Email: marlena.medford@patch.com
Phone: 858.232.3370 Hometown: Dallas Birthday: May 1 Bio: Marlena Medford was born in San Diego but raised in Dallas, where she spent years plotting a return to California. The long road back West took her through Oklahoma, where she earned a journalism degree at OU and interned with NBC while her husband served in the US Air Force. She spent the next four years working as an editor for Advocate Magazine in Dallas, while her husband completed his degree. Last summer, with a military enlistment and college finally behind them, the couple loaded up the truck and left Texas in the rear-view mirror.  Upon arriving in California, Marlena landed a job as an associate editor for Solana Beach Sun and Del Mar Times. A year later she came on board as editor for Encinitas Patch. In her current role, she aims to give residents a resource for information on the issues happening in their back yard, a forum where they can weigh in with their two cents, and a steady diet of stories that remind them why they love living here.  Marlena can often be spotted logging miles along Coast Highway 101, and tries to lace up for local races whenever her schedule allows it. She also enjoys yoga, hiking the San Elijo Lagoon — and getting to the beach often, where she likes to sit and stare at the sea, pondering the newfound concept of life sans triple-digit highs. 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. How would you describe your political beliefs? I lean left, but after many years of living in and covering communities  that veer right, I realize it takes all sorts to make our system work well. There's no such thing as an unbiased person, but I always try to be fair. Are you registered with a certain party? Yes, and I'm proud to say I haven't missed a vote yet.  How religious would you consider yourself? I'm Christian, but not a member of any church.