Dixon Patch's Future: Introducing Myself. Empowering You. Starting a Discussion.

Hi.

I’m Justin -- the guy who will be pulling the strings here at Dixon Patch starting next week. I wanted to quickly introduce myself and hopefully start a conversation (below this story) about how this site can best serve this town. I’m hoping you’ll play a big role in making this happen, which I'll explain in a second. First, a bit about me: 

First off, I've worked alongside your former editor, Carlos Villatoro, for more than a year, and I'm excited to hit the ground running. 

I went to high school in Winters and, after college, wrote for the town’s weekly newspaper, The Winters Express. I later got my Masters degree in New Media Journalism from Northwestern University in Chicago. About a year later, I jumped on board with Patch and haven’t looked back, (except for right now, while writing this bio!).

I'm happily married to my wife, Bianca, who just gave birth to our first child on August 6. Exciting times to say the least! More on that later this week. 

Having spent my youth in Winters, I feel like I have a fairly good sense of Dixon. But I expect to learn a whole lot more in the coming weeks and months, and I hope you’ll help me with that, because you guys are the real experts.

You'll regularly find me working on my laptop at cafes and restaurants in Dixon and I look forward to meeting many of you face-to-face in the coming months. I’ll also be working very closely with reporter Lindsey Hickman – a talented Dixon local whose work you’ll be seeing on the site daily.

What's Next for Dixon Patch? 

Dixon Patch will always be a news outlet with high-quality reporting and engaging stories and videos. But it’s also an interactive tool, and I’m hoping you as a community will milk every last ounce of potential out of it. Read this next part carefully, and keep it in mind every time you use this website from now on: 

News is no longer a one-way road in which us journalists only deliver content to you readers. Technology has changed that. This town is yours, and I’m challenging you to play a role in the sharing of news and information. Here are just a few ways to do that on Dixon Patch, all of which are just a click away.

• Want to voice your opinion (about anything at all!)? – Post a blog.
• Want to say something about a story on the site? – Post a comment.
• Want to publicize an event? – Add it to our calendar.
• Want to share a photo or video with the community? – Add it to our neighborhood gallery, or upload photos to any Dixon Patch story.
• Want to share a press release? – Post an announcement.
• Want to talk to me? – Email justin.cox@patch.com or call 530-262-8183.

We’ll always be here reporting on issues. That will NEVER stop. But we don’t want you to just sit back and wait around while we do it. You’re sitting on too much valuable information, and we want you to know that this site is a landing place for all things Dixon – whether it be a government scandal, a little league game, an upcoming festival or a . 

Bookmark this site right now and remember that the Dixon community is just a few clicks away from you at all times. Also make sure to sign up for our newsletter and like our page on Facebook. And share the site with your friends, family and neighbors! 

Comment Below: What Should We Be Covering Right Now?

What’s happening right now in town that you think is deserving of some extra attention? Share it in the comments below and we’ll get this ball rolling. I really look forward to working with the Dixon community and am excited about what we can do.