William Hackman

William Hackman – Editor

I have 40 years of professional experience as a writer and editor specializing in history, the arts, entertainment, and general nonfiction.

Overview

I'm a published writer and editor with 40 years of professional experiences. I was a PhD candidate in history when I changed gears and became a reporter for Time magazine in Paris. I later became managing editor for public affairs at the J. Paul Getty Trust. I have been freelancing for the past 20 years, writing and editing books.

I am the author of OUT OF SIGHT: THE LOS ANGELES ART SCENE OF THE SIXTIES (Other Press: 2015); THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (Scala: 2008); INSIDE THE GETTY (Getty Books:2007).

Among the titles I have edited are Russell Jacoby's ON DIVERSITY (Seven Seas: 2020); BETWEEN WORLDS: A SOURCE BOOK OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN AVANT-GARDES, 1910-1930 (LACMA/MIT: 2002); and THE PRESENT ILLNESS, by Martin Shapiro, MD, on the American healthcare system, from Johns Hopkins (Fall 2022).

As a reporter for Time magazine in Paris and Los Angeles, I covered business, education, arts, entertainment, and lifestyles. I have ghost-written articles, op-eds, and annual reports for executives in business and the non-profit world.

I try to respect both the writer and the reader. I am a careful listener, attentive to the author's needs. I am especially good at taking complex and difficult-sounding ideas and making them comprehensible to the widest possible audience without over-simplifying or "dumbing them down." And while I can recite various style guides in my sleep, my highest priority is always effective communication rather than rigid adherence to Chicago or AP. I will gladly turned a blind eye to split infinitives and sentences that end in prepositions. But I will slash and burn run-on sentences, comma splits, and unnecessary jargon.
Services
Non-Fiction
Architecture Art Business & Management Entertainment History Philosophy
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 1999 — Present

Writer and editor of books.

J. Paul Getty Trust

Oct, 1986 — Jan, 1999 (over 12 years)

Oversaw editorial and production of quarterly newsletters, annual reports, and souvenir books. Ghosted articles and essays for president and CEO.

Time Magazine

Jun, 1980 — Oct, 1986 (over 6 years)

Reported on business, education, entertainment, and the arts in the Paris and Los Angeles bureaus.

William has 1 review

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Jon B.

Jon B.

Aug, 2023

William provided excellent editorial assistance. I could not be any happier.

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