Email: tyler@patch.com

Phone: 410-725-4828

Hometown: Lutherville

Birthday: September 14

Hi, I'm Tyler, and I'm the local editor for Towson Patch.

I graduated Towson University in 2010 with a degree in mass communication. While there, as associate arts editor at The Towerlight, I reported on interesting people and events on and off campus. I also reported on hard news, including community relations, budget issues and local politics.

My stories included a feature on Dirty Jobs star (and TU grad) Mike Rowe, a series on Baltimore's beleaguered Senator Theatre and a look into the controversial firing of a well-liked adjunct professor. I also participated in a student project examining homelessness in Baltimore City.

I've been around Towson for as long as I can remember, so it's only natural that I end up working here for Patch. I went to school around here all my life and took my first journalism classes at Towson High School.

I have won two Mark of Excellence awards from the Society of Professional Journalists in general column writing and news reporting for The Towerlight.

In addition to The Towerlight, I have interned with Patuxent Publishing and WBAL radio.

I live in Rodgers Forge with a roommate and his hyperactive pug/shih tzu mix.

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 and human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal certain key beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. 

This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report, and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever think you see evidence that we failed in this mission, we wholeheartedly invite you to let us know.

Politics
I believe in common sense. Reporting exposes me to a variety of views. Really, at the end of the day, whether one is a Democrat or a Republican or whatever, we all want the potholes fixed.

Religion
My father once said he was "Jewish on [his] parents' side." When I was little, we celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah. Today, I don't consider myself religious, but a diverse upbringing made me tolerant and understanding of many religions.

Local Hot-Button Issues
A new County Council and a new county executive are now in office and are faced with how best to preserve the county's high bond rating and fiscal stability as the nation tries to emerge from the economic slowdown.

School overcrowding has been a perennial concern of area parents, and despite the opening of West Towson Elementary in 2010, continues to be.

Towson University is growing while mending once-fractured community relations. Students stopped misbehaving as much and the university is trying hard to balance its growth institution status with its neighbors' multiple valid concerns.

Other than that, what I care about is what you care about. Please let me know by using our news tip link below!