Writer, editor

Westfield Patch Editor John Celock is an award winning journalist who has covered a variety of beats including New York State politics, New York metropolitan area real estate development and community issues throughout Northern New Jersey. His first book, The Next Generation: Young Elected Officials and Their Impact on American Politics, was published in December 2010. John has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Niagara University and a Master's Degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

A former Staff Writer for the Press of Atlantic City, I have more than five years of fulltime experience covering local and regional news and sports. Born and raised in southern New Jersey - even attending college there - Red Bank and this part of the state is relatively new to me. I'm going to use this to my advantage and learn everything about the area that I can. The coverage I provide will be interesting and comprehensive. There's a story in everything, and I'm going to find it.

Kathy Pigott is the calendar editor for Westfield Patch, Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch, Cranford Patch, Clark-Garwood Patch, Springfield Patch, New Providence Patch and Berkeley Heights-Mountainside Patch.

Jamie hails from Jersey City, New Jersey and is currently pursuing an MBA in Marketing at Rutgers University. Jamie is equipped with experience in the NYC film and TV industry and years of non-profit sales under her belt. She is thrilled to be at Patch and to work with you. If you are interested in advertising or partnering with Patch please contact her at 212-402-4608 or jamie.shuali@patch.com

My name is Richard Lopes. I have lived in Westchester County for the past 33 years. I attended Yorktown high school and Pace University in Pleasantville, NY. I am very passionate about technology and how the Internet is an important part of everyday life. I enjoy many types of sports and fitness activities. I love traveling and spending time with family and friends.

sharm@patch.com      (c) 973-885-1826

Born and raised in Montclair, Sharm is used to lots going on around town! This Jersey native went to Rutgers University for a B.A. in Public Relations and flew north to Boston University for some "chowdah" and an M.S. in Advertising. After living in London three months for study abroad, she returned to the one and only Garden State. Having worked at MWW Group (Public Relations), L'Oreal (Editorial Asst), Bauer Media (Marketing Associate) and an interactive media company (Corporate Event Marketing), it became apparent that Sharm loves all things marketing communications! 

In her spare time, she enjoys live music, dance class, cooking and singing. Ever since London (where she hopped over to Spain and South Whales as well), she has caught the travel bug and can't wait for the next trip!

Jessica Remo graduated from Villanova University with degrees in English and Communications. Before Patch, Jessica worked as an editor at Philadelphia magazine and New Jersey Monthly magazine.

E-mail: jessica.remo@patch.com
Phone: 732-796-8940

Phil Meyer is Professor Emeritus in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and was inducted into the North Carolina Hall of Fame in Journalism in the spring of 2008.  He joined the Journalism School in 1981 and served as Knight Chair in Journalism Professor from 1993-2008.  Prior to joining the school, he held a number of reporter and research positions at various media outlets. 

He has won numerous awards including the 2005 Sigma Delta Chi Distinguished Service Award for Research About Journalism (with Scott Maier). He was named a Fellow of Society of Professional Journalists in 2005. In 2004, the Newspaper Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication gave him its Professional Freedom and Responsibility Award. And in 2000 he received the American Association for Public Opinion Research Award for Exceptionally Distinguished Achievement.

Meyer is the author of several books including The Vanishing Newspaper:  Saving Journalism in the Information Age and Precision Journalism:  A Reporter’s Introduction to Social Science Methods.  Journalism Quarterly in 2000 listed this book as one of the 35 significant books of the 20th century in journalism and mass communication; and the American Association for Public Opinion Research, observing its 50th anniversary in 1996, listed it as one of 50 significant books on public opinion research.

He received his B.S. in technical journalism from Kansas State University and his M.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina.

Steven Berlin Johnson is a pioneer in the web world, as a co-founder of FEED, Plastic.com, and Outside.in, which was acquired by Patch in March of 2011. He also co-created Findings.com, which launched in late 2011. Steven was the 2009 Hearst New Media Professional-in-Residence at The Journalism School at Columbia University, and served for several years as a Distinguished Writer in Residence at NYU’s Journalism School. He is a bestselling author of seven books, and won acclaim and a Newhouse School Mirror Award for his 2010 Time Magazine cover story, "How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live." 

Speaking of Steven's editorial prowess, check out this video based on Steven's book, Where Good Ideas Come From, which was named one of the best books of 2010 by The Economist.

Brian was Editor-in-Chief of Time Out New York magazine before coming to Patch. Before that he worked for a variety of publications both online and off, including Details magazine, New York Magazine, and the old, dearly departed Sidewalk.com. He has written for numerous publications, from the New York Times magazine to Harper's Bazaar. He graduated from Bowdoin College and got an MFA in creative writing at Columbia University so he could put his novel in a drawer with distinction. He lives in Manhattan with his beautiful wife, adorable son, angelic daughter and the world's most dog-like cat. He’s proud as hell of what the Patch team has built.

Ken Paulson is president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and in Washington, D.C.

Previously, Paulson served as the editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today.  He is now a columnist on USA Today’s board of contributors, writing about First Amendment issues and the news media.

Throughout his career, Paulson has drawn on his background as both a journalist and lawyer, serving as the editor or managing editor of newspapers in five different states.

He also is past-president of the American Society of News Editors, the nation’s largest organization of news media leaders.

Paulson also was the host of the Emmy-honored television program “Speaking Freely,” seen in more than 60 PBS markets nationwide over five seasons, and the author of "Freedom Sings," a multimedia stage show celebrating the First Amendment that continues to tour the nation's campuses.  

He was an early advocate of making newspaper content available online, launching online newspapers in both Florida and New York in 1993.

For 12 years, Paulson was a regular guest lecturer at the American Press Institute, speaking to more than 5,000 journalists about First Amendment issues. He was honored with the API Lifetime Service Award. In 2010 and 2011, he served as chair of the PBS Editorial Standards Review Committee.

In 2007, Paulson was named fellow of the Society of Professional Journalists, “the highest honor SPJ bestows upon a journalist for extraordinary contributions to the profession.” In 2008, he  received the Robert S. Abbott Memorial Award for Meritorious Service in Mass Communications from the Southern Regional Press Institute. He has also been elected to the Illini Publishing Hall of Fame at the University of Illinois.

He is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law and the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He also has served as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University Law School. In 2008, he received an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from American University.