Sir Tom Hopkinson

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Contents 1 Early Life 2 Early Work 3 Middle career 4 Later career 5 Family life 6 Sources

[edit] Early Life

(Henry Thomas) Tom Hopkinson (April 19, 1905, in Manchester, England - June 20, 1990 in Oxford, England) was a British journalist, picture magazine editor, author, and teacher.

His father was a Church of England clergyman and a scholar. His mother had been a school mistress. Young Tom attended prep school on the Lancashire coast. He went on to graduate Pembroke College, Oxford University in 1927.

[edit] Early Work

Tom Hopkinson first worked in advertising and publicity, then became a magazine assistant editor in 1934. He soon was working for Stefan Lorant on "Weekly Illustrated" magazine, and wrote short stories and novels during his free time. He also assisted Lorant on "Lilliput" magazine, and more famously on "Picture Post" magazine from 1938-40. When Lorant left permanently for America in July 1940, Hopkinson became editor of "Picture Post", from 1940-50. His most famous hire was photojournalist Bert Hardy, a native Londoner with great skills in conveying the drama and character of human scenes.

[edit] Middle career

Hopkinson defended his staff's editorial independence fiercely, and his publisher, Sir Edward G. Hulton, a Conservative Party Member for most of his career, did not always appreciate Hopkinson's left-wing views, which affected "Picture Post" more strongly than the occasional right-wing views which also found their way into that magazine.

In October 1950, after photojournalist Bert Hardy and writer James Cameron returned to London from their Korean War coverage, Hopkinson tried to go to press with their coverage of United Nations atrocities in Pusan. Hulton stopped the presses, fearing that coverage would "give aid and comfort to the enemy". Hopkinson persisted and Hulton sacked him. During the next six and one-half years, "Picture Post" was led by a revolving door of editors, many of whom did not do well for the magazine, which had been the leading picture magazine in Britain during World War II and for at least five years thereafter.

Hopkinson's next notable assignment was as editor of South Africa's "Drum" magazine, which he took over in 1958. His notable find there was the South Africa photojournalist Peter Mugubane, who covered the anti-apartheid struggle.

[edit] Later career

When Hopkinson left "Drum", he went on to teach journalism in British universities, studied United States journalism schools, and was founding director of the Centre for Journalism Studies at University College in Cardiff, Wales, from 1970 to 1975. Later, he returned to Oxford. He continued his habit of writing short stories, novels, and also wrote a memoir, "Of This Our Time," about his life from 1905 up to 1950. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978.

[edit] Family life

Sir Tom Hopkinson married three times, his wives were: Antonia White, Gerti Deutsch, and Dorothy Hopkinson. He was the father of three children: Lyndall Hopkinson Passerini, Nicolette Hopkinson Roeske, and Amanda Hopkinson Binns.

[edit] Sources

• "Of This Our Time: A Journalist's Story, 1905-50," by Tom Hopkinson, London: Hutchinson, 1982.
• "The Picture Post Album," by Robert Kee, London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1989.