Durkin’s experience includes sports coverage in East and South
Bay
Morgan Hill – The Morgan Hill Times has announced the appointment of respected sports writer Jimmy Durkin to be its new sports editor.
Durkin, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Jose State University, has been covering the region’s sports scene for the past three years.
Durkin has held a variety of jobs in the newspaper business, including writing for ANG Newspapers. There, his compelling sports coverage took its place alongside stories written by veteran sports writers in The Oakland Tribune, The Daily Review and other ANG papers. ANG has the largest daily circulation among newspapers in the East Bay and the third largest in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Durkin’s passion for sports has allowed him to connect with players, coaches and sports sources.
“Youthful enthusiasm is how I look at it,” Durkin said. “I played sports in high school – four years in varsity baseball and two years in varsity football. It was not that long ago that I was in their shoes.”
Durkin replaced LeAnn Shea, who resigned due to health reasons.
“In the local sports world, Jimmy Durkin is a name recognized for great story- telling, hard work and a passion for the game. Those three things always translate to wonderful sports coverage,” said Morgan Hill Times Editor Sheila Sanchez. “He’s a talented writer, and he’s greatly respected by other sports writers and editors in the Bay Area. He’s a great addition to the newspaper’s staff.”
Durkin began his journalism career at The Daily Review in Hayward, where he graduated from high school.
He worked at The Review for three years, covering everything from 9-year-old all star games to the North Coast Section championship football game at the Oakland Coliseum.
Durkin is also a veteran of the Spartan Daily, the student newspaper at SJSU, where he covered Spartan football and served a semester as one of two copy editors.
Ana Patejdl, regional sports editor for the Morgan Hill Times, Gilroy Dispatch and Hollister Free Lance, said she has been impressed with Durkin’s qualifications.
“Jimmy came with high recommendations from San Jose State and with good reason,” Patejdl said. “Although he’s just at the beginning of his career, Jimmy has a great deal of experience stemming from the college paper and the Daily Review in Hayward, and he understands what goes in to making a complete sports section.”
Durkin said he has been impressed with the level of enthusiasm that people in the Morgan Hill sports community have.
“You can tell people are passionate about their sports,” Durkin said. “Just from the calls I’ve received, I can tell I’ll have a good relationship with the people.”
Durkin’s goal as sports editor is to give each team its place in the paper.
“I want to make sure as many sports get covered as possible,” Durkin said. “Whether they are in T-ball, baseball, on the volleyball team or in the CCS playoffs, I want them to feel like they are a part of the community and a part of the paper.”
He added that he plans to do as much field reporting as he can.
“The job requires work in the office,” Durkin said. “But I would rather be out at the games rather than cooped up in this office.”
Durkin said that members of the community should feel comfortable approaching him. He said that he welcomes visits to the office, a phone call, e-mails or if he is out on the field to come up and say hi.
Patejdl said she is confident that Durkin will help to keep the quality of the section high.
“I think he’ll do great things to make the Times sports coverage even stronger,” Patejdl said. “He’s a solid writer and will connect well with the community and readers. Jimmy is a huge sports fan and takes pride in his work. You can’t ask for a better combination than that.”
