Matt Christie leaves Boxing News

[SeanBrennan]

Nice farewell article from Christie in this week's BN, mine landed this afternoon.

[olij999]

while researching for my next book on various excellent Gold Coasters / Ghanaians from the early 1950s to early 1970s (aiming to publish in 2027, long story...).

Nice one mate. Long way off though?

Thanks, Orb. Always steady going, these things. Could do a half-@rsed job in a quarter of the time, but readers surely deserve both cheeks. Have been working on this for about three years now, so it's a similar timescale to the previous book, as that took seven. At least it allows a sense of anticipation to build.

[veriton]

Nice farewell article from Christine in this week's BN, mine landed this afternoon.

I feel a bit short changed. No reason given, no saying what's next. No word in the mag about what's happening. If he loves and respects BN as much as he says then how about the truth. Long time subscriber's deserve better, especially after the collapse of BM

[SeanBrennan]

while researching for my next book on various excellent Gold Coasters / Ghanaians from the early 1950s to early 1970s (aiming to publish in 2027, long story...).

Nice one mate. Long way off though?

Thanks, Orb. Always steady going, these things. Could do a half-@rsed job in a quarter of the time, but readers surely deserve both cheeks. Have been working on this for about three years now, so it's a similar timescale to the previous book, as that took seven. At least it allows a sense of anticipation to build.

I will be buying a copy when it is finished mate.

[SeanBrennan]

Nice farewell article from Christine in this week's BN, mine landed this afternoon.

I feel a bit short changed. No reason given, no saying what's next. No word in the mag about what's happening. If he loves and respects BN as much as he says then how about the truth. Long time subscriber's deserve better, especially after the collapse of BM

Understand your point but I suspect the reason is the new owners and they won't let him print honesty. Hopefully he speaks up in future. He's not been shy to speak truth before, if he can talk about DK he can talk about a middle class YouTuber who took over BN.

[veriton]

True. Hopefully it will come out eventually unless he's had to sign a NDA as part of a redundancy package. Can't see the job advertised anywhere either. It's all bizarre.

[SeanBrennan]

True. Hopefully it will come out eventually unless he's had to sign a NDA as part of a redundancy package. Can't see the job advertised anywhere either. It's all bizarre.

very bizarre.

[Deserter]

Have to be careful about equating these two events, but the latest issue of BN has got a terrible Matchroom puff piece masquerading as a Jaron Ennis interview - first 3 questions are just thinly veiled excuses to big up Matchroom and then if that wasn't bad enough the sidebar contains 2 stories that just read like PR fluff for Hearn and Matchroom - Boots' dad saying how amazing Eddie is and then a piece on the success of their international expansion.
I'll keep the faith for now, but if this is in any way indicative of BN's future direction I'll be sadly waving goodbye.

[JamesPhilips]

Nice farewell article from Christine in this week's BN, mine landed this afternoon.

I feel a bit short changed. No reason given, no saying what's next. No word in the mag about what's happening. If he loves and respects BN as much as he says then how about the truth. Long time subscriber's deserve better, especially after the collapse of BM

Gutted when BM closed down. Isn’t there some hint in Elliott Worsell’s column that he’ll be the new editor?

[MightyWarrior]

Matt was a terrific editor in the way that he stood up for what he believed to be right, which I think is why he stepped down. Although he did have a terrible blind spot with the very average writers he brought on board.
He was probably told that they need to be more friendly towards certain promoters, and that’s why he walked. And we know why the position hasn’t been advertised, because the lightweights left on board, who will do anything to keep their jobs, are now toeing the line and doing exactly what they’re told.

[veriton]

Have to be careful about equating these two events, but the latest issue of BN has got a terrible Matchroom puff piece masquerading as a Jaron Ennis interview - first 3 questions are just thinly veiled excuses to big up Matchroom and then if that wasn't bad enough the sidebar contains 2 stories that just read like PR fluff for Hearn and Matchroom - Boots' dad saying how amazing Eddie is and then a piece on the success of their international expansion.
I'll keep the faith for now, but if this is in any way indicative of BN's future direction I'll be sadly waving goodbye.

There's also that awful app they just launched. It sounded like a good idea but was basically just for betting. I uninstalled it after a day.

They've also launched a second FB page called Boxing News Plus, and not sure why unless they're going to try and monetise it or someone won't hand over control of the original one.

Some really strange goings on. I really liked Christie's style - he always seemed like a knowledgable bloke at the back of the pub with a pint of mild thoroughly unimpressed with the various boxing spivs vying for attention. My sort of man.

[Deserter]

Have to be careful about equating these two events, but the latest issue of BN has got a terrible Matchroom puff piece masquerading as a Jaron Ennis interview - first 3 questions are just thinly veiled excuses to big up Matchroom and then if that wasn't bad enough the sidebar contains 2 stories that just read like PR fluff for Hearn and Matchroom - Boots' dad saying how amazing Eddie is and then a piece on the success of their international expansion.
I'll keep the faith for now, but if this is in any way indicative of BN's future direction I'll be sadly waving goodbye.

I really liked Christie's style - he always seemed like a knowledgable bloke at the back of the pub with a pint of mild thoroughly unimpressed with the various boxing spivs vying for attention. My sort of man.

This. 100%

[Muttley]

Nice farewell article from Christine in this week's BN, mine landed this afternoon.

I feel a bit short changed. No reason given, no saying what's next. No word in the mag about what's happening. If he loves and respects BN as much as he says then how about the truth. Long time subscriber's deserve better, especially after the collapse of BM

To be honest,it's Matt's business if he chooses to disclose why he left and where he is going. What's it got to do with anyone else? Same as if you leave your job,that's your business where you go and what you do

[Muttley]

Matt was a terrific editor in the way that he stood up for what he believed to be right, which I think is why he stepped down. Although he did have a terrible blind spot with the very average writers he brought on board.
He was probably told that they need to be more friendly towards certain promoters, and that’s why he walked. And we know why the position hasn’t been advertised, because the lightweights left on board, who will do anything to keep their jobs, are now toeing the line and doing exactly what they’re told.

Spot on. Boxing editor is not a job you can do and be true to yourself. Unless someone has been is that position it is difficult to comprehend. The politics and interference from above make it very difficult to do your job impartially.

[SeanBrennan]

Nice farewell article from Christine in this week's BN, mine landed this afternoon.

I feel a bit short changed. No reason given, no saying what's next. No word in the mag about what's happening. If he loves and respects BN as much as he says then how about the truth. Long time subscriber's deserve better, especially after the collapse of BM

To be honest,it's Matt's business if he chooses to disclose why he left and where he is going. What's it got to do with anyone else? Same as if you leave your job,that's your business where you go and what you do

Calm down Muttley, of course it's his business but this is a boxing forum and we're allowed to debate it.

[veriton]

If I left my job I wouldn't write a two page farewell in a magazine. There's another two pages from Elliot Worsell about the exit too.

But journalism basics are covering what, why, where, when and how.

Neither of them address the why....As professional journalists both of them will almost do that as reflex so the silence is very noticeable.

Claude Abrahams did the same though and it only came out later that it was a personal struggle with his conscience. This has more of a feel of external forces at play. The worry of the missing why is if the same reason for Christie's sudden exit will affect the future of BN. We will soon find out.

[SeanBrennan]

If I left my job I wouldn't write a two page farewell in a magazine. There's another two pages from Elliot Worsell about the exit too.

But journalism basics are covering what, why, where, when and how.

Neither of them address the why....As professional journalists both of them will almost do that as reflex so the silence is very noticeable.

Claude Abrahams did the same though and it only came out later that it was a personal struggle with his conscience. This has more of a feel of external forces at play. The worry of the missing why is if the same reason for Christie's sudden exit will affect the future of BN. We will soon find out.

excellent post.

[Glass Joe]

He said why he left in this week's opening bell podcast he basically said it was the stress of dealing with promoters issues with boxing news reports etc.

[Glass Joe]

He said why he left in this week's opening bell podcast he basically said it was the stress of dealing with promoters issues with boxing news reports etc. And wanted to move on and do something else

[SeanBrennan]

He said why he left in this week's opening bell podcast he basically said it was the stress of dealing with promoters issues with boxing news reports etc. And wanted to move on and do something else

thanks for sharing going to give this a listen at gym tomorrow. thank you

[veriton]

Just listened to the pod, mystery solved.

Alex Steedman did the journalist job straight away and asked him why.

As above, Christie is sick of all the whining from promoters and associated nonsense and has simply had enough. Why he didn't just say that in the mag is a mystery.

Mark Butcher is the new editor. I remember him as part of the BM team so BN is thankfully in really good hands.

Being charitable, maybe that Boots press release this week was last gasp filler as Christie headed for the door and they were up against it.

Feel much happier knowing a proper boxing journo is the new editor.

[JamesPhilips]

Just listened to the pod, mystery solved.

Alex Steedman did the journalist job straight away and asked him why.

As above, Christie is sick of all the whining from promoters and associated nonsense and has simply had enough. Why he didn't just say that in the mag is a mystery.

Mark Butcher is the new editor. I remember him as part of the BM team so BN is thankfully in really good hands.

Being charitable, maybe that Boots press release this week was last gasp filler as Christie headed for the door and they were up against it.

Feel much happier knowing a proper boxing journo is the new editor.

Wow.
Mark Butcher? That’s a surprise. He was laid off by BN years ago. He writes well

[Coco]

Just listened to the pod, mystery solved.

Alex Steedman did the journalist job straight away and asked him why.

As above, Christie is sick of all the whining from promoters and associated nonsense and has simply had enough. Why he didn't just say that in the mag is a mystery.

Mark Butcher is the new editor. I remember him as part of the BM team so BN is thankfully in really good hands.

Being charitable, maybe that Boots press release this week was last gasp filler as Christie headed for the door and they were up against it.

Feel much happier knowing a proper boxing journo is the new editor.

Wow.
Mark Butcher? That’s a surprise. He was laid off by BN years ago. He writes well

Mark Butcher!! Bloody hell, I only recently posted what happened to him!!
Great replacement

[SeanBrennan]

Have to be careful about equating these two events, but the latest issue of BN has got a terrible Matchroom puff piece masquerading as a Jaron Ennis interview - first 3 questions are just thinly veiled excuses to big up Matchroom and then if that wasn't bad enough the sidebar contains 2 stories that just read like PR fluff for Hearn and Matchroom - Boots' dad saying how amazing Eddie is and then a piece on the success of their international expansion.
I'll keep the faith for now, but if this is in any way indicative of BN's future direction I'll be sadly waving goodbye.

There's also that awful app they just launched. It sounded like a good idea but was basically just for betting. I uninstalled it after a day.

They've also launched a second FB page called Boxing News Plus, and not sure why unless they're going to try and monetise it or someone won't hand over control of the original one.

Some really strange goings on. I really liked Christie's style - he always seemed like a knowledgable bloke at the back of the pub with a pint of mild thoroughly unimpressed with the various boxing spivs vying for attention. My sort of man.

I always wondered what the app was for, I don't really do apps a lot apart from my banking one, doesn't sound like I've missed anything with the BN one.

[SeanBrennan]

that is a (good) surprise re editor role.