Writers benefit from a variety of forms of support. Chains are bottom-line oriented, and often less supportive, especially to local writers wanting to cover local issues. Most of the articles published by chains are not written locally. The Big Island is fortunate to have the Hawai'i Island Writers Association, which though only two years old already has 180 members, some of whom are journalists. Such groups can effectively develop and support local writers.

One “LA Weekly” staff member, who asked not to be identified, noted, "When one paper eliminates the voice of another paper - no matter who or what they stand for - it's not good for the city and it's not good for the democratic process. Nobody can argue that the problem with American journalism is that it has too many voices."

Shepherd Bliss

Dr. Shepherd Bliss, sb3@pon.net, has contributed to two new books published this fall -
"Shattered Illusions: Analyzing the War on Terrorism," published by Amal Press in England, http://www.amalpress.com
and
"An Eye for an Eye Makes the Whole World Blind - Poets on 9/11."
It can be found at:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.aspendeca=1&ean=9781587900341

He divides his time between a Northern California organic farm and Hawai'i's Big Island.