Publisher

Walter M. Brasch, Ph.D., is an award-winning social issues journalist and the author of 18 books, most of which fuse historical and contemporary social issues. Among his books are Fracking Pennsylvania, an in-depth look at the effects of fracking; and Before the First Snow, a critically-acclaimed novel that looks at what happens when government and energy companies form a symbiotic relationship, using ‘cheaper, cleaner’ fuel and the lure of jobs in a depressed economy but at the expense of significant health and environmental impact. He is professor emeritus of mass communications and journalism, and a former newspaper and magazine reporter and editor, and multi-screen multi-media writer–producer. He is vice-president of the Central Susquehanna chapter of the ACLU, vice-president and co-founder of the Northeast Pennsylvania Homeless Alliance, a member of the board of the Keystone Beacon Community for healthcare coordination, and is active in numerous social causes. He was a Commonwealth Speaker for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, and was active in emergency management. Dr. Brasch is featured columnist for Liberal Opinion Week, senior correspondent for the American Reporter, senior editor for OpEdNews, and an editorial board member of the Journal of Media Law and Ethics. He is also a regular commentator for both the Sunbury Broadcasting Co. and "Inside Politics" on the StarCom radio network, and is host of "The Frack Report" on WFTE-FM (Scranton, Pa.) He was president of the Pennsylvania Press Club and the Keystone State professional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, vice-president of the Pennsylvania Women’s Press Association, and founding coordinator of Pennsylvania Journalism Educators. He is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, the Authors Guild, and The Newspaper Guild (CWA/AFL-CIO). He is listed in Who’s Who in America, Contemporary Authors, Who’s Who in the Media, and Who’s Who in Education. He was recognized in 2012 by the Pennsylvania Press Club with the Communicator of Achievement award for lifetime achievement in journalism and public service. Among recent writing awards are multiple awards from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, Society of Professional Journalists, National Federation of Press Women, USA Book News, Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group, Pennsylvania Press Club, Pennsylvania Women’s Press Association, PennWriters, Pacific Coast Press Club, Press Club of Southern California, and the International Association of Business Communicators. He was honored by San Diego State University as a Points of Excellence winner in 1997. At Bloomsburg University, he earned the Creative Arts Award, the Creative Teaching Award, and was named an Outstanding Student Advisor. He received the first annual Dean’s Salute to Excellence in 2002, and a second award in 2007, and the Maroon and Gold Quill Award for nonfiction. He is the 2004 recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Service Award. Dr. Brasch earned an A.B. in sociology/social welfare from San Diego State College, an M.A. in journalism from Ball State University, and a Ph.D. in mass communication/journalism, with cognate areas in both American government/public policy and language and culture studies, from The Ohio University. He is married, has two children, and is surrounded by animals and the rural beauty of northeastern Pennsylvania.