ABOUT

Maya Oppenheim is a journalist and author who lives in East London. Born and bred in Dalston in Hackney, she has not moved very far and lives a 10 minute cycle from the hospital she was born in. Maya is The Independent's Women's Correspondent and is the first and only person to have this job title at a UK news outlet. Since starting the role in 2018, she has written extensively on issues ranging from human rights to sexual violence, domestic abuse, abortion, women’s health, policing, childcare, sex work, poverty, the criminal justice system and more.

Her first book, The Pocket Guide to the Patriarchy, explores these issues and far more across 22 chapters. The book was published by Hatchett and has been endorsed by Shadow Deputy Prime Minister, Labour’s Angela Rayner, actor Olivia Colman, writer and activist Selma James and leading global human rights organisation Amnesty International, among others. Topics Maya had long been writing about previously deemed marginal have climbed up the political and news agenda, with her helping set the agenda in this area. As well as writing news, features and investigations exploring national issues, social policy and global stories from a women’s angle, she writes and curates a popular free women-focused weekly newsletter for The Independent titled Independent Women. Prior to working as the Women's Correspondent, she worked on The Independent's News Desk and People Desk, after working as a freelance journalist for Vice, New Statesman, i-D magazine, Buzzfeed, Dazed & Confused, and other publications.

Maya is an experienced public speaker - with this spanning from TV, podcast and radio appearances to giving solo talks, chairing and participating in panel discussions, delivering training sessions, and participating in media advisory boards.

If you have a tip-off, an idea for a story, a public speaking or event inquiry, or are keen to collaborate in some way, or just want to say hello, please drop me an email!