Meet Jen Murphy | Journalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jen Murphy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jen, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Everyone told me I was crazy to leave the stability of a magazine job and go freelance. I was warned that I’d be living paycheck to paycheck and be forced to take unfulfilling copyediting gigs to get by. However, I’d always written on the side when I had full time jobs so I was used to hustling and I had faith that the network of contacts I built up during my years in New York would be a huge asset. The risk paid off as I am no longer a slave to a desk and corporate hours. I am truly living the life I dreamed of back in journalism school.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
You have to have a thick skin as a writer. You get shot down on a daily basis but have to remember what one editor hates, another might love. I find a great joy in knowing that I can share other people’s stories and really make an impact. You definitely don’t get into this career for the money. You must love it. For me, being able to travel the world and meet interesting people is priceless. You have to be tirelessly curious and always looking for unique story ideas. You also need to be persistent and invest in your own career by attending workshops and conferences. You can’t be complacent as the landscape is constantly evolving. You also need to be true to yourself. I remember when social media took off I felt pressured to be an “influencer” and post more photos of myself. I resisted as I believe print journalism still has a distinct role in the media world and I’d rather be reporting than posting selfies. That decision really paid off during covid, when editors remembered I had reporting chops and came to me for news-focused travel stories.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live part time in Boulder and sometimes I forget how amazing it is. There is always so much going on. Many of my friends still live in NYC so it’s a treat to show them I have the best of both worlds here – culture and nature. I’d wake them early for a sunrise hike up Sanitas then head to Dedalus for coffee or breakfast at Snooze. We’d wander the shops on Pearl Street, making stops at Boulder Bookstore and Bliss and grab lunch at Oak at 14th. I’d take them for a bike ride along the bike path and maybe we’d catch a concert at Boulder Theater. If we were feeling fancy we’d do dinner at the bar at Frasca. If we wanted a casual dinner we’d hit sister restaurant, Pizzeria Alberico. The next day might be a wellness day with a yoga sesh at the Little Yoga Studio and facials at Alchemy Face Bar. Maybe we’d take a cooking class at Food Lab or workshop at Colorado Glass Works, then dinner at Sushi Zenmai.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Nicole Bernier Ahern was a guest speaker in my magazine class at Northeastern University. I was majoring in journalism and considering minoring in Russian politics with the intention of being an international newspaper correspondent. Nicole had been a staff editor at Conde Nast Traveler and was now freelancing and writing about food and travel. I didn’t even know jobs like hers existed. I volunteered to help her with research for the Boston Zagat guide and she became my senior thesis mentor and really helped me discover the world of lifestyle journalism. My first internship was at Food & Wine magazine and the editor in chief at the time, Dana Cowin, truly made me fall in love with magazines and honed my talent for discovering a good story. I went on to work for her nearly 10 years. My very first job out of college was as a news assistant at the Wall Street Journal. I feel so lucky that editor Jamie Heller believed in me and gave me a column, What’s Your Workout. I still pen that column today, nearly 20 years later. The Journal taught me the nuts and bolts of good journalism and reporting ethics.

Website: www.jenrunsworld.com

Instagram: @jenrunsworld

Twitter: @jenrunsworld

Image Credits
on the bio image: Jennifer Olson