About
I specialise in working in collaboration with global brands to implement an editorial approach to create powerful content and campaigns built on audience insight, trends and platform behaviour.
“Not a wasted word. This has been a main point to my literary thinking all my life.” —Hunter S. Thompson
Welcome to the 'About Me', a page that apparently always needs to start with a cool-sounding quote you hope the person actually said, sat alongside a headshot that required more outfit changes than a Taylor Swift concert. Hopefully, I haven't disappointed on either point.
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I’m an award-winning creative content director, senior writer, editor and creative content specialist, with more than 16 years of broad experience in consumer print and digital publishing, content marketing, internal comms, SEO, social, email and film. They say the key to a successful media career is to find a lane or niche and stick to it. As my career shows, I think the exact opposite.
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A journalist by trade, I understand how earned ideas work and I build campaigns on those same editorial principles. It doesn't matter whether it's marketing, PR or a four-page editorial feature in a magazine, the only way you create content that matters and cuts through the noise is through an audience-first approach. Trends are important, as is best practice and platform behaviour. But if you don't understand your audience, then all you have is nice content that is never going to travel and gain the traction you want.
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Believe me, I've been pitched enough of that work to last several lifetimes, having worked at some of the country's biggest newspapers, magazines and websites, including three year stints at both News of the World and ZOO Magazine.
​Since 2018, I have been creative lead in the Lifestyle Hub at creative studio Redwood BBDO, first as Content Editor then promoted in 2023 to Content Director. Primarily leading the Virgin Media account, a weekly CRM email programme that I have grown and diversified into social, film, DOOH and a secondary email programme for O2. I also led the overhaul of the "Virgin Media Edit" email and website programme, innovating a new content strategy and email redesign to drive NPS.
The programme has achieved industry-leading open and action rates and record site traffic.
I have also led multiple campaigns to produce content across VM and O2 channels, including an award-nominated mini-documentary series for BAFTA and a short documentary about LGBTQ+ TV shows. I have worked on four BAFTA campaigns, creating all the backstage winner interviews, delivered on-the-night to maximise engagement, plus highlights packages and a VT for the ceremony itself.
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Outside of marketing, I still write for numerous publications, specialising in men's and women's lifestyle features, celebrity interviews, travel articles, video games, as well as humour and opinion pieces - although as you can see from the collection of work on this site and the list of places below, I write practically anything for anywhere.
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I live with my wife and cat in Peckham, I'm a keen runner (you'll only need to wait roughly two minutes in my company before I mention running the London Marathon) and OBVIOUSLY I'm trying to write a book.
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You can contact me at wordsbysimon@gmail.com, follow me on X @simonjward, or view my full LinkedIn profile here.
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Current Position
Virgin Media O2 (Redwood BBDO) - Content Director (2023-Current)
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Previous Positions
Virgin Media O2 (Redwood BBDO) - Content Editor (2018-2023)
AB - Editor (2017-2018)
GLITCH magazine (formerly '(DOWNLOAD') - Launch Editor (2015-2017)
TOXIC magazine - Editor (2014-2017)
ZOO magazine - News & Games Editor (2010-2014)
News of the World - Showbiz Reporter (2007-2010)
Shanghai TALK - Assistant Editor (2007)
National Newspapers Experience
News of the World, The Sun, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Press Association, TheLondonPaper, The Non-League Paper.
Consumer Lifestyle Experience
The Big Issue, The Week Junior, Time Out London, FHM, Kerrang!, COSMOPOLITAN, Best, Reveal, Now, Nuts, ZOO, More!, Shangahi TALK.
Online & Social Experience
Virgin Media, O2, Redwood BBDO, Huffington Post UK Comedy, News of the World, ZOO, TOXIC, Fabulous.
Branded Content, Copywriting, Advertorials, Internal Comms
Virgin Media, O2, HP, HSBC, Paramount, ZOO, TOXIC, Shanghai TALK, Hitachi Rail, Post Office, Wolseley, KPMG, Covestro.
Books
TOXIC Annual 2015, The Week Junior Annual 2018, The Week Junior Science + Nature.
Awards
Best video in a documentary style (highly commended) - Lens Awards 2022
Best Video - Series (nominated) - Content Marketing Association Awards 2022
Best Storytelling for Hitachi Rail's Fusion - IoIC Awards 2019
Best News Magazine (Print) for Hitachi Rail's Fusion - IoIC Awards 2018
Best Storytelling for Hitachi Rail's Fusion - IoIC Awards 2018
Best Mainstream Media Brand - Games Media Awards 2016 (nominated as Editor of Toxic Magazine)
Mainstream Magazine Writer - Games Media Awards 2013 (nominated)
MCV's 30 Under 30 (named).
 I have worked numerous BAFTA TV Awards, planning the behind-the-scenes production, writing questions and liaising with talent to produce on the night assets. |
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 I've done some amazing things in my career - I've done stand up at The Comedy Store, I've had a piggyback from Johnny Knoxville, but being taught how to drive by Lewis Hamilton was up there (it was go karts, but surely the skills are transferrable to F1?). |
 I can work across all sides of production, from behind the scenes interviewing (like I did for Marvel's Avengers) to front of camera work. |
 As a journalist, I have had nation front pages for magazines and newspapers up and down the country. Amongst my proudest covers are for The Big Issue, such as this story about how dogs helped rough sleepers get through the pandemic. |
 When working in children's magazines, I conceived and launched a new gaming magazine, Glitch. This display in Canary Wharf - an iconic display for magazines - was a proud moment. |
 In lockdown, I launched my own podcast. It featured stars like Robert Webb, Jake Humphrey, Mark Watson, Simon Rimmer, Callum Scott Howells, Jason Watkins, Rufus Jones, Sarah Phelps and more. |
 I've interviewed some of the biggest names on the planet as a journalist, but I've only been star struck once - when I interviewed my favourite TV writer, Steven Moffat. |