The Washington, DC area is full of amazing moms. There are working moms, stay-at-home moms, single moms, moms of multiples, foster moms, adoptive moms, etc. We want to highlight some of those moms like Adrianna Hopkins. Each month we will feature one special mom as the Mom of the Month. Know a fellow amazing local mom here? Nominate them here!
Meet our January Mom of the Month: Adrianna Hopkins
Adrianna is an Associated Press and Emmy Award-winning anchor and reporter based in
Washington, D.C.; and adjunct professor for Florida International University in D.C., leading the Caplin News DC Bureau.
She is a passionate advocate for women’s health issues, connecting with organizations that share a desire to find solutions to disparities in health outcomes for BIPOC people. She’s shared stories of Black and brown women being ignored, shamed, and misdiagnosed, including her own story of surviving life-threatening labor. Her experience with medical professionals strengthened her resolve to shed light on these issues.
Equity is a persistent theme in her reporting as she explores topics ranging from environmental justice to the epidemic of gun violence to Black maternal mortality outcomes. Her broadcast career has taken her to New Orleans, LA, Miami, FL, Louisville, KY; and Macon, GA. She earned a BA in Electronic Communications; African-American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Adrianna is a well-rounded anchor and news reporter, knowledgeable about current events, politics, and pop culture. She is a speaker, panel moderator, and skilled interviewer. She and her husband juggle their busy professional lives and two intelligent, energetic, and beautiful toddlers.
Here is our Q&A with Adrianna Hopkins
1. How did you get your start in journalism?
As a kid, I was obsessed with 20/20 and Dateline and realized storytelling is my calling. I knew early on that I wanted to be a broadcast journalist. During college, I interned at WRAL in Raleigh, NC – working in the consumer investigative unit with Monica Laliberte. I landed my first job as a multimedia journalist in Macon, GA – producing stories, reporting, shooting video, editing, and fill-in anchoring. I also launched a 90-second newscast for the web. After a year, I moved to Louisville, KY as a reporter for two years, then renewed my contract as a weekend anchor for another two years.
Miami called and I accepted a morning reporter position at WSVN – the powerhouse station that set the bar for covering breaking news for news organizations around the country. I left after three years for an evening anchor position at WDSU in New Orleans. With the experience gained over those 11 years, WJLA in Washington DC offered me a morning anchor position. I’ve been in the nation’s capital ever since. Here, I’ve used my platform to introduce audiences to people and topics they might otherwise not encounter.
2. What do you find difficult about balancing your career and family?
The hours are the most difficult part of balancing career and family. I’m awake at 2:15 AM, but never in bed before 8:30 PM. Mondays are my longest days since I work and teach my journalism course at FIU in DC. I’m working to be more intentional about my time – blocking time off my calendar to work out, nap, and have date nights (typically Friday and Saturday) with my husband. I’ve also started taking more girl’s trips and leaning into childcare services so I can “get away” when I need to recharge.
3. How has the mentee/mentor relationship helped to jumpstart your career? Do you have advice on how to find a mentor?
My first mentor was the consumer investigative reporter at WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina. I met her during an internship in her unit after college graduation. She was my supervisor, but also pushed me to use my “off hours” to shadow a news crew, and “turn in” my report to her. She’d offer constructive criticism and recommend me for jobs she thought I was ready for. She still roots for me to this day and is one of the few solid women bosses I’ve worked for.
I’ve tried to do the same with colleagues and up-and-coming journalists over the years. Working as a professor with FIU in DC allows me to be consistent in sharing my knowledge and experiences with the next generation of journalists.
To find a mentor, start with someone you admire. Do the leg work – if you’re interested in an internship, apply. Don’t expect a mentor to land you jobs. Expect them to give you positive feedback and identify areas of improvement. And apply their advice to your work.
Do you know an amazing mom? Nominate a mom of the month here!
