Denise Di Stephan, Patch Staff

Hi and welcome to Point Pleasant Patch!

I've been writing news and feature stories since 1982, when I wrote for my college newspaper and was a stringer for The New York Times.

After college, I worked part-time and did freelance writing for newspapers and magazines, then worked for 11 years as a full-time reporter for New Jersey daily newspapers such as The Press of Atlantic City and The Asbury Park Press.

While working at the Asbury Park Press, my husband and I bought a house in Point Pleasant Borough in July, 1993 and we've been here ever since. After leaving the Asbury Park Press in January, 1998, I did a  lot of freelance writing for magazines, including New Jersey Monthly, New Jersey Life and The Nation, and also did copywriting for corporate web sites. 

My husband and I  live with our two children.

We've spent a lot of time going to the river and ocean beaches, the boardwalk and parks and enjoy fishing, crabbing, biking and walking all over the borough and the beach.

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

* How would you describe your political beliefs?

I have been a life-long registered Democrat, but have voted for candidates of the Republican and Democratic parties based on a variety of criteria, including policy positions, experience and personal traits.

Religion

* How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious?

I was raised as a Catholic, but I'm open to and respectful of all religions.