MatthewParrino.com

I am a dedicated, motivated, innovative, and invested journalist starting out in the professional field. I have won awards in college journalism and managed a staff of 80 people for my student newspaper. I like to tell stories and maybe even more important, I like to find the stories worth telling.

My most memorable piece – A Bond of Steel - was something I stumbled upon out of sheer curiosity. In the summer of 2011, James Hackemer fell to his death on the Ride of Steel roller coaster at Darien Lake. It dominated media coverage all summer, but one side of the story that was never told was that of Ashton Luffred, Hackemer’s 20-year-old nephew who sat next to his uncle on the coaster.

I pursued Luffred for seven months before he finally was comfortable enough to tell his story. It was difficult and emotional, and not everybody wanted the words of that day retold, and even more printed, but I thought it was something spectacular. The relationship between a boy and his uncle, and the hardships that both have gone though. The inspiring part is Luffred’s outlook on life, which I didn’t come to realize until after doing the story.

That’s what I love about journalism. The learning experience each day can be. It’s why I do what I do and why I hope to be able to do it until I’m gone.

I am currently the sports editor at The Tonawanda News.

The Tonawanda News
Sports Editor: August 2012 – Present

The Buffalo News
Business Desk Reporter (Intern): May 2012 – August 2012

The Spectrum -  University at Buffalo Student Newspaper
Editor in Chief: May 2011 – May 2012
Senior Sports Editor: May 2010 – April 2011
Sports Editor: January 2010 – April 2010
Assistant Sports Editor: May 2009 – December 2009
Staff Reporter: January 2009 – April 2009
Staff Writer: August 2008 – December 2008

Inside Pitch Magazine
Buffalo Features Writer (Intern): Summer 2010, 2011