• Valerie BonkPatch Staff Verified Patch Staff Badge

  • Eldersburg, MD

<b>Email: Valerie.Bonk&#64;patch.com<br>Hometown: Ellicott City, MD<br>Birthday: </b><b>May 18</b>

Valerie was born and raised in Maryland with the dream of once becoming a &#34;recycling man,&#34; but is excited to see her second dream career as a journalist come true. 

She and her brother were homeschooled by their wonderful mother from birth up until college and she sometimes wishes she could go back to home schooling for a week or so. Valerie graduated from the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism with a Bachelors Degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Government and Politics. 

Prior to becoming editor at Patch, Valerie worked at NPR, the CBS Evening News, the BBC&#39;s Washington Bureau and ABC&#39;s Good Morning America. 

In her spare time she teaches dance classes at Arabesque Dance Studio, dances (anything but hip hop), watches movies, plays the piano and loves to hang out with her close knit family. 

<b>Your Beliefs</b><br><i>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.</i>

<i>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.</i>

<b>Politics</b><i><br>How would you describe your political beliefs? </i>One of my wise journalism professors once said that if you still don&#39;t know what my politic beliefs are by the end of a story then I&#39;m doing my job. 

<b>Religion</b><i><br>How religious would you consider yourself?</i> I&#39;ve found my way. 

<b>Local Hot-Button Issues</b><i><br>What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? </i>Education, the environment and local government/budget. 

We want to know what you think are the most important issues so send me an e-mail and let me know what you want to be covered: Valerie.Bonk&#64;patch.com 

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