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James Hopkirk
Communications Consultant | Content Manager | Digital Producer
James Hopkirk is a seasoned journalist, writer, photographer, and editor with over 20 years of experience in the media industry.1 He is the creator and founder of South London Stories, a project that showcases photo stories and films about people and life in south London, offering a unique perspective on the city and highlighting voices that are often overlooked.25
Career Background
Hopkirk's career in journalism began as a local newspaper reporter in Kent. He then moved on to work for prominent media outlets such as:
- The Sunday Times
- ITV
- MTV3
South London Stories
In 2015, Hopkirk embarked on a long-term documentary project called South London Stories.6 This initiative explores some of the more challenging aspects of life in the part of London he calls home. Through his work, Hopkirk aims to provide a view of the city that is seldom seen, featuring voices that are often unheard.2
Skills and Expertise
As a multifaceted media professional, Hopkirk's skills include:
- Writing
- Photography
- Editing
- Storytelling5
His diverse background in various media formats and his commitment to documenting life in south London have established him as a respected figure in the field of photojournalism and documentary storytelling.4
Highlights
South London Stories is now seven years old, and my co-author and I recently published the 13th South London Story – titled It’s What I Know.
You can read it here: https://lnkd.in/et9__Ux3
It recounts some of her experiences of selling and being sold for sex in London. We were introduced by the team at The Spires Centre in Streatham in 2017 and every aspect of the story has been co-created.
Our aim is to help people understand the proximity this has to their lives and show some of the more complex realities. Sex is being sold around us, across London, every day, at all times. The way we worked on it is unusual and my co-author is keen to stress that she doesn’t speak for anyone else. We both learnt a lot and have written about the four-year process in an accompanying blog post, which is linked to from the story – but we suggest reading the story first. Spires introduced us but other organisations and individuals we can't name for risk of identification were critical in terms of safeguarding and other input, and we extend our thanks to them.
If this has piqued your interest please read, share and let us know what you think.
#journalism #photojournalism #storytelling #collaboration #London #SouthLondon
On Wednesday 21 September I've been asked to talk about South London Stories at Photojournalism Nights – a monthly event that gives three photographers a platform to discuss their work. I'll be talking about the project so far and the background to a couple of the stories, including a new one that I'm about to publish. I'll be speaking alongside two great photographers - Encarni Pindado and Jakob Dall. Please do come along if you're free - it's at the Invention Rooms at Imperial College in White City and runs from 6.30-8.30pm. To book tickets visit: https://lnkd.in/eAFdj_k7
