Matt Christie leaves Boxing News

[Glass Joe]

oh no. I really enjoy listening to Boxing News podcast on Thursday on the roads. Wonder what happened there.

seems a bit drastic, falling out maybe?

[Muttley]

oh no. I really enjoy listening to Boxing News podcast on Thursday on the roads. Wonder what happened there.

seems a bit drastic, falling out maybe?

It's not the type of job you can do for a considerable amount of time. It is very challenging, exhausting and stressful at times. I'm not surprised he's taking break

[SeanBrennan]

I liked him at the helm, has something happened? I hope he's ok

[Boxerbeetle]

Did a cracking job

[samwbr]

He's been great, it's a shame he's off. Is it linked to the takeover?

[Deserter]

Wow! That’s come as a genuine shock. I know I have given BN a bit of stick for giving Boxxer a free pass recently, but I do think Matt’s the best editor BN has ever had (with honourable mentions to Harry Mullan and Tris Dixon).
He seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the change in ownership so you have to wonder what’s gone down to lead to this sad turn of events.

[SeanBrennan]

what's with the Groves poll thing? Is it a joke? Not clued up on any context here. I respected Matt for being one of the few willing to be interviewed and speak on the DK stuff in the Panorama investigation.

[JamesPhilips]

Who’s taking over? Declan Taylor? Or Eliott Worsell? I think the latter

[JamesPhilips]

what's with the Groves poll thing? Is it a joke? Not clued up on any context here. I respected Matt for being one of the few willing to be interviewed and speak on the DK stuff in the Panorama investigation.

He didn’t speak on the Alejandra Ayala situation though

[SeanBrennan]

what's with the Groves poll thing? Is it a joke? Not clued up on any context here. I respected Matt for being one of the few willing to be interviewed and speak on the DK stuff in the Panorama investigation.

He didn’t speak on the Alejandra Ayala situation though

not saying he's without faults mate I was just heavily invested in following the DK stuff so was happy to see him present and vocal on it.

[Coco]

While you get a lot of status working for BN, it's supposed to be one of the worst paying jobs.
I remember Mark Butcher telling me Big Issue writers get paid more.
I wonder what happened to him? Good bloke

[SeanBrennan]

While you get a lot of status working for BN, it's supposed to be one of the worst paying jobs.
I remember Mark Butcher telling me Big Issue writers get paid more.
I wonder what happened to him? Good bloke

me too. I do worry that the recent acquisition will start to make it all a bit too Rob Tebbutt. I don't think he has any journalistic pedigree or merit, although I did like him calling out Fearon's homophobia publicly. Be interesting to see if an exodus is looming. I hope not. I admire Rob's ambition but BN has a history dating back to 1909 and I worry that its current ownership is akin to a middle class hobbyist steering the ship following his brief stint at acting school. It might be me being cynical. But I would like BN to be above and beyond ambitious YouTubers.

[SeanBrennan]

While you get a lot of status working for BN, it's supposed to be one of the worst paying jobs.
I remember Mark Butcher telling me Big Issue writers get paid more.
I wonder what happened to him? Good bloke

me being nosey, do you know what the pay is?

[Coco]

While you get a lot of status working for BN, it's supposed to be one of the worst paying jobs.
I remember Mark Butcher telling me Big Issue writers get paid more.
I wonder what happened to him? Good bloke

me being nosey, do you know what the pay is?

Barely part time wages for more than full time work
I guess the editor gets more, I think it's the only full time position

[SeanBrennan]

While you get a lot of status working for BN, it's supposed to be one of the worst paying jobs.
I remember Mark Butcher telling me Big Issue writers get paid more.
I wonder what happened to him? Good bloke

me being nosey, do you know what the pay is?

Barely part time wages for more than full time work
I guess the editor gets more, I think it's the only full time position

jesus that is shoe string isn't it. I did not know that at all.

[SeanBrennan]

While you get a lot of status working for BN, it's supposed to be one of the worst paying jobs.
I remember Mark Butcher telling me Big Issue writers get paid more.
I wonder what happened to him? Good bloke

me being nosey, do you know what the pay is?

Barely part time wages for more than full time work
I guess the editor gets more, I think it's the only full time position

forgot to say thanks for sharing, really interested in this so much appreciated.

[emallini]

BN died the moment that Rob guy took over.

[Rockytony67]

[Deserter]

Thanks for sharing mate. As dignifed and heartfelt a message as you'd expect from him. No actual mention of why he's leaving though and no reference to the new owners, which all feels quite telling.
Anyway, speculation aside, when Matt writes: "I was once the editor of the greatest publication on planet earth", from this reader's perspective he was truly the GOAT in this role. Can only wish him well in whatever his next chapter is.

[olij999]

That does seem very sudden. I haven't seen any announcements in previous BNs, no succession plan, etc etc.

PS - question for Deserter - for how long have you read BN given your view of Matt as the best editor ever? I'm not asking that to denigrate Matt in any way as it is an incredibly hard job whoever is doing it, and he has kept the magazine going through Covid, for which point alone he deserves our gratitude and congratulations. For reasons too dull/lengthy to go into, I have read through all issues since about 1947 to the present, so am just interested in your criteria for rating editors.

[Deserter]

That does seem very sudden. I haven't seen any announcements in previous BNs, no succession plan, etc etc.

PS - question for Deserter - for how long have you read BN given your view of Matt as the best editor ever? I'm not asking that to denigrate Matt in any way as it is an incredibly hard job whoever is doing it, and he has kept the magazine going through Covid, for which point alone he deserves our gratitude and congratulations. For reasons too dull/lengthy to go into, I have read through all issues since about 1947 to the present, so am just interested in your criteria for rating editors.

No worries mate. I started reading it in the early 1980s (I'm 52 now). In terms of transparency, I should also mention that back in the day I worked as a journalist and editor (newspapers and magazines), and then as a publisher (essentially similar to an MD role, in that you're responsible for every facet of the magazines in your portfolio and their commercial performance). So when I'm saying I regard Matt as the best ever it's based not only on the standard criteria of the quality of content, his own 'voice' and willingness to tackle major issues etc, but also on knowing how this is all being done on a tiny budget against a tsunami of tech-driven change and competition - in simple terms, the publishing industry has been in meltdown in recent years. So when I judge Matt, I'm doing it in that context - for example, imagine Harry Mullan not just having to get a weekly print mag to press, but also oversee a website, socials and podcast on top of that, with barely any budget to pull it all together, day-in, day-out.
No editor in BN's history has had to operate in such challenging circumstances and yet the quality of output, as the awards testify, has been consistently world-class (another sign of a great editor is the team they pull together and run). That for me is why he's without question the GOAT.

[veriton]

I know someone who was offered a job there around 2008 but had to turn it down due to low pay. From memory it was around 22k for London.

It's worrying Matt is just going like this so soon after the YouTubers took over. Seems either they're trying to slash the wage bill or there's been a falling out.

Hope it carries on as there's nothing like it for a boxing fan.

[JamesPhilips]

Sounds like he was pushed or had a big disagreement. Does Rob Tebutt really own the paper now?

Rob Tebutt seems kinda childish to take on the editor role. It’s funny, being editor of boxing news seems to really take something out of you. Almost takes your love out of boxing.

[SeanBrennan]

Sounds like he was pushed or had a big disagreement. Does Rob Tebutt really own the paper now?

Rob Tebutt seems kinda childish to take on the editor role. It’s funny, being editor of boxing news seems to really take something out of you. Almost takes your love out of boxing.

He does. Via investors they have. Iirc

[SeanBrennan]

That does seem very sudden. I haven't seen any announcements in previous BNs, no succession plan, etc etc.

PS - question for Deserter - for how long have you read BN given your view of Matt as the best editor ever? I'm not asking that to denigrate Matt in any way as it is an incredibly hard job whoever is doing it, and he has kept the magazine going through Covid, for which point alone he deserves our gratitude and congratulations. For reasons too dull/lengthy to go into, I have read through all issues since about 1947 to the present, so am just interested in your criteria for rating editors.

That is epic that you have read so many editions. Not dull at all do please share if you are able to.