Civic Storyteller, Social Videographer, Live Streamer

I use digital tools to tell the stories of people doing great work; and I help others to tell their own stories. I am on a mission to increase public understanding of the work of public and non-profit organisations, using online video and social media. Please get in touch if you want to work with me.

Apparently, I am the 20th most influential person in digital inclusion in the world, as well as no.2 on the “Top 50 Digital #PowerPlayers14 in #ukhousing” and also no.2 on The Guardian’s list of top Digital Inclusion Tweeters

If you like what I do, and would like to help me take it further, please consider supporting me via Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/johnpopham

In the second decade of the 21st Century we all have the tools available to tell our stories. Smartphones and tablets can be used to communicate with the world. Increasingly, the tales people tell with such tools are drawing attention away from the established media of TV, radio, cinema and newspapers. And yet these benefits are vastly under-realised in the public and third sectors. Telling stories about the good works people do is extremely important, and yet it is not happening to any great extent in these sectors. It is important because:

• It educates people as to what their taxes / donations are being spent on;
• It sheds light on good works and helps others learn from them;
• It helps participants develop greater understanding of their work and make connections with others doing similar things;
• It provides context for people to develop new or changing opinions.

The organisations that people trust are those that they know and have on-going relationships with. This further applies to individuals. The way they develop these relationships is by connecting with their stories. I help people tell their stories, through online video and other forms of social media. Every day there are people and organisations doing great work whose stories never see the light of day. This leaves the way open for the media to distort people’s perceptions through TV programmes such as “Benefits Street” and the like. People and organisations telling their stories is thus vital to counter this picture.

I believe we all have a duty to try to make the world a better place. That’s what I try to do every day. I love the internet and all kinds of new technologies; I am amazed by their potential to improve people’s lives and I want to pass on the passion I feel for these things to everyone I meet.

My work is largely divided into a number of complementary, activities (follow links for more details):

Social Media: I help business and public and voluntary organisations, to use social media to engage with communities and communicate their messages;

Digital Storytelling: While everything I do is underpinned by Digital Storytelling, I run some particular projects, initiatives, and training sessions specifically focused on how to tell stories using digital tools:

Digital Inclusion: I am passionate about the power of the internet to improve people’s lives and I work hard to make sure all people can benefit;

Rural Broadband: I help engage and mobilise communities in rural areas to secure better broadband provision;

Urban Broadband : I help engage communities and businesses in measures to improve broadband connectivity in towns and cities;  and

Live Internet Broadcasting: I am Chief Executive of Citizens’ Interactive Broadcasting, a not-for-profit company which specialises in live, online video broadcasting of events, and trains others to do this for themselves.

I am a Digital Storyteller and I want to help others tell their digital stories too.

I am the originator of #twicket, the World’s First Live Broadcast of a Village Cricket Match, conceived as an idea to highlight the need for fast upload speeds on internet connections, and rural broadband issues in general, which quickly became a global phenomenon thanks to the support of Stephen Fry on Twitter.

I help businesses, public and voluntary organisations to use social media to improve the way they communicate with their customers, constituents and supporters. I am a social reporter, helping events and organisations communicate their activities to the world. I promote and facilitate the application of modern technologies and social media to society’s issues and problems.

I was one of 3 people who were the first visitors ever to be allowed to use social media from within 10 Downing Street.

I am experienced in social reporting, including aiding local communities to tell their stories through local websites, youtube channels, and event reporting. I do reporting of events myself, including live blogging, live video-streaming, vox pop interviews, photography, and audio recording. You can find out more about my work portfolio here.

I was born and spent much of my earlier life in Nottingham, and went to university in Durham. I have lived and worked in the West Midlands, and now live in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. I am a long-distance, mainly absentee, supporter of Notts County Football Club, avid follower of the England cricket team, and lover of what they call “classic rock” music, particularly Rush and Magnum.

You can find more about me at  http://uk.linkedin.com/in/johnpopham

If you want to hire me to advise your organisation, amplify your work or organise something interesting, probably the easiest way to contact me is via Twitter

email – john.popham@johnpopham.com

Can I do something for you?

Social Housing and Digital Exclusion

Social Reporter

Engaging Communities and Public

Left to right: John Popham. Monica Tailor, Nick Booth, David Cameron

Other places I can be found on the internet

My youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/syfec1

My videos on Vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/user1541305

My photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnpopham

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While you are here, can I please ask you to take a minute to subscribe to my YouTube Channel here

If you would like to support me to do more of my work in using Digital Storytelling, social media, and video for social good, please consider making a regular contribution via Patreon or perhaps, just buy me a coffee here