I’m a writer and editor.
I started out my media career in London as an assistant to MONOCLE’s editor-in-chief, Tyler Brûlé, and later served as the magazine’s Southern Africa correspondent for several years. My environmental journalism has been published by the BBC, and my many other bylines include South Africa’s paper of record, the Sunday Times, as well as the Mail & Guardian, Financial Mail and Business Day. I previously served as editor-at-large and books editor at the latter’s culture and lifestyle magazine supplement, WANTED.
Copy
My copywriting has ranged from product descriptions and press releases to newsletters and blog posts — and pretty much everything else between. The brands I’ve worked for include those in the tech, finance, hospitality and wine sectors. Drop me a line if you’d like to check out some long-form copy samples.
Editing
From 2013 to 2019, I was editor of the literary journal AERODROME, publishing over 600 pieces, including book reviews, extracts, interviews and original creative writing. I edited and project managed the pilot issue of Rhino Africa Safaris’ travel magazine, Africa Traveller, in 2013. I was also the founding editor of Climate Action California’s online magazine, The Condor from late 2023 until 2025. And I’ve edited TONGUES, a showcase of occasional conversations.
Creative writing, literature, publishing and podcasting
My poetry has been published by &Change, Ons Klyntji, The Bloom and Spectra Poets. My short fiction has appeared in two anthologies: The Ghost-Eater and Other Stories (Umuzi) and Adults Only (Mercury). I served as poetry convenor of the 2015 Franschhoek Literary Festival and as operations manager of the 2022 Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference. Back in 2020, I produced my first (and so far only) podcast, Archipelago, a limited series featuring “island adventures for you to enjoy in your armchair”.
I recently founded a small publisher, PRONK PRESS. Its first title is a limited-run artist edition of The President, a zippy, sexy political thriller by my fiction writing alter ego, Xander Beattie.
What else?
I obtained a degree in creative branding communications from Vega School, and I recently received a postgraduate diploma in sustainable development (cum laude) from the University of Stellenbosch’s Centre for Sustainability Transitions.
Contact
If you’d like to get in touch, drop me an email: amatthews(at)hey.com.
Alexander Matthews 