- I am co-authoring the autobiography of WWE, Florida State and Orange Bowl Hall of Famer Ron Simmons
- I was the Miami Herald's professional wrestling/mixed martial arts beat writer from 1994-96
- I love animals
- Swimming
John Patton
Williston,FL
Summary
Accomplished sports writer known for delivering authoritative coverage and engaging storytelling. Expertise in reporting, feature writing, editing, audience engagement, and team collaboration, with a track record of enhancing readership through innovative content development.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Sports Writer
Freelance
07.2012 - Current
- Developed engaging sports articles covering various events and athletes.
- Conducted in-depth research to ensure accuracy and relevance of content.
- Collaborated with editors to refine articles for publication standards.
- Maintained strong relationships with athletes, coaches, and industry professionals.
- Adapted writing style to cater to diverse audiences across multiple platforms.
- Analyzed trends in sports journalism to enhance storytelling techniques.
- Mentored emerging writers on effective reporting practices and editorial standards.
- Delivered authoritative sports coverage with careful attention to game facts, stats and predictions.
- Covered numerous events personally, traveling to games across Florida to create buzz and offer expert coverage.
- Pitched and developed new columns, consistently increasing readership with proven sports and reporting expertise.
- Created new athlete profile column highlighting top players and rising stars in different sports.
- Oversaw work of numerous reporters covering all high school sports.
- Participated in editorial meetings to brainstorm ideas, discuss feedback, and strategize future content direction.
- Improved readability of articles by adhering to strict grammar rules and implementing clear language that resonated with target audiences.
- Acted as media contact for Marion County's sports teams from 2012-2023.
- Covered live sporting events, providing real-time updates, insightful commentary, and post-game analysis for readers.
Sports Writer
Gator Country
Gainesville, FL
06.2011 - 05.2012
- Served as the beat writer for the University of Florida men's basketball team.
- Managed online sports columns, blogs and video pieces.
- Wrote features, game stories and previews.
- Revitalized community sports coverage by increasing assignments and revamping quality standards.
- Had a strong social media presence, including chats on the website's message boards.
Sports Writer
Gainesville Sun
Gainesville, FL
11.1999 - 05.2010
- Served as the high school sports editor and as a backup on University of Florida sports beats the entire time.
- Served as the Jacksonville Jaguars' beat writer from 2004-2006, when the paper discontinued covering the team.
- Covered dozens of high school state championships, two Final Fours in men's college basketball, a national championship college football game and Super Bowl XXXIX.
- Edited more than five pieces per week of freelance writers, carefully checking content wording and facts.
- Created weekly assignments for a freelance staff that ranged between three and seven people.
- Taught junior reporters ins-and-outs of how to effectively cover different sports and consistently give audiences desired information, stats and analysis.
- As part of an APSE-award-winning staff, I helped bring the Sun to forefront of regional sports journalism by maintaining complete coverage for popular sports at high school, college and professional levels.
- Covered numerous events personally, traveling to games across the United States to create buzz and offer expert coverage.
- Helped social media team improve promotions and engagement by providing top-notch sports content targeted on specific audiences.
- Strengthened brand identity through consistent voice and tone across all written materials, solidifying the publication''s reputation as a reliable sports news source.
- Assisted in managing the editorial calendar to ensure a diverse range of topics were covered consistently throughout the year.
- Enhanced reader engagement by incorporating captivating storytelling techniques and in-depth analysis in sports articles.
- Acted as media contact for high school sports programs in the Gainesville Sun coverage zone. During that time, I was in charge of covering 34 schools in all sports, boys and girls.
- Fulfilled tight deadlines without compromising quality by prioritizing tasks efficiently during busy periods or high-profile events coverage.
- Collaborated with editors for timely publishing of articles, resulting in a well-organized and efficient workflow.
- Conducted research to ensure accuracy and credibility in every article, maintaining high journalistic standards.
- Developed strong relationships with athletes, coaches, and industry professionals through effective communication and interviewing skills.
- Participated in editorial meetings to discuss story ideas and content.
- Reported from field locations and wrote stories under tight deadlines.
- Developed relationships with sources and contacts to gain additional insight.
- Wrote in-depth features outside of my beats on such topics as the growth of UFC and the World Series of Poker.
- Attended press conferences and other media events to gather relevant information and quotes for stories.
- Was the host of a local television show that focused on local high school basketball from 2007-08.
Education
Business
University of Florida
Gainesville, FLSkills
- Strong writing skills
- Aggressive story finding
- Audience engagement
- Player and coach profiles
- Live sports reporting
- Deadline management
- Editing and proofreading
- Management of writing staff
- Multimedia reporting
- Team collaboration
- Creative writing
- Breaking news coverage
Interests
Timeline
Sports Writer
Freelance
07.2012 - Current
Sports Writer
Gator Country
06.2011 - 05.2012
Sports Writer
Gainesville Sun
11.1999 - 05.2010
Business
University of Florida
Second place FSWA breaking news (2005)
Reported on the sudden death of Division I college football quarterback prospect Chris Smith of Bradford High School.