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.

Email: jake.odonnell@patch.com

Work Phone: (617) 510-6018

Hometown: Bartlett, N.H.

Birthday: April 8, 1986

I lived in New Hampshire my entire life before moving to Cambridge Jan. 1. After four months as editor of Medford Patch I am excited to begin covering Back Bay and Beacon Hill and continuing the excellent coverage residents come to expect from Patch.

I graduated from the University of New Hampshire in '09 where I was a sports and news editor at The New Hampshire. I interned at the Daily News of Newburyport, Mass. and later freelanced for Seacoast Media Group before landing a full-time job covering Rochester and numerous surrounding communities for Foster's Daily Democrat. I gained a wealth of community news experience in my 14 months at Foster's and got to fully understand what N.H. folks people expect from their news sources.

I came to Patch in May 2011 and launched the Salem N.H. Patch site a month later. After a year and a half, I moved to Cambridge and became local editor for the Medford, Mass. Patch site.

Four months later, the opportunity presented itself for me to become the new editor of the Back Bay and Beacon Hill Patch sites, a position that includes coverage of the Massachusetts State House. 

I've always loved to write and realized in high school I could combine my many passions with writing for my future career. I'm a die-hard sports and music fan, I'm always following my Boston teams and on the lookout for new bands.

Politics has been something I've followed with rabid intensity since the age of six and am a presidential politics junkie.

Other things I love include family, communication, personal connections, nature, food and making fun of bad TV shows and movies.

Your Beliefs

If something is worth doing, do it well. Treat others as you wish to be treated.

Politics

A left-leaning realistic dreamer.

Religion

Spiritual but not religious, respectful of all creeds and beliefs.

Favorite Book

"Watership Down" by Richard Adams. Yes, it's about bunnies. But it's an amazing book.

Favorite Musician/Artist/Band

The Beatles will always be the best.

Favorite Movie

"The Shawshank Redemption."