Stoke-on-Trent has been many things over the years. Home of the potteries – then thousands of those jobs left. The “Brexit capital of Britain”, according to UKIP’s Paul Nuttall – then he lost. And in February, the scene of not just a hard fought by-election, but a huge and short-lived media presence.
Much of the resulting coverage seemed to tell versions of a single story: a city in decline, populated by angry or disengaged voters. Some residents felt that, by following just that story, the media did them a disservice. I made one of those films, and the fact that many in the city felt misrepresented bothers me. So I’m beginning a new in-depth and collaborative project in video-led reporting from the city.
The EU referendum revealed some of the economic, cultural and geographic divides in Britain. Stoke sits at the centre of much of this. Yet the city now finds itself written off all over again, precisely at the time when what we need is greater understanding, nuance and balance. There is a sense that things could be about to happen in the city; things from which we could all take inspiration.
Share your experiences
So we hope that you will shape this series, guide our coverage and contribute experience and knowledge. I want to tell the story of Stoke-on-Trent as its residents experience and see it; the struggles and the positives. If you’re from Stoke-on-Trent, or the surrounding areas, please get in touch with your experiences and suggestions. Tell us who you think is worth talking to, or where I should be taking my camera.
If you are not from the city, but care about the direction Britain takes right now, how our cities and towns can move forward, we’d like to hear from you too. I want this series to reflect not just problems facing places like Stoke, but also the solutions, and how people are fighting back.
Lets work together to unearth the important issues and stories, to ensure the city’s voices are heard. Please share your views and experiences, anonymously if you prefer, in the form below. Your responses are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions.
