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Meet Corderro McMurry

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Corderro McMurry.

Corderro, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in Maryvale which is in West Phoenix, Arizona. I recently self-published my thesis as a book after going viral worldwide in December of 2018. My book focuses on entertainment news and hardcore news with the study on Kim Kardashian West. The purpose of the book is to inform people that entertainment news is news. I managed to give Kanye West’s manager a copy of the thesis last summer when they were up in Flagstaff and now, I have published it as a book for everyone to read. The title of my book is called, “Can I Get a Copy?” I came up with the title after Kim Kardashian West, tweeted at me for a copy and then having my DM’s flooded with people asking the same thing.

Having my self-published book out on Amazon is a dream come true. I went to Brophy College Prep for High school. Attending this College preparatory school taught me about social justice and what it means to be a “Man for Others.” I attended The University of Arizona for my undergrad where I graduated with my bachelor in communication and a minor in theatre. During my time at UofA, I was fortunate enough to do the Disney College Program in Orlando, Florida where it taught me the true definition of diversity and the magic of being creative. This internship helped me land a job after graduation working in Burbank, California at Warner Bros studios as a clerk floater around the studio lot. Working this job I was able to see teamwork and dedication in putting together a movie and a talk show which inspired me to start my path of being an entertainment host.

I moved back to Phoenix, Arizona to help my mom take care of my grandmother for about a year and then I applied to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona for my master’s degree in communication. At NAU, I was able to learn and practice the skills of journalism. I was able to be a news and sports reporter, an entertainment producer for my segment on the radio show The Hangover and secure an internship in Austin Texas at Spectrum news (what was then Time Warner Cable news). I was also published in Cosmopolitan magazine for my research paper on Khloé Kardashian’s show, Revenge Body. Which she later responded back via a tweet letting me know that I had made her day.

In my last year of getting my master’s degree, I was offered my first professional job in Flagstaff, Arizona as a reporter & producer for NAU-TV where all of my skills were put to the test but grew while I was there. During that time period, I won a Rocky Mountain Emmy award for producing a commercial at NAU. This was by far the coolest moment ever! To see the people I grew up watching as a young king in the valley and now to be at an award ceremony with them was mind-blowing.

Now, I am at Arizona State University, studying in the PhD program at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication. I have traveled around the state accomplishing my academic goals as a first-generation college kid, award-winning producer, a social media pop icon and now a self-published author. I say all this to show other kids that it doesn’t matter what you do it is about the journey, the wonderful friends you meet along the way and the accomplishments that you do that make it worth the thrill.

I plan on giving the money made from the book signing event to my grade school, Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic School where I attended from Kindergarten-8th Grade. I would like to help two kids be able to use the money for their high school journey or help their families. Coming from this area I know that there is someone or a family that needs it more than me.

I hope my journey as a kid from West Phoenix who still continues to climb the mountains of “no’s” looking for an entertainment job with the ultimate goal of being a talk show host, can one day be an inspiration to kids around the world that if you have a passion, to protect it and pursue it.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This has not been a smooth road. I lost my grandmother the night of Christmas Eve while working on my master’s degree, I have wanted to take a break, change majors, and ultimately just give up. I have applied for over 100 jobs trying to get a foot in the door as an entertainment reporter or social media reporter at a network that can use my talents and creative mind to entertain people around the world.

The biggest struggle is trying to beat the odds. I have had people tell me my ideas were not what they wanted or that they would not work. I even had to cut people off who I thought were my friend. I say all this because I have continued to keep pushing no matter what. I truly believe there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
The business that I run is my myself. I market, manage, and strategically plan everything that I do. To be a successful reporter, I make sure my website ( corderromcmurry.com ) is up to date, professional, and showcases my hard work. I have also self-published my own book on Amazon titled Can I Get a Copy? On Amazon.com I am known for publishing a paper on Khloe Kardashian that was published in Cosmopolitan and going viral on Twitter for doing my Master’s thesis on Kim Kardashian West. I am a one man band with big dreams.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment of my career would have to be me being an inspiration to others. I have people tell me that I have or I am pushing them to do greatness. One of my friends said I was “the Will Smith” of the generation for him. I literally was speechless because Will Smith is one of my favorite actors and I personally know I am no where near Will Smith yet, but it was great to know that people around me see me in that light.

Pricing:

  • Can I get a Copy? the book costs $19.95 on Amazon.com for a physical copy

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