He contributes to several local newspaper and has a journalism degree and training for the University of Sheffield. Previously he was the editor of the student newspaper Forge Press and a journalist whose main focus is on current political affairs and their impact on the media. In early 2011 he was shortlisted as the National Union of Students' journalist of the year. During his work at Forge Press Matt has helped to expose staff being paid less than the national minimum wage, adverse living conditions of students and provided coverage of local elections.