the Associated Press Award for investigative reporting, California Newspapers Publishers Association awards for investigative reporting and best special section, the Price Child Health and Welfare Journalism award from the Children's Advocacy Institute as well as Society of Professional Journalists awards for best enterprise stories, beat reporting, feature writing, and best environmental story. I think I tried to collect awards in an effort to intimidate editors into letting me chase the kinds of stories I want to do. It doesn't really work.
Working for Patch.com, my office consists of the cities I cover, Starbucks, and my house where my co-workers include a lovely gent named D'Wayne and two pugs – Monkey and Maggie. If we ever talk on the phone, it's Maggie you might hear faintly snoring in the background. Sorry, she just can't help it.
Your 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: pro-environment and equality for all
Religion: The unholy trinity of Joseph Heller, Kurt Vonnegut and John Steinbeck
A woman wanted in connection with a hit-and-run involving a sheriff's vehicle led police on a chase ending in a head-on crash and standoff.
Charter Communications announced that it is raising its minimum wage to $18 an hour as it tries to recruit thousands including in SoCal.
In Los Angeles County, health officials have struggled to innoculate underserved communities as line-jumpers fill the dedicated slots.
All but one lane of the westbound Pomona (60) Freeway in Montebello was shut down overnight and into the morning rush hour.
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Los Angeles is on track to move up to the next tier of the state's reopening blueprint, but it's not clear how far county leaders will go.
Police found 11-month-old Heather safe near Skid Row and arrested a 39-year-old man on suspicion of kidnapping.
LA Unified School District Supt. Austin Beutner said he expects to reach a deal with the teachers union this week on reopening plans.
LA Unified School District Supt. Austin Beutner said he expects to reach a deal with the teachers union this week on reopening plans.
LA Unified School District Supt. Austin Beutner said he expects to reach a deal with the teachers union this week on reopening plans.
LA Unified School District Supt. Austin Beutner said he expects to reach a deal with the teachers union this week on reopening plans.
LA Unified School District Supt. Austin Beutner said he expects to reach a deal with the teachers union this week on reopening plans.
LA Unified School District Supt. Austin Beutner said he expects to reach a deal with the teachers union this week on reopening plans.
LA Unified School District Supt. Austin Beutner said he expects to reach a deal with the teachers union this week on reopening plans.
According to the California Highway Patrol, a driver was slowly heading northbound in the southbound lanes, triggering a four-car pileup.
Took a break from the news this weekend? Not to worry, we've rounded up some of the stories you missed in NorCal on Saturday and Sunday.
Took a break from the news this weekend? Not to worry, we've rounded up some of the stories you missed in SoCal on Saturday and Sunday.
The rainy season is approaching an end, and, after five consecutive dry months, 90 percent of the state is experiencing drought.
Authorities are asking for help finding 15-year-old Giovanni Cordova, who was last seen in East Los Angeles Saturday.
Drives are advised to avoid the area near Carbon Beach where all westbound lanes of Pacific Coast Highway were shut down Sunday afternoon.
