As we’ve considered what missing from the arts scene in Farmington/Farmington Hills to make it more vibrant we wrote about the need for a performing arts center to be built in downtown Farmington, along with the need for some alternative cinema options, a cool, hip, café that supports the arts, a dynamic art gallery space (or two), and a public arts project to add fun & poetry to our neighborhoods.

Two qualities of a vibrant arts scene (as suggested by Renny Pritikin) relate to the literary and journalistic culture of a community and it would benefit the Farmington and Farmington Hills area to cultivate writers representing a variety of viewpoints, along with publications for these writers to share their work.

The community has two print newspapers, the Farmington Observer (printed on Sundays and Thursdays) and the weekly Farmington Press. Both papers do a fine job covering the events, activities, and major news in the community but, though they include editorials and letters to the editor, could do more to present diverse and dissenting views and opinions on important issues in the community.

The Farmington Patch was once a good source for community news, conversation, and debate when it was actually focused on the community.

To build a stronger Farmington and Farmington Hills we need some creative writers, muckrakers, and gadflies who are not afraid to challenge the status quo, can offer some dissenting opinions, take on some of the absurdities of local government and business, and help us look to a better future.

Perhaps there is a way to do something interesting (and sustainable) in print but, of course, much of the conversation has moved online to facebook, twitter, and blogs.

Who are the writers doing this work in our community? Is there a need for an alternative publication? Who do you read and follow on twitter or facebook? Who is blogging about issues of importance to the Farmington/Farmington Hills area?