United Kingdom Journalists

Leon Horton

Arts and Literature

Leon Horton is a writer, interviewer, and editor specialising in countercultural arts and literature. He is the editor of 'Gregory Corso: Ten Times a Poet' (Roadside Press, 2024), a collection of essays and memoirs in celebration of the legendary Beat Poet, and interviewer of Victor Bockris in 'The Burroughs-Warhol Connection' (Beatdom Books, 2024). His essays and interviews have been published by Beatdom Books, Rock and the Beat Generation, International Times, Beat Scene Magazine, Literary Heist, and Erotic Review. He is also a member of the European Beat Studies Network, an academic community of scholars, writers and artists studying the Beat Generation literary movement.

Dan Thisdell

editor, writer, journalist

I have had the good fortune to write about spaceflight and aviation, and related technologies like AI, cybersecurity and drones, always with a focus on management, strategy and company financials. Most recently I worked for the European Space Agency as space transportation editor, from home in the UK and their technology centre in the Netherlands. Until September 2020 I was features editor at Flight International and flightglobal.com. I'm also an old hand at print, so know about stuff like flatplans, production, magazine redesigns, recruiting staff and managing budgets. Before aerospace, my beats included automotive, cruise and shipping, cycling...and private banking, which taught me to never underestimate the power of finance. Independently, I am working on a family memoir about the Korean War and my first novel.

Dom Smith

Editor | Soundsphere, Screensphere and Wrestlesphere

Dom Smith (sometimes known as Dom Sphere) is a digital journalist, born in East Yorkshire who has completed a Masters in Magazine Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire. He was the National Diversity Award winner for Entrepreneurial Excellence in 2012, and has previously been voted one of the happiest people in the country according to the Independent on Sunday. He has also carried the Paralympic Flame for the city of York. In 2024, following a stint working in the US, as a Journalist in Residence for MIT, now based across Yorkshire and the North of England for work stuff, Dom runs the music publication, Soundsphere, and wresting platform, Wrestlesphere. Soundsphere (in online and print form) has held bases in Manchester, Chester and York before coming to Hull, and has worked on festivals including Leeds and Download in the UK, Sziget in Hungary, Exit in Serbia and SXSW in America. Soundsphere is funded by advertorial from clubs, bars and academic institutions looking to run work placements, and runs regular live music showcases, promoting national, and local charities including CALM (The Campaign Against Living Miserably), Accessible Arts and Media (York) and Samaritans (Hull). In addition, Dom works as part of Wobbling About and Rocking Out (promoting disability and mental health awareness). More recently, Smith has launched Wrestlesphere, for sports entertainment journalism, and Screensphere, to cover alternative film, TV and games. Throughout his career, Dom has had the opportunity to conduct regular workshops and talks around the country about entrepreneurship, media and journalism with students, and work regularly as a mentor for young people, working with The Warren Youth Project in Hull, and more. In previous years, Dom has written for Metro, Rock Sound magazine, WhatCulture, The Quietus, T3 magazine, NME.com, Stuff magazine, Metal Hammer magazine (and others), and has interviewed everyone from Rammstein, Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), Placebo, Alice In Chains and Judas Priest to The 1975, McBusted as well as emerging talent including Yungblud, as well as international entertainers including magician Dynamo, wrestler Ric Flair and many more. Alongside working on his own solo electronic music (under the alias, Dom Sith), Dom has been the drummer for blues rock band Stickybackplastics, York hardcore punks SEEP AWAY, Hull doom metal two-piece The Parasitic Twins and a post-punk studio project, Mary and The Ram. More recently, Dom has joined shoegaze/grunge band Strange Pink (with Sam Forrest and Edward Alan Logie). Dom is also a qualified BACP/NCS-registered counsellor, specialising in the music industry, and disability. Dom is also a former host on the Gimme A Hull Yeah wrestling podcast. Just hit the contact button and get in touch.

Nick Russell

London based content designer, copywriter and content marketing digital native. Old hand music blogger, conscientious creator and plant based advocate. Post graduate education in copywriting and user experience design.

nickjosephrussell@gmail.com Offering: 1. Broad experience working across the digital ecosystem (advertising, SEO, email, social media, PR, content production, copywriting, paid editorial). 2. Strategies to understand, engage and persuade readers of all demographics. 3. Ability to follow a brief, research extensively and provide the desired result. 4. A history of commissioning and producing editorial and web content for both pastime and profession. Employed by giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, Aviva, and Snapchat as well as the hottest start-ups in the finance, technology, creative and lifestyle sectors. From a young age, writing has been an innate passion. Since my early 20s I’ve been running a popular digital music platform (BlatantlyBlunt.com), writing short and long-form blog posts (organic and sponsored), persuasive press releases, engaging social media copy, promotional email blasts, and compelling content. Previous clients include The Smiley Company, The Arts Council, Relentless (Energy drink), Vice Magazine, UK Music, MTV, Complex Magazine and more. For an efficient, reliable and positive copywriting and content production experience, let's connect. References and more samples are available upon request.

Roo Read

Writer | Filmmaker | Journalist

Roo Read is currently studying at the University of Oxford, where she is pursuing an Undergraduate Diploma in Creative Writing. She is a scriptwriter and researcher for Eleanor Neale, a leading figure in the UK's true crime community with over 2.7 million followers. Roo has also written and directed three short films and is the creator and host of the podcast series "Abducted Art and Cultural Theft." Roo is passionate about writing fiction across multiple genres, from thriller to fantasy to comedy, pulling on the imaginative strings of 'what-ifs' to see where her characters will take her. She is equally fascinated by true stories and enjoys challenging the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction. This interest is rooted in her experience as a journalist and podcast presenter where her work was driven by a belief in the transformative power of storytelling. As an individual, Roo aims to inspire the collective imagination to envision and strive towards a better future for all. Through her work, she has hoped to inform, inspire and create change.

Julia Rank

Arts writer specialising in theatre. Former Assistant Editor, Musicals magazine.