Earl Hopkins is an award-winning arts, culture, and entertainment reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, focusing on the cultural institutions and trailblazers shaping the region’s identity. Before landing in Philly, he worked as an at-large culture reporter for the Austin American-Statesman and The Columbus Dispatch.
His work has appeared in Billboard, Complex, GRAMMY.com, MTV News, SPIN, Stereogum, UPROXX, and other publications. Earl also co-authored Raps of Resistance: How Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole Reignited a Hip-Hop Tradition, and is a recent fellow of the National Critics Institute.
For nearly a decade, Earl has worked as a local entertainment reporter. He’s covered groundbreaking arts movements, emerging social media trends, and investigations into the shuttering of historic cultural institutions. Earl’s work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Society for Features Journalism.
Beyond his daily coverage, Earl is a noted digital media educator, who’s led lectures and workshops on the fundamentals of features reporting and the history of hip-hop journalism. He’s also been tapped as a featured speaker at regional and national journalism conventions.
Drawing on his experience and institutional knowledge, Earl continues to work as a writing mentor for youth programs throughout the Philadelphia area, including the Acel Moore High School Journalism Workshop and West Chester University’s iCamp Summer Academy. He’s also an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists, and an advisory board member for Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication.
Earl is available for speaking opportunities and consulting work upon request.