Email: mark.schaaf@patch.com
Phone: 262-497-1633
Hometown: Prairie du Chien, WI
Birthday 5-6-85
Bio: Being a journalist is the only career I've ever wanted for myself, and I'm so blessed that I'm getting to do it professionally. I grew up reading newspapers and by the third grade, I was making my own newspapers out of printer paper and putting them out on the porch at night, so when my dad got the Wisconsin State Journal in the morning, mine would be right next to it. (true story - my parents still have the copies) I have a passion for good journalism and I'm happy to be bringing that enthusiasm to Patch. 

I grew up in Prairie du Chien and attended college at UW-Eau Claire where I served as editor of The Spectator. I worked for NOW Newspapers for 3 1/2 years before heading over to Patch to be the editor in Oak Creek.

Besides journalism, I'm passionate about music (Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam, Jack White) and the Milwaukee Brewers; I enjoy reading (non-fiction, mostly) and Sunday nights on HBO; and I believe Lee Harvey Oswald killed JFK but he did not act alone. 

Your 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.

Politics 
My political beliefs are always evolving as I understand the world around me better. 

Religion
I go to church and respect all religions. 

Local Hot-Button Issues
The most important issues I see are the future of the lakefront, growing enrollment in the schools creating a strain on space, and the future of the former Delphi land.

My stance is that public officials should make informed decisions and the voices of all sides of each argument should be heard!