“Diane Ako PR” opens for business

I’ve decided to open a public relations firm, “Diane Ako PR.” I decided it at the end of March, and have been working the past couple of months to bring it to fruition. 

My daughter’s logo design for me. I just love her.

I specialize in media placements for traditional media (TV, newspaper, magazine, and radio) as well as online articles, but can handle a scope of public relations tasks that include media-training, crisis communications, producing company videos, and more.

With Cat Fox, the day she suggested I open my own p.r. firm. Thanks, Cat!

My friend Catherine Toth Fox vigorously suggested it to me in mid-March when we saw each other at a media event. I don’t know what exactly she said that resonated with me, because about three dozen friends have suggested it over the past eight years and I have never been interested in running my own business. I suppose she was the messenger and the time was right. 

Cat is an editor at HONOLULU magazine. Our friend, Sean Morris, runs a small p.r. company, pretty much exactly like what I would be doing. I talked to him to gain a realistic perspective, and he was encouraging. So I decided to commit.

With Sean M. Morris, after deciding to open Diane Ako PR. Thanks, Sean!

Though I worked mostly a journalist, I’ve helped friends with p.r. over the years and have even done it for a living; I like it, I can do it, I’m good at it. I like the idea of helping people. This whole “be your own boss” thing appeals to me in that I can set my own schedule and attend my daughter’s events. It’s important to me to be an involved mommy.

My web masters here have so graciously invited me to stay on as a blogger. (Nicest web admins ever.) I will for now, and I will also be blogging at DianeAko.com. 

Wish me luck! Thanks 🙂

More on Diane Ako PR at www.DianeAko.com

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Diane Ako

Peace of mind By Diane Ako I like to reflect on life. Sometimes it’s philosophically. Sometimes it’s humorously. For all its beauty, life is far too difficult a journey to take alone. You need the support and connection with others to help carry you along the way. Writing brings me that connection– within and without. It clarifies my thoughts and feelings. It helps me reach out to others for advice, wisdom, or feedback. Your thoughts become your actions. Your actions become you. A wise yogi- Patanjali- said, “Speak what is true. Speak what is pleasant.” Let’s speak of things pleasant to one another and seek some peace of mind along the way. ABOUT Diane Ako joined Hawaii: In Real Life in October 2016. She likes being part of a community of local bloggers – people who like writing and sharing, like she does. Ako is an anchor/ reporter at Island News (KITV4 – ABC) in Honolulu. She previously anchored and reported at KHON2 (FOX) and KHNL (NBC), and at stations in California, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. She freelance writes for NMG Network's magazines. In between news jobs, in 2017, she launched and ran her own p.r. company, Diane Ako PR. From 2010-2014, she headed the public relations department at Halekulani Corporation, which oversees luxury resort Halekulani and boutique hotel Waikiki Parc. She’s been blogging since 2009 – before Hawaii: IRL, she wrote for The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the state’s largest daily newspaper, where her stories garnered a dozen journalism awards and an Emmy nomination. Ako has a BA in Communications from Menlo College and an MA in Political Science from University of Hawaii at Manoa. She volunteers as a board member of the Honolulu Gay & Lesbian Cultural Foundation, a Shinto shrine maiden at Daijingyu Temple, a citizen-scientist studying shrimp, and a yoga teacher at a senior center.

Diane Ako has 274 posts and counting. See all posts by Diane Ako

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