Patch Email: megan.verhelst@patch.com

Facebook.com/AnkenyPatch

Twitter.com/AnkenyPatch

Phone: 515-708-3599

Megan joined Patch.com in June 2011 and launched Ankeny Patch on July 7, 2011. She now serves as a field editor, handling social media, aggregation and real-time news for all central Iowa Patch sites including Ames, Ankeny, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, and West Des Moines.

A native of Mason City, Megan attended North Iowa Area Community College before transferring to the University of Iowa where she received a degree in journalism. Following college, she interned at The Gazette in Iowa City and spent a year as a reporter for the Jackson County Chronicle, a weekly newspaper in Black River Falls, Wis. Megan then returned to Iowa and spent two years as editor of the Britt News-Tribune before coming to Patch.

My Beliefs

At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and 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 honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs. This disclosure is not a license for them to inject their beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: We hope that the knowledge will make us 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

I don't belong to any political group. I tend to lean more to the left when it comes to my personal beliefs and ideologies, but more to the right when talking of fiscal responsibility. Ultimately, I believe we should be more interested in ideas than political affiliations when it comes to choosing those who represent us and make the decisions that ultimately will affect our lives.

Religion

I have standard Christian beliefs, although I have never belonged to a specific denomination.