I’m an award-winning freelance writer and I love to write about business, homes and actually any topic. I can make any topic interesting — it’s in the writing. I’ve had a lot of experience, too, writing about issues ranging from arthritis to hair salon business models. In fact, one of my first freelance articles covered a hair salon in Moscow, Russia.
- Articles: I’ve written magazine articles for many publications including Smart Meetings magazine, Columbia Business Times, School & Community.
- Websites: I create bright, well-written websites using the WordPress.com platform, giving clients an online presence in weeks, not months.
As a writer, I’m not glitzy or high maintenance. I just love to write and include unusual facts or figures few others would stumble upon. For example, when it comes to preventing employee theft, did you know one prevention tool is making sure everyone — everyone — takes a two-week vacation? Yep. It’s that kind of useful information I love to include in articles, always making sure I go that extra step by providing service boxes, time lines and information boxes any time possible.
Of course, as a former daily newspaper reporter, I make sure I get it right and hit the deadline.
No need to take my word for it. This is what Christina George, the former editor of Columbia Home, had to say: “Dianna is inquisitive yet tactful. Her writing is accessible, appealing and she can be funny when the occasion allows for humor.”
This website provides a peek at my work.
I like to keep busy, so in addition to client websites, I have two websites that highlight other projects:
Charleswgehrke.com, which is about a book I wrote with Charles W. Gehrke, who founded one of Columbia’s largest companies and analyzed the rarest of scientific samples, the moon rocks brought back from the Apollo missions.
columbiahistorichomes.com covers historic homes and other properties in Columbia, Missouri. Long term, the plan is to turn this project into a book spotlighting Columbia’s historic homes.
If you’ve gotta get your information the old-school way, below is a regular resume.
EXPERIENCE:
Freelance Journalist — Published in a number of publications including the Columbia Business Times, Columbia Home & Lifestyle, School & Community, Drury magazine, the Moscow (Russia) News and PASSPORT Moscow magazine. September 2003 to present.
Senior Information Specialist — Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research & Training Center, Dissemination Project. University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. March 1998 to August 2003.
Education Reporter — The St. Joseph News-Press, St. Joseph, Missouri. July 1997 to September 1998.
Assistant City Editor — The Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Kentucky. June 1995 to June 1997.
City Editor — The Columbia Missourian, Columbia, Missouri. June 1993 to June 1995.
Reporter/Photographer — Donrey Media Group, Washington, D.C. Bureau. January 1993 to April 1993.
Special Projects Reporter — The Columbia Missourian, Columbia, Missouri. January 1992 to May 1992.
Reporter/Photographer — The Gaffney Ledger, Gaffney, S.C. December 1987 to August 1990; July 1991 to August 1991.
English Instructor — Pusan National University, Republic of Korea. August 1990 to May 1991.
EDUCATION:
M.A. in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. May 1993.
B.A., B.S., Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio. August 1987.
