Contact: 813-390-4952 / linda.chion@patch.com

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Linda Chion Kenney is Editor for the Brandon Patch. You'll see  her working out of coffee shops and restaurants throughout town when she's not posting live from news events and playing fields. Her passion for community news took root in print journalism and her many jobs throughout the Northeast and the Tampa Bay area, including for the Brandon News and The St. Petersburg Times. In the three years prior to her position at Patch she posted more than 40,000 "News-Shot" listings to her own online community news site, MyPaperNow.com. She stands committed in her belief that solid coverage of local news with heart and passion can only help to make the community a better, more compassionate and interesting place to live and grow.  Chion Kenney has a degree in journalism from Hofstra University and moved to the Greater Brandon area in 1992. Her greatest joy has been the privilege of raising her daughter, Zoe, who graduates from New College Honors College of Florida  in 2010.

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 am registered non-party affiliation. I believe the two-party system has its faults and keeps us from taking a closer and more objective look at the issues.  

Religion

• How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious? I was raised Greek Orthodox and I would like one day to take a closer look at the roots of my childhood religion. 

Local Hot Button Issues

• What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? Economic distress; homes that can't sell; disengagement with local politics; community organizations sometimes at odds with each other, yet attempting to arrive at the same stated goals; the changing fortunes of our lives at home, at work and in the community.

• Where do you stand on each of these issues? On all these issues I find it imperative that people take time to ask questions and seek answers and to help each other survive, grow and propser. Also, to celebrate the milestones and achievements, large and small, along the way, because in the end these are the moments that matter most.