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Sharp. To the point.
You want help with your copy, right? You want words that stand out from the crowd and grab people’s attention. You want snappy headlines, clever taglines and slogans that scream. You want a crisp and clear explanation of what you do.
It’s not easy writing perfect professional prose. Don’t panic. I can help.
In 20 years working for local and national newspapers I’ve written news, features, sport, crime, war, financial meltdown, financial boom, health, politics, hundreds of murders, a lion on the loose, aliens, pirates, the supernatural, Russia, China, North Korea, even Croydon… Plus health, education, conspiracy theories and scientific theories – the lot!
You name it, I’ve written about it. I have covered every topic imaginable – from randy racoons endangering our precious wildlife to the tragedy of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. I’ve interviewed Doris about her local bus service being cancelled and Boris about cancelling London’s bendy buses.
Chess journalism
Thinking ahead
In recent years, I’ve specialised in chess journalism. Chess is a traditional sport trying to reinvent itself. It is undergoing profound change and, as a result, the game is fertile ground for news! I’ve broken several of the biggest stories in chess. For example, a grandmaster caught cheating on the toilet. Or the controversial views of England’s greatest ever player – a story which went worldwide. I have also provided commentary and punditry for TV and radio stations, such as TalkSport. It’s a game I love, and it is incredibly rich. Right now, I’m writing for Chess.com, the world’s biggest chess site.
Covering chess, I have closely followed the career of Magnus Carlsen, the issue of women in chess and the murky world of chess politics. I have had stories about chess published in The Times, The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Sun, The Mirror, The Independent, The i Paper and The Evening Standard among others.
Career
Jan 2023 to present
Chess.com
Head of PR
Apr 2020 to Jan 2023
Play Magnus Group
Head of PR
Dec 2017 to Apr 2020
Chessable
Head of Marketing and PR
Sept 2014 to Dec 2017
The Daily Telegraph
Digital News Producer
Jul 2011 to Sept 2014
MailOnline
Senior Reporter
Mar 09 to Jul 2011
KentOnline
News Editor
Mar 09 to Jul 2011
The Sun
News Reporter
Dec 06 to Mar 2009
South London Press
Crime Reporter
Mar 06 to Dec 2006
Croydon Advertiser
Senior Reporter
Jan 03 to Mar 2006
South Wales Post
News Reporter
© Leon Watson