Matt Nixson is a British journalist, PR executive and author.Diane Banks Associates. "Author Profile", Retrieved on 10 September 2012.
Early life Born in Manchester, Nixson grew up in Disley, Cheshire, and attended Poynton County High School.
Education He attended the University of Warwick (1992-1995) where he studied English and American Literature and ran the Offbeat music society,University of Warwick. "Offbeat", Retrieved 10 September 2012 as well as creating and DJing at Supersonic, a Student's Union indie disco, for two years.
Career After starting his newspaper career in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Nixson returned to the UK in 1997 and worked for a number of local, regional and national newspapers including the Hendon & Finchley Times, Brighton Argus, Evening Standard, Mail on Sunday, before joining News International in January 2005.
He worked as Features Editor for The News of the World (Jan 2005 - Dec 2010) before being promoted to Head of Features on The Sun (Jan 2011 - July 2011).Greenslade, Roy "Journalists line up to support sacked Sun executive" The Guardian, 27 July 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012
In 2012 Nixson began working in PR, initially looking after the family of Stockwell shooting victim Thusha Kamleswaran. In June 2012, he joined AOB PR. He returned to Associated Newspapers in January 2013 and has worked in a series of senior roles, most recently as Books Editor for the Mail on Sunday.
Legal case Nixson was dismissed from News International in July 2011 at the height of the phone hacking scandalPorter, Andrew. "The Sun dragged into scandal after senior journalist sacked" The Telegraph, 21 July 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2012 but was told six weeks later that he was of no interest to police investigating allegations of wrongdoing at the company.Robinson, James. "Sacked Sun journalist will not face police questioning" The Guardian, 20 September 2011. Retrieved on 10 September 2012 Media commentator Roy Greenslade revealed in his blog that, four months after his dismissal, Nixson had still not been given a reason for his sacking. However, Greenslade wrote "I have been given information about the reason for his dismissal. It involves a payment though I cannot disclose the details. However, I do know - as the police decision confirms - that it did not involve illegality".Greenslade, Roy. The Guardian, 11 November 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2012 It later emerged Nixson had allegedly sanctioned a payment for a story about jailed Soham killer Ian Huntley.Halliday, Josh & O'Carroll, Lisa. The Guardian, 13 January 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012
With the support of the NUJ, Nixson subsequently launched legal action against News International for wrongful dismissal, stating that he had never engaged in phone hacking or any other illicit newsgathering activities.Burrell, Ian. "Sacked features editor sues News International" The Independent, 17 November 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2012
In July 2012, Press Gazette featured Nixson's case in an article entitled "Why has NI put Nixson in suspended animation?".Ponsford, Dominic. "Why has NI put Nixson in suspended animation?" Press Gazette, 24 July 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 Writing a few days later, Editor Dominic Ponsford revealed the story had "generated the most impassioned response of any story I've worked on at Press Gazette" with "some 150 comments (at the time of writing)".Ponsford, Dominic. "Will NI be moved by surge of support for sacked Sun features editor Matt Nixson?" Press Gazette, 27 July 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 Ponsford wrote that "Journalists from across the industry have put their heads above the parapet with signed comments testifying to Nixson’s professionalism and urging the publisher to either reinstate him or settle the case – thereby allowing him get on with his life and support his family".
The story was subsequently taken up by Martin Bright on his The Spectator blogBright, Martin. "The unusual case of Matt Nixson, the hack with the big heart" The Spectator, 30 July 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 and Roy Greenslade in The Guardian.Greenslade, Roy "Journalists line up to support sacked Sun executive" The Guardian, 27 July 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 The Guardian also reported Nixson was in talks to return to The Sun.Halliday, Josh. "Matt Nixson in talks to return to Sun" The Guardian, 27 July 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012 On 4 October 2012, Press Gazette reported the case had been settled, with Nixson saying in a statement: "I am particularly grateful to the many journalists, former colleagues and friends in the press, including at News International, who have provided incredible support to me and my family over the last year.”Ponsford, Dominic. "Victory for former Sun features editor Matt Nixson in News Corp sacking dispute" Press Gazette, 4 October 2012. Retrieved on 5 October 2012. In his Guardian blog, commentator Roy Greenslade wrote: "We cannot know how much Nixson got from News International but I am certain his lawyers performed well on his behalf. The company paid him compensation and his costs, and Press Gazette is suggesting it could have cost the publisher as much as £1m."Greenslade, Roy. "Why did Matt Nixson have to wait so long for a settlement?" The Guardian, 4 October 2012. Retrieved on 5 October 2012.
Personal Nixson was born in Manchester and brought up in Cheshire.
He is married with one daughter and one son and lives in South London.
References
External links LinkedIn Twitter @MattNixson