Open to opportunities

Jonathan Alfano

@jonathanalfano

Message

Freelance sports writer and editor delivering high-volume, SEO-driven coverage.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek editorial roles where I can lead beat coverage, produce high-volume SEO-driven content, and grow into senior editing responsibilities within a collaborative newsroom.

I am a freelance sports writer and editor with experience across major sports publications and high-output weekly workloads.

I have led coverage for multiple beats at Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation and Athlon Sports, served as an editor-in-chief for several On SI sites, and attended credentialed NFL events to produce exclusive reporting.

My background includes newsroom experience at ClutchPoints and the Orlando Sentinel, where I wrote breaking news, honed SEO and WordPress skills, and averaged high hourly word counts.

I graduated Cum Laude from the University of Central Florida with a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in Sports Business Management, and I bring strong AP Style, multimedia, and editorial leadership skills to editorial teams.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Freelance Sports Writer

Current

Multiple Publications

Apr 2023 - Present (2 years 6 months)

Lead writer/editor for Sports Illustrated Fan Nation subsites and Athlon Sports, producing ~60 articles per week and covering NFL and college beats including credentialed event reporting at the 2024 Pro Bowl.

Sports Journalism SEO WordPress Feature Writing AP Style Interviewing Deadline Reporting

Editorial News Desk Writer

ClutchPoints

Jul 2022 - Sep 2023 (1 year 2 months)

Covered NFL, NCAAF, NBA, MLB and NHL while producing high-volume copy with an average hourly word count of 600 and developing SEO and WordPress publishing skills.

News Writing SEO WordPress AP Style Research CMS

Correspondent Reporter

Orlando Sentinel

Aug 2021 - Feb 2023 (1 year 6 months)

Reported breaking high school sports news in the Orlando area, producing timely game coverage and building relationships with athletic directors and coaches.

Breaking News Coverage Sports Coverage Interviewing AP Style Feature Writing Source Development

Contributing Reporter

NSM Today

Nov 2020 - Dec 2022 (2 years 1 month)

Covered UCF men's basketball and women's softball, publishing breaking news, features and profiles while serving as Sports Editor in Fall 2022.

College Sports Reporting Feature Writing News Editing AP Style Content Planning Leadership

Cast Member / Contributor

Hitting the Field Network

Oct 2020 - Dec 2022 (2 years 2 months)

Contributed to production and on-air hosting for four weekly student-run sports shows; performed technical and leadership roles including floor and technical director.

Technical Direction Audio Production Team Leadership Floor Directing

Editorial Intern / Writer

YourTango

Mar 2022 - Aug 2022 (5 months)

Wrote news and entertainment pieces, gained experience with content management systems and foundational SEO practices for digital publishing.

Content Writing CMS SEO Feature Writing AP Style Research

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of Central Florida

Bachelor of Arts, Journalism

Grade: Cum Laude, GPA 3.8

Activities and societies: Secretary, UCF Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists (2021–22); Director's Honor Roll Spring and Fall 2022

Completed a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a minor in Sports Business Management; graduated Cum Laude and appeared on the Dean's List each semester.