Email: jason.alley@patch.com
Phone: 734-276-9722

Bio: I became a Patch community editor in February 2013 and oversee community engagement, outreach and marketing efforts for a cluster of nine Patch sites throughout Wayne and Macomb counties. Prior to that, I served as editor of Wyandotte Patch since November 2010. Before joining Patch, I had a long career in print media. I worked 15 years at The News-Herald Newspapers – 12 of those as a reporter. I left The News-Herald as its online coordinator in October 2010 to accept a promotion at its sister publication, The Oakland Press. I was there a whopping three days before accepting a position with Patch. 

I am a strong believer in community journalism and am hoping to make this site be the best source out there for information about Wyandotte. Over my 15-year career with The News-Herald, I've won numerous statewide writing awards, from covering City Hall corruption to the Detroit Lions enjoying a healthy breakfast with Downriver elementary school students. 

Patch is just as much about you as it is about me. If you have a story idea, a hot news tip or just want to chat about your community, feel free to contact me anytime. 

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.

Politics 

I would call myself a non-card carrying Democrat. I do not belong to the Democratic Party, but align with many of its tenets. I have never voted straight ticket as I believe issues are more important than party affiliation. There have been many Democrats on the ballot who I have passed over because I did not agree with their various stances. I am a diehard believer in freedom of speech, however, and will always defend anyone in being allowed to have a voice, regardless of what message it may be delivering.

Religion

I was raised Baptist, but do not attend services. I am open minded to all religions and believe simply waking up early on a Sunday and sitting in a building does not make one religious. Instead, a person's sense of religion/spirituality should rest on the way they live their life and help others.

Local Hot-Button Issues

As with most municipalities these days, all hot-button issues seem to somehow relate to budgeting and finance. As long as civility is at the forefront of those discussions, workable solutions should be the end goal.