As NBC Boston’s senior correspondent, Cho investigates crime patterns while highlighting community resilience. Her work bridges hard news analysis with compassionate storytelling about systemic challenges.
Diane J. Cho’s journalism career reflects her lifelong exposure to diverse communities, shaped by her upbringing as a military brat across the United States and South Korea. After graduating from the University of Florida with dual degrees in broadcast journalism and political science, she honed her skills in markets ranging from Augusta, Georgia, to Washington, D.C., before anchoring her expertise in New England.
Cho’s 2023 investigation into the Institute Park shooting demonstrated her ability to track complex criminal cases across jurisdictions. By obtaining exclusive police affidavits and interviewing festival organizers, she revealed how increased security measures failed to prevent gang-related violence. Her reporting prompted Worcester City Council to approve $500,000 for enhanced event surveillance.
"Community celebrations shouldn’t become crime scenes. When safety protocols break down, we must examine why—and who gets left vulnerable."
This 2023 scoop exposed loopholes in Massachusetts’ bodywork establishment regulations. Cho’s undercover visits to six similar businesses revealed that 83% operated without proper licensing. Her findings led to new bipartisan legislation requiring mandatory background checks for massage therapists.
Cho’s human-interest piece exemplified her talent for weaving forensic science (microchip tracking) with emotional storytelling. The article generated 2.8 million social media shares and inspired four state legislatures to propose mandatory pet microchipping laws.
Cho prioritizes solutions-oriented pitches about community policing models or technology reducing urban violence. Example: Her 2024 series on acoustic gunshot detection systems showed how real-time alerts decreased police response times by 37% in Dorchester. Successful pitches include concrete data and stakeholder interviews.
She investigates regulatory gaps enabling criminal activity. Pitch stories about business permit loopholes with documented case studies. Her massage parlor exposé began with a tip about inspection records.
Cho seeks stories showing how court decisions impact families. A 2023 feature about drug court graduates’ employment struggles used longitudinal data from probation officers.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Crime, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
