Daniel P. Finney

I tell stories. I will help you tell your story.

“When people told themselves their past with stories, explained their present with stories, foretold the future with stories, the best place by the fire was kept for the storyteller.”
— JIM HENSON

All stories are people stories. I will find the humanity to make your stories come alive in the audience’s mind.

I told my first story for pay when I was a 17-year-old senior at East High School in Des Moines. I’ve made my way in the constantly evolving media trade ever since.

Skills

Storytelling

I am an expert storyteller who will tell your story the way you want it told to the audiences you need to reach through any medium.

Research

I am an ace researcher who can dig through paper archives and plunge into databases to find the facts and details that make stories live.

Editing

I am a skilled editor with expertise in AP Style. I can correct for style, grammar and spelling. I rewrite to enliven dull copy for better readership.

Mentoring

As an editor and reporter, I’ve worked with a lot of young employees and taught them to ply their trade with lessons I gained over 27 years.

Work

Reporter at The Des Moines Register

2008 – 2020

I served as the featured storyteller for Iowa’s largest news-gathering organization. I reported and wrote stories on a variety of topics including crime and courts, ag, opinion, retail, features, business, breaking news, sports and weather.

Public Relations Specialist at Drake University

2005-2006

Wrote and edited news materials for Iowa’s largest private university. Served on the university’s neighborhood improvement task force. Learned crisis communication skills.

Editor at the Indianola Herald-Tribune

2006-2008

Edited Des Moines Register-owned weekly newspaper serving fast-growing Warren County. Designed front pages and some feature fronts. Mentored team of young reporters. Under my leadership, our news team won 15 Iowa Newspaper Association awards.

Reporter at various newspapers in the Midwest

1997-2004

Began full-time career at The Des Moines Register in 1997. Worked at USA Today (1999), the Omaha World-Herald (2001-2003) and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (2003-2005.)