Marina Watson is a writer and producer focusing on international affairs and art and culture. Drawing on international experience and multilingual skills, she crafts evocative, access-driven narratives with universal resonance. Her work, featured in leading global publications such as TIME, Thomson Reuters, and the Financial Times, is grounded in intimate interviews and thoughtful insights into personal and collective experiences.
Marina Watson is a writer and producer focusing on international affairs and art and culture. Drawing on international experience and multilingual skills, she crafts evocative, access-driven narratives with universal resonance. Her work, featured in leading global publications such as TIME, Thomson Reuters, and the Financial Times, is grounded in intimate interviews and thoughtful insights into personal and collective experiences.
Thirty years after the Beatle was gunned down in New York, Yoko Ono has granted Beatles biographer Hunter Davies permission to publish The Lennon Letters, a collection of more than 100 of his letters and postcards.
First book of John Lennon’s letters to be published
TIME magazine
First book of John Lennon’s letters to be published
TIME magazine
Thirty years after the Beatle was gunned down in New York, Yoko Ono has granted Beatles biographer Hunter Davies permission to publish The Lennon Letters, a collection of more than 100 of his letters and postcards.
Trump’s ban on the citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. threw lives into chaos.
Trump's ban throws life into chaos
The New Humanitarian
Trump's ban throws life into chaos
The New Humanitarian
Trump’s ban on the citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. threw lives into chaos.
TIME magazine
After a Cuban dissident, Juan Wilfredo Soto, 46, was arrested at a Santa Clara protest, he was allegedly beaten to death. Soto was among those who supported a 134-day hunger strike by fellow dissident Guillermo Farinas to press for the release of political prisoners.
Did Cuba skew cause of dissident’s death?
Did Cuba skew cause of dissident’s death?
TIME magazine
After a Cuban dissident, Juan Wilfredo Soto, 46, was arrested at a Santa Clara protest, he was allegedly beaten to death. Soto was among those who supported a 134-day hunger strike by fellow dissident Guillermo Farinas to press for the release of political prisoners.
Financial Times
The artist’s religiously inspired works, on show at the Cascais museum devoted to her, hand power to women.
Paula Rego’s dazzling and radical visions
Paula Rego’s dazzling and radical visions
Financial Times
The artist’s religiously inspired works, on show at the Cascais museum devoted to her, hand power to women.
In Solitude – Quietude – Contemplation Kander revisits miniature figures from his childhood in a meditation on the state of the world
Solitary figures: Nadav Kander
British Journal of Photography
Solitary figures: Nadav Kander
British Journal of Photography
In Solitude – Quietude – Contemplation Kander revisits miniature figures from his childhood in a meditation on the state of the world
After winning several auditions, including for a Madonna video, Aquila Correia was close to realising her dreams in Portugal. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Correia was evicted.
Big Witches' survive eviction, become music stars
Thomson Reuters Foundation
Big Witches' survive eviction, become music stars
Thomson Reuters Foundation
After winning several auditions, including for a Madonna video, Aquila Correia was close to realising her dreams in Portugal. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Correia was evicted.
Reflecting on the Magnum Photographer's lesser known works in colour
René Burri’s colour works
Magnum Photos
René Burri’s colour works
Magnum Photos
Reflecting on the Magnum Photographer's lesser known works in colour
In the late 1960s, the U.S. was faced with drug related crimes and hundreds of deaths from heroin overdoses. This led to harsh punishment as opposed to rehabilitation. But it didn’t work. The number of people incarcerated has continued to rise, and so have deaths from overdoses, exceeding 59,000 in 2016.
Want to know how Portugal won its War on Drugs?
The Globe Post
Want to know how Portugal won its War on Drugs?
The Globe Post
In the late 1960s, the U.S. was faced with drug related crimes and hundreds of deaths from heroin overdoses. This led to harsh punishment as opposed to rehabilitation. But it didn’t work. The number of people incarcerated has continued to rise, and so have deaths from overdoses, exceeding 59,000 in 2016.
The murder of a woman has sparked a national debate over the country’s deep-rooted misogyny, prompting Spain to reconsider how it defines gender violence.
Spain targets male attitudes in fight against gender violence
The Globe Post
Spain targets male attitudes in fight against gender violence
The Globe Post
The murder of a woman has sparked a national debate over the country’s deep-rooted misogyny, prompting Spain to reconsider how it defines gender violence.
British Journal of Photography
"I am not a Frida-maniac. In many places, such as Europe or the United States, Frida Kahlo is like a saint. However, while working on the bathroom project, I encountered the objects that helped alleviate her suffering."
Q&A: Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide
Q&A: Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide
British Journal of Photography
"I am not a Frida-maniac. In many places, such as Europe or the United States, Frida Kahlo is like a saint. However, while working on the bathroom project, I encountered the objects that helped alleviate her suffering."
How to win a war on drugs
The New York Times
Contributed to one of The New York Times’ most powerful pieces on drug policy reform, working with two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof as a field producer and interpreter to produce a high-impact story on Portugal's pioneering drug decriminalisation policy. From active heroin users to public health outreach workers, I secured high-trust interviews that brought depth and humanity to the piece.
How to win a war on drugs
The New York Times
Contributed to one of The New York Times’ most powerful pieces on drug policy reform, working with two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof as a field producer and interpreter to produce a high-impact story on Portugal's pioneering drug decriminalisation policy. From active heroin users to public health outreach workers, I secured high-trust interviews that brought depth and humanity to the piece.
The Diamond
The New Yorker
An award-winning short film featured in The New Yorker. My work involved scouting environments that could visually reflect the protagonist Stefan’s loneliness and existential struggle, from the solitary bin-strewn alley to the mysterious forest where a gleaming diamond changes his fate. Each location enhanced the film’s blend of magical realism and bleak humor.
The Diamond
The New Yorker
An award-winning short film featured in The New Yorker. My work involved scouting environments that could visually reflect the protagonist Stefan’s loneliness and existential struggle, from the solitary bin-strewn alley to the mysterious forest where a gleaming diamond changes his fate. Each location enhanced the film’s blend of magical realism and bleak humor.
The Xavega Fishermen
Culture Trip
Produced and directed this micro documentary exploring the unique fishing tradition of this coastal community, capturing the rich cultural heritage and everyday life of the Xávega fishermen through Mario’s perspective, commissioned by Culture Trip.
The Xavega Fishermen
Culture Trip
Produced and directed this micro documentary exploring the unique fishing tradition of this coastal community, capturing the rich cultural heritage and everyday life of the Xávega fishermen through Mario’s perspective, commissioned by Culture Trip.
Day in the Life of Uber drivers and couriers
Harriman Steel for Uber
As Lead Interviewer and Field Producer on a series of branded content videos for Uber, filmed in Lisbon and Madrid, I contributed to a series exploring the daily routines and personal stories of local drivers and couriers, offering a compelling look into their lives and experiences within their cities.
Day in the Life of Uber drivers and couriers
Harriman Steel for Uber
As Lead Interviewer and Field Producer on a series of branded content videos for Uber, filmed in Lisbon and Madrid, I contributed to a series exploring the daily routines and personal stories of local drivers and couriers, offering a compelling look into their lives and experiences within their cities.
The Spy Who
Wondery
I conceived the title for The Spy Who Wouldn't Lie and researched the moving story of a courageous British resistance agent in Nazi-occupied France, a skilled radio operator whose mission ultimately led to her capture by the Gestapo.
The Spy Who
Wondery
I conceived the title for The Spy Who Wouldn't Lie and researched the moving story of a courageous British resistance agent in Nazi-occupied France, a skilled radio operator whose mission ultimately led to her capture by the Gestapo.
STILLS
I’ve shot for online publications and worked as an on-set photographer, developing a refined eye for how light shapes mood and emotion in each scene.
If you’re interested in exploring how I can assist your organisation, or to request more samples, please feel free to reach out. ツ