Ashley Kirk

Visuals Editor at the Guardian

Ashley Kirk is the Visuals Editor at The Guardian, a position he has held since May 2023. In this role, he leads the production of impactful visual journalism, focusing on both quick-turnaround projects and longer-term interactive stories. Kirk collaborates across the newsroom to enhance the effectiveness of visual storytelling, utilizing data to uncover compelling narratives and communicate them effectively.1 3

Background and Experience::

Previous Roles: Before joining The Guardian, Kirk worked as a Data Journalist at The Telegraph, where he contributed significantly to data-driven special projects and was instrumental in shaping the publication's data output. He also served as the Visual Projects Editor at Guardian News & Media from May 2020 to May 2023, where he produced and edited a variety of visual projects.1 2
Education: Kirk holds a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Birmingham and a Master's degree in Interactive Journalism from City University London, where he also teaches data journalism to Master's students.1 3

Recognition:** Kirk was recognized in Forbes' **30 Under 30: list for Media and Marketing in April 2021, highlighting his contributions to the field of journalism and data visualization.1 2 5

In addition to his editorial responsibilities, he maintains an active presence on social media, sharing insights related to visual journalism and data storytelling.4

Experience

Visuals Editor at The Guardian (May 2023 - Present)

Visual Projects Editor at The Guardian (May 2020 - May 2023), Visiting Lecturer at City, University of London (September 2016 - Present), Senior Data Journalist, Special Projects at The Telegraph (April 2018 - May 2020), Data Journalist at The Telegraph (May 2015 - April 2018), Online Reporter at City AM (December 2014 - May 2015), Freelance Journalist at Guardian News & Media (June 2013 - April 2015)

Education

Master's Degree in Interactive Journalism from City University London, Distinction (2014 - 2015), Bachelor's Degree in English from The University of Birmingham, 2:1 (2011 - 2014)