Stephanie Salmons
What topics/beats will you focus on for Aloha State Daily?
I'm Aloha State Daily's senior reporter and I'll cover business, tourism, the economy and general news across the Islands.
Why are you excited to join Aloha State Daily?
I'm excited to be a small part of building something awesome from the ground up! And I believe in the mission of Aloha State Daily! Regardless of where you live, the role of local news doesn't change -- it's important in keeping our communities informed about the things that impact our daily lives and holding people in positions of power accountable. Not to mention, Hawaii has a lot of awesome stories to tell and I'm beyond grateful and excited to be able to share them.
What’s your professional background in journalism or related fields?
A lifelong writer and storyteller, I graduated from Murray State University with a degree in print journalism in 2007 and have spent the better part of the past 17 years working as a reporter. For most of my career, I've worked at community-focused papers in North Carolina, Kentucky and Hawaii, covering communities big, small and in between, telling stories important to the people who live there. That's a big reason why I'm so passionate about community journalism and the role of hyperlocal news within the places we live, work and play.
What’s your connection to or interest in the community Aloha State Daily will serve?
Originally from Kentucky, I've lived in Hawaii for almost seven years now -- including 3.5 years in Hilo on Hawaii Island and another 3 years in Honolulu. I now live in Palolo Valley with my husband, who was born and raised here and whose family is from the Islands. I'm interested in the community served by Aloha State Daily because it's home.
What topics or stories are you most passionate about reporting on?
Business, tourism and the economy are all important facets of life in the Islands, but nothing can happen on those beats without people. I love telling the stories of your friends and neighbors, your coworkers and leaders, people who are making the decisions that affect your life and cool people who are doing cool things. Like most reporters, I'm nosy. I like to know about people -- what they're doing and why, what makes them tick.
