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
With plunging coronavirus rates, Los Angeles County has reached the threshold for school reopenings, but not every district is ready for it.
With plunging coronavirus rates, Los Angeles County has reached the threshold for school reopenings, but not every district is ready for it.
For the second week in a row, most of LA County's COVID-19 vaccines will go to residents who already received their first shot.
Police arrested a 56-year-old man suspected of stabbing to death three people near a homeless encampment over the last year.
With plunging coronavirus rates, Los Angeles County has reached the threshold for elementary school reopenings.
With plunging coronavirus rates, Los Angeles County has reached the threshold for full school reopenings.
With plunging coronavirus rates, Los Angeles County has reached the threshold for full school reopenings.
With falling coronavirus rates, Los Angeles County has reached the threshold for school reopenings, but not every district is ready for it.
With plunging coronavirus rates, Los Angeles County has reached the threshold for school reopenings.
With plunging coronavirus rates, Los Angeles County has reached the threshold for school reopenings.
With plunging coronavirus rates, Los Angeles County has reached the threshold for school reopenings, but not every district is ready for it.
As the state plans to start vaccinating people with health conditions, LA County's rebel pastor plans to host a huge indoor conference.
Federal health officials released guidelines for school reopenings Friday, but California teachers say local mitigation measures fall short.
Paul Flores, the long-time person of interest In Kristin Smart case, faces a weapons charge stemming from the cold-case investigation.
Police found the body of a 49-year-old man in a crosswalk on Melrose Avenue Friday and are looking for a man and a woman.
Home Prices Skyrocket In Pandemic | How OC Staked Lives On Unproven Othena Coronavirus Vaccine App| Rifle-Toting Man Causes Scare: Patch Now
Though vaccination sites were forced to close this week for lack of shots, LA county plans to expand eligibility to essential workers.
A man spotted with a rifle near the busy intersection of San Vicente and Beverly boulevards triggered mistaken reports of an active shooter.
The westbound Santa Monica (10) Freeway will be shut down for six hours Downtown after a CHP officer was struck at the scene of a pileup.
Cool temperatures and a slight chance of scattered showers are forecast for the Southland.
