ChessMoves Editor Vacancy

[John Upham]

Dear Member,
ChessMoves Editor Vacancy
The ECF is seeking to recruit a new editor for ChessMoves to take over from Paul Brencher with effect from the beginning of January 2027.
About the Role
The editor is responsible for commissioning articles, proofreading each article and overseeing the look of the final magazine.
Key responsibilities
The editor typically researches current chess activity for potential articles and contacts people to request content for the magazine; proofreads the initial version of each article as produced by the ECF Office including checking the chess content for any potential errors; produces an editorial for each magazine and agrees the front cover photographs and text.
This includes:
• Giving some direction to regular contributors as needed.
• Contacting our GM/IM pool of writers with specific requests and agreeing their scope and parameters.
• Emailing the organisers of local congresses (often 8-10 each month) seeking to encourage them to provide a write-up of their event.
• Liaising with the Office to confirm the overall content.
What we are looking for
Experience as an editor/deputy editor/journalist within a magazine or corporate publishing.
A good knowledge of chess, ideally at strong club player level or above.
Excellent command of English grammar and proofreading.
The ability to work as part of a team.
The commitment
The overall commitment is three to four days' work per month. This is largely concentrated at the beginning and end of the month, but articles will be passed over for proofreading in batches through the month.
We are initially seeking expressions of interest from people willing to contribute on a voluntary basis. However, we are also interested in hearing from people who would only consider paid work.
If you have relevant experience, please complete our short online form by 23 November 2026:
ChessMoves Editor – Expression of Interest Form

[Graham Borrowdale]

Is that your application, John?

I was wondering, how realistic is the 3 to 4 days a month commitment. I could see it being a full time job, as presumably the BCM Editor job is.
I think ChessMoves is a good read - I would pay for it rather than Chess if it was printed and produced to the same standard, although I doubt whether the market could support another paid for magazine. I have not seen BCM for a while now so can’t comment there.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Interesting what you say about ChessMoves and CHESS. Is this because ChessMoves provides you with something that CHESS does not? (BTW, I know it should be Chess not CHESS, but old habits die hard.)

[MartinCarpenter]

Interesting what you say about ChessMoves and CHESS. Is this because ChessMoves provides you with something that CHESS does not? (BTW, I know it should be Chess not CHESS, but old habits die hard.)

It's just a really well done thing. If Malcolm wasn't so well placed to defend his own interests, you could wonder if it was quite worth the ECF putting so much effort in when there's already a commercial magazine out there.

[Mike Truran]

Three reasons (at least):

It’s free to ECF members.

It focuses on English chess (including grassroots).

It takes no political positions.

[John Upham]

Is that your application, John?

I was wondering, how realistic is the 3 to 4 days a month commitment. I could see it being a full time job, as presumably the BCM Editor job is.
I think ChessMoves is a good read - I would pay for it rather than Chess if it was printed and produced to the same standard, although I doubt whether the market could support another paid for magazine. I have not seen BCM for a while now so can’t comment there.

I worked for BCM from May 2011 until December 2015 and the owners paid me £75 per month after initially expecting me to work for free. They cancelled my gratis subscription after I left along with all of the other past editors and co-editors included Bernard, Murray, John and Steve. Brian would have turned in his grave if he knew.

[Graham Borrowdale]

Three reasons (at least):

It’s free to ECF members.

It focuses on English chess (including grassroots).

It takes no political positions.

They were my thoughts as well, especially the last.