Email: james.price@patch.com
Phone 414-218-2779
Hometown: Wauwatosa, WI
Birthday: February 21, 1956
Bio: I've wanted to write ever since my father introduced me to the complete works of Mark Twain when I was a child, but I didn't get my start in journalism until 1986 when I began supplementing my income as an English major through freelancing for the Chicago Reader. Getting paid to write seemed better than not, so after graduating from the University of Illinois-Chicago, I applied to the graduate program of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, the first and I believe still the best J-school in the world.
Still a poor student, I begged my way onto the copy desk of the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. After five years of journalistic boot camp, I made my way to The Milwaukee Journal, settled in Wauwatosa, and I've been here ever since, editing and writing for The Journal and Journal Sentinel and teaching journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I'm thrilled to be a Patch editor in my adopted hometown of 22 years.
Our 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.
My Politics
I am unashamed to call myself a liberal in my personal political beliefs, and I don't think anyone should think it's a dirty word, because I believe this nation was founded on the most liberal principles the world has ever seen: that all people are equal and should govern their own affairs as equals. That said, I agree with my hero Thomas Jefferson about the limits of government and with many people today who believe that our government has in many ways outgrown that notion. In any case, I have 25 years of training and experience in journalism and I can assure readers that I have never let any personal beliefs affect my sense of fairness and balance in reporting or editing any story.
My Religion
I grew up in the Methodist Church, and although I do not practice any religion now, I still adhere to much of the guidance of that church, which taught that we should all act toward others and conduct ourselves in accordance with certain beliefs that underlie Christian morality.
Local Hot-Button Issues
The hottest button in Wauwatosa, I believe, is in the undercurrents that swell to the surface from time to time as we try to deal with being the closest suburban community to urban Milwaukee and the socio-economic issues that sometimes spill over our borders.
Trees have come down on blocks south of North Avenue, and neighbors are trying to learn to live with the effects of that – and of what more they know is coming.
Dog sniffs out a dangerous fugitive, who surrenders rather than facing fangs.
Diversity of products keeps most vendors, customers coming back, but for some producers it's been a struggle.
Slew of recent cases of third, fourth, fifth and even sixth OWI offenses are among the kind that have prompted Sen. Alberta Darling to seek tougher laws yet.
Man had overindulged at Summerfest and was driving without a license, since it was still revoked from his last drunken driving conviction.
Area affected included most of city west of 76th St. and north of North Ave.; grass fires near Hwy. 45 appear to be related to restoration of power.
Young South Milwaukeean tells officers his alcoholism, for which he was in rehabilitation, got the better of him.
Also, Ryan deflects any talk about vice presidential nod, but Walker hints that he wouldn't mind seeing a home-grown executive-in-waiting.
Engineers tell the city that what appears to be the direct and logical path along Watertown Plank Road is in fact prohibitively expensive.
State GOP leaders announce press conference Tuesday in Wauwatosa to remind president of his 2008 campaign statement against adding to the national debt.
Robertson's Ace Hardware store in the Village is latest victim of an errant driver.
From farmhouses to quaint Queen Annes to Arts & Crafts, blocks north of Village tell Wauwatosa's story in architecture.
Boys ran and called police after a stranger pulled up and asked them them to get into his car near Mayfair Mall.
Hungry driver tells police he knew his truck was too tall to get under that railroad bridge the moment he smacked into it.
Store staff watches as shoplifter stops to fill out an application for a job, using his real name and contact information.
Caller watched Wauwatosa man drive over a lawn and into a house – which turned out to be his – while slumped over his steering wheel.
Wauwatosa police seek charges against a West Allis man who was captured later the same day in the act of a burglary in Greenfield.
About 1,500 people brave the heat for an evening fundraiser for the Birk family, and offer up more than $35,000 to help.
Wauwatosa police seek charges against West Allis man who was captured later the same day in the act of a burglary in Greenfield.
Claiming she is a destitute caregiver for her young niece, she says they just needed some clothing.
