Local Reporter Receives Keystone State Press Award

Photo: Diane I. Daniels receives the 2012 Keystone Press Award from a PNA Representative
[Click photo for larger view]

Pittsburgh, PA (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — Since a junior in high school, Diane I. Daniels knew she wanted to be a journalist. Her first article was published in 1973 and she has been writing ever since. Her years of writing and reporting were recently recognized during the 2012 Keystone Press Awards Conference. She was one of hundreds of reporters, editors, photographers and page designers honored by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) Foundation during the awards banquet in Gettysburg. Based in Harrisburg, the PNA is a trade group serving newspapers in Pennsylvania seeking to “advance the interests of Pennsylvania newspapers” and protect the free and independent press. Recognized for New Year Means New Attitude, an article that appeared in a January 2012 edition of the New Pittsburgh Courier, she was acknowledged in the Business or Consumer category. The article discussed President Barak Obama’s Jobs Act, the White House’s Startup America Initiative and included a 2012 forecast from local entrepreneurs, politicians and community leaders. According to PNA officials, Daniels’ entrée was just one of close to 5000 entries – from 145 PNA newspapers. “It feels good to be recognized,” said Daniels. “To be awarded on the state level is exciting.”

Daniels, the owner of DID and Associates, a Pittsburgh based public relations/ business development firm says that throughout her career her goal has been to assist in the creation, development and promotion of women, minority and youth businesses. Her business motto is that she – promotes, publicizes and popularizes. Understanding the importance of marketing for a small business and nonprofit agencies, she has been responsible for and works with ventures to assure that they receive positive media recognition. As a result, she is noted for writing business features in several publications including the New Pittsburgh Courier, Soul Pitt Media and Onyx Woman Magazine. She also has been responsible for gaining media exposure for entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations in Dallas, TX and New York.

“Writing is a gift and talent that God has bestowed upon me and I am glad that the New Pittsburgh Courier is the outlet to relay the story of businesses and to educate the public. Since a teenager I’ve known the significance of the New Pittsburgh Courier to the African American community and dreamed of writing for them. It is an honor to be a part of their century old legacy.”

Daniels, a graduate of Wilberforce University has also received an award from the Semper Fidelis Club, one of the oldest social organizations in McKeesport for the many business features she has written and for being the first African American writer for her hometown newspaper, the McKeesport Daily News. The U.S. Small Business Administration has applauded her efforts by recognizing her as the 1994 Minority Small Business Advocate of Western Pennsylvania on the State and Mid-Atlantic Regional levels and was nominated as Media Advocate in 1996.

###