12/05/06

Brian Murphy named AP domestic religion writer

NEW YORK -- Brian Murphy, a veteran foreign correspondent who has covered religion internationally for The Associated Press since 2004, will now cover the beat in the United States.

The new assignment was announced Dec. 1 by National Editor Brian Toolan.

Murphy joined the AP in Boston in 1987. He transferred to Miami in 1988 and joined the International Desk in New York two years later. He was posted to Rome in 1993 and named Athens bureau chief in 1997. While in Athens, he also made regular reporting trips to Iran. He took over the international religion beat in 2004 following the Athens Olympics.

Murphy has covered stories for the AP in more than 40 countries, including the Rwanda genocide, the Balkan conflicts, Afghanistan and the war in Iraq. His coverage of religion has included major events such as the death of Pope John Paul II and projects examining trends in radical Islam and the rise of African Christianity.

Murphy graduated from Boston College and is the author of two nonfiction books -- "The New Men," which chronicles the first year of six American seminarians at the North American College in Rome, and "The Root of Wild Madder," about the carpet trade in Iran and Afghanistan.

Murphy, who will be based in Los Angeles, replaces Richard N. Ostling, who retired earlier this year. He will be teamed with Rachel Zoll, who has been based in New York covering religion since 2001.


Contact: AP Corporate Communications, 212.621.1720