Media Masters - Matt Kelly

Matt Kelly is Chief Content Officer at Archant, and Editor of The New European - launched as a four edition ‘pop-up’ national “newspaper for the 48%” who voted to remain in the EU. Its first edition sold 40k copies, is now on a permanent footing with a weekly distribution of 75k, and earning the prestigious ‘Chairman’s Award’ at the National Press Awards along the way - with Matt himself winning ‘Pioneer of the Year’ by the Society of Editors. In this in-depth interview, Matt talks through the lightning-speed launch - from a “crazy idea” email to his bosses at Archant to publishing the first edition just nine days after the 2016 referendum result; discusses whether his paper can ultimately help block Brexit or secure a second referendum – and whether it can even survive March 2019 if Brexit stays on track; his career to date including 18 years in senior roles at The Daily Mirror; and his evolving style of campaigning journalism – arguing the whole existence of his paper is “to give people hope” - and explains why he still believes more than ever that Brexit will not actually happen.