University News Last updated 26 February 2014
An award-winning sports writer from the West Midlands is to be honoured at a Birmingham City University graduation ceremony next week.
Matthew Christie, from Halesowen, graduated from the University’s School of Media in 2005 with a degree in Media and Communication and is being honoured on Monday 3 March as one of the University’s Alumni of the Year in the ‘Excellence in Sport or the Arts’ category.
Matthew managed to build a successful media career on the back of his lifelong passion for boxing, after deciding to follow his dream of securing a boxing-related role in the media and enrolling at Birmingham City University at the age of 24.
"I was concerned I would stand out because of my age, but it wasn't like that at all," said Matthew.
"There were people on my course of all ages and from all kinds of backgrounds and being clear on my ambition meant that University staff could help me to come up with a plan of action to get there."
After graduating with First Class Honours in 2005, Matt secured a job as a runner at TV production company KOTV, working his way up and becoming a producer within two years, producing boxing documentaries that were shown all over the world.
With a desire to focus on writing more, in 2009 Matthew fought off competition from 400 candidates to secure a reporting role with Boxing News magazine. A few weeks later Matthew was meeting his heroes, sitting ringside at boxing matches across the globe and enjoying text conversations with Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe.
"Although I was moving from working in TV to print, the line between them was becoming increasingly blurred and I think my previous experience was one of the things that helped me get the job," said Matthew.
"I think increasingly in our industry, you can't say you will be just a journalist or just a broadcaster - you need to be prepared to work across all aspects of the media."
More recently, Matthew has become a regular freelance writer for The Guardian and The Observer and in 2012 was presented with a 'Highly Commended' award from TV chat show legend Michael Parkinson for the Sports Journalism Association (SJA) Internet Sportswriter of the Year Award.
During the London 2012 Olympics, Matthew appeared on-screen in BBC coverage of the final day of the Games as a boxing analyst.
"In my spare time I'm continuing to write for other outlets and I've recently had two books published - one about Muhammed Ali and one on the history of Grand Prix racing," said Matthew.
"I was stunned but very proud to be chosen as an Alumni of the Year and it really made me feel everything had all been worth it. Whenever I speak to family or friends now, who are perhaps unsure of what to do in the future, I always advise them to get a solid education - decide what field you are interested in and then go for it."