Browse the profiles of our staff. Learn about where we come from, and why we're dedicated to continually gathering the best, most accurate information about Chile!

BENJAMIN WITTE – Editor

Benjamin Witte has been living in Chile on and off since 2000, when a recommendation from his aunt and uncle first brought him to the “poto del mundo.” After a year-long stint in “Chepe” Costa Rica, Benjamin returned to Santiago in 2002 and began working at the Santiago Times. He left again in 2004, completed a journalism degree in Canada, did some reporting work in Boston and... surprise, surprise – he just couldn’t stay away. Born in Nova Scotia, Canada, he did most of his growing up in the People’s Republic of Berkeley (California). Favorite reporting topics include hydroelectric dams, farmed salmon, human rights issues and basketball.

STEVE ANDERSON - Publisher

Publisher and journalist Steve Anderson hails from Fayetteville, Arkansas – where he once served as a VISTA volunteer, taught school, practiced law and involved himself in community affairs as a JP on the local Quorum Court and then in national affairs as an aid to Arkansas Congressman Bill Alexamder (1st District).

KAT SHIFFLER - Special Correspondent

Kat Shiffler is a writer for the Santiago Times. She prefers the country life to the city; and focuses on environmental and agricultural stories. She works out of Steve's farm an hour outside of Santiago, along with her partner-in-crime Liz Tylander. When she's not writing, she's planting vegetables and interviewing chickens and farm dogs. Previously, Kat lived in Washington, DC where she had many random jobs: from being a co-owner of a dog-walking collective to building a Bhutanese temple for the Smithsonian. She also worked as a freelance radio reporter, producing pieces for Free Speech Radio News, and Washington's local NPR station. She has made several documentary films: one about factory workers in Bolivia, and more recently about trade unionists in Ukraine for the Solidarity Center. She is an avid biker and small farm advocate, last year biking (and filming) with friends from DC to Montreal, Canada documenting "the New American Farmer". And without forgetting to mention the bulkiest carry-on luggage ever, Kat is learning to play the accordion.

NICOLE CANIVILO- Website administrator

"I only know that I don't know anything" 

                                            Sócrates.

ALEJANDRA DIAZ - Secretary

Alejandra was born in Santiago and studied advertising at the University of Santiago. She has worked for CHIP since 1994 and has two teenaged daughters – Vera and Maga.

Alejandra has made a valiant effort over the years to learn English, but has finally decided that she is linguistically challenged. Still, she more than makes up for her English-language learning handicap with an abundance of good cheer and lots of hard work - handling CHIP finances and keeping the offices in good running order. She handles all matters relating to subscriptions and tries to keep Steve focused on business priorities.