Sir Tom Hopkinson
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Hopkinson was a British journalist, picture magazine editor, author, and teacher.
, his father was a Church of England clergyman and a scholar, and his mother had been a school mistress. Hopkinson attended prep school on the Lancashire coast and then St Edward's School, Oxford. He went on to graduate from Pembroke College
, Oxford University in 1927.
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.
, 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 Magubane
, who covered the anti-apartheid struggle.
Early life
Born in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, his father was a Church of England clergyman and a scholar, and his mother had been a school mistress. Hopkinson attended prep school on the Lancashire coast and then St Edward's School, Oxford. He went on to graduate from Pembroke College
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
, Oxford University in 1927.
Early work
Tom Hopkinson first worked in advertising and publicity, then became a magazine assistant editor in 1934. He was soon working for Stefan LorantStefan Lorant
Stefan Lorant was a pioneering Hungarian-American filmmaker, photojournalist, and author.-Early work:...
on Weekly Illustrated magazine, and wrote short stories and novels during his free time. He also assisted Lorant on Lilliput
Lilliput (magazine)
Lilliput was a small-format British monthly magazine of humour, short stories, photographs and the arts, founded in 1937 by the photojournalist Stefan Lorant. The first issue came out in July and it was sold shortly after to Edward Hulton, when editorship was taken over by Tom Hopkinson in 1940....
magazine, and more famously on Picture Post
Picture Post
Picture Post was a prominent photojournalistic magazine published in the United Kingdom from 1938 to 1957. It is considered a pioneering example of photojournalism and was an immediate success, selling 1,700,000 copies a week after only two months...
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
Bert Hardy
Bert Hardy was a documentary and press photographer known for his work published in the Picture Post magazine between 1941 and1957....
, a native Londoner with great skills in conveying the drama and character of human scenes.
Middle career
Hopkinson defended his staff's editorial independence fiercely, and his publisher, Sir Edward G. HultonEdward Hulton
Edward Hulton was a British newspaper publisher and thoroughbred racehorse owner. He founded the Daily Sketch in 1909.-Biography:...
, a Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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
James Cameron (journalist)
Mark James Walter Cameron was a prominent British journalist, in whose memory the annual James Cameron Memorial Lecture is given.-Early life:...
returned to London from their Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
coverage, Hopkinson tried to go to press with their coverage of United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
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
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's Drum magazine, which he took over in 1958. His notable find there was the South Africa photojournalist Peter Magubane
Peter Magubane
-Early life:He was born in Vrededorp, now Pageview, a suburb in Johannesburg and grew up in Sophiatown. He started taking some photographs using a Kodak Brownie box camera as a schoolboy....
, who covered the anti-apartheid struggle.