Meet CNPA Freelance Member John Murphy!
Murphy’s journalism journey began in high school, inspired by childhood trips to games with his best friend’s father, who was sports editor of the San Bruno Herald. After graduating from San Francisco State (originally studying recreation), Murphy landed his first full-time position in Watsonville, where he spent nine years honing his craft.
His career has taken him throughout California, with notable stops including the Riverside Press-Enterprise (2008-2012) and the San Bernardino Sun. Currently, Murphy contributes to Community Forward Redlands, an online news site, and continues freelance work covering everything from high school athletics to unique community events like the Redlands Bicycle Classic.
Murphy has developed a reputation for finding extraordinary stories in ordinary places. For example:
- A first-place winning feature on an 82-year-old football coach at Banning High, believed to be the oldest coach in the state. Murphy’s approach was to follow the coach through practice and games, capturing his colorful personality through action quotes rather than traditional interviews.
- Another award-winning story about a football coach at Yucaipa High who survived a near-death experience, featuring the coach’s inspiring post-game chants with his team.
- A moving feature about an 18-year-old senior and football team manager, who suffers from epilepsy, autism and ADHD, who received the CIF-Southern Section’s Champions for Character Award.
What sets Murphy apart is his innovative approach to feature writing. Drawing from his experience as a teacher’s aide in Fontana, he adapted educational “circle maps” for journalism. Murphy places his subject’s name in the center of a poster board, then surrounds it with circles containing facts, anecdotes, and quotes. He uses highlighters and numbers to organize material into story segments—a visual method that might look “kind of crazy,” as Murphy admits, “but it seems to work.”
His writing philosophy is influenced by Steve Padilla, former writing coach at the L.A. Times, particularly Padilla’s technique of “taking quotes from action” rather than relying solely on sit-down interviews.
Murphy’s current coverage areas include high school sports, community events, and human interest features with sports connections. He’s looking forward to an upcoming assignment covering a Redlands native who plays for the Savannah Bananas—a theatrical baseball team he describes as “a combination of the Harlem Globetrotters and baseball” that performs in Major League parks.
Though semi-retired, Murphy remains active in the field and is available for freelance assignments, particularly human interest features—his favorite type of story. He can handle both writing and photography when needed, making him a versatile choice for publications seeking comprehensive coverage.
Specialties:
- High school sports coverage
- Community features and events
- Human interest stories with sports angles
- Photography (when requested)
Contact Information:
- Email: berdooman@gmail.com.
- Portfolio: https://authory.com/johnmurphy
Are you a freelance CNPA member? Want to be featured in our freelancer spotlight? Contact us at news@cnpa.com about showcasing your work and availability to our network of editors and publishers.
