About

In his extensive career as a journalist spanning over a decade, Hunter Atkins has contributed his writing to esteemed publications such as National Geographic, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Forbes, Newsday, the Men's Journal, and Popular Science. His portfolio encompasses various domestic topics, including racial injustice, gun violence, school shootings, inner-city poverty, and diversity in college sports coaching. Atkins has also delved into fashion and hospitality, profiling celebrities and leaders from various industries. His journalistic endeavors have taken him across international borders, covering significant events such as the epidemic in South Africa and the renowned running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

Notably, Atkins has gained recognition for his sports enterprise reporting for the Houston Chronicle. He has written over 1,000 stories in that role, covering various topics. These include the 2017 and 2019 Astros' World Series, numerous Rockets' playoff series, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics, the Bass Master Championship, six Chevron Houston Marathons, and Super Bowl LI.

Atkins's work has achieved further acclaim through its inclusion in "The Best American Sports Writing 2018" and "The Best American Sports Writing 2019." In addition, he secured second place in the 2018 Sportswriter of the Year contest awarded by the Texas APME. Another testament to his success is the sale of film rights to his article titled "The Coast Guard's $1 Billion Drug War," featured in the August 2016 issue of Men's Journal.

Early in his career, Atkins commenced his journey in journalism through a summer internship at the Chicago Sun-Times before entering college. During his college years, he interned for a summer at Newsday, further solidifying his passion and commitment to the field.

After completing his college education, Atkins devoted over four years to working as a sports reporter for the New York Times. Throughout this period, he also engaged in freelance work for ESPN Magazine, Forbes, and other publications in the Greater New York City area. His tenure as a sports reporter extended from 2016 to 2020 with the Houston Chronicle, after which he transitioned into a freelancing career.

Atkins possesses diverse skills acquired through his work as a journalist, making him adaptable to various industries and positions. These skills include fostering collaborations, demonstrating excellent written communication and storytelling abilities, crisis intervention, branding, meeting deadlines, team management, non-profit management, improvising as necessary, and content creation.

Atkins nurtures a passion for travel and adventure outside his professional endeavors. During his youth, he spent several months working as a journalist in South Africa, providing him with invaluable experiences. Additionally, he has explored the Accademia Gallery in Italy, participated in the exhilarating tradition of running with the bulls in Spain, attended Formula 1 racing events in London, ventured into the catacombs in France, conquered dunes in Nicaragua, swam in the waters surrounding Thailand, canoed through the enchanting Mekong Delta in Vietnam, explored jungle ruins in Cambodia, and embarked on a safari in Tanzania. Alongside these adventures, Atkins finds joy in playing recreational baseball and has developed an interest in regenerative farming. He is a devoted caretaker of his miniature long-haired dachshund companion, lovingly named "Cookie."

Born in New York City, Hunter Atkins is the child of Robert Atkins and Elizabeth Hayt. His mother, Hayt, contributed to Vogue magazine as a fashion writer and was an art historian at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). At the same time, his father established himself as a prominent lawyer specializing in litigation. Atkins grew up as an only child and attended Trevor Day.

School is a distinguished private high school on Manhattan's Upper East Side. During his time at Trevor, he actively participated in theater productions, engaged in varsity sports, and assumed the role of editor for the school newspaper. Academically, he excelled, achieving a noteworthy SAT score of 2140 and successfully passing the AP Physics exam.

Atkins's educational journey commenced at 16 when he enrolled at Brown University. Later, he was accepted into the esteemed Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, known for its excellence in journalism education. Atkins achieved an impressive feat during his time at Medill, earning a place on the dean's list ten times. He delved into impactful journalism projects, such as shadowing a paraplegic student for a week and immersing himself among homeless crack addicts on the streets of Chicago during the winter. Notably, he was among only ten students selected for a prestigious study abroad program offered by the journalism school. In 2011, Atkins graduated summa cum laude, culminating his academic journey with an exceptional GPA of 3.92.