Will Hearst

Will Hearst is the editor and publisher of Alta Journal, which he founded in 2017. He is the board chair of Hearst, one of the nation’s largest diversified media and information companies. Hearst is a grandson of company founder William Randolph Hearst.

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Aug 2, 2021
Our Favorite Hideaways

The West is full of secret places with secret histories. Will Hearst and wilderness-loving futurist Paul Saffo share their favorites.
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Jul 7, 2021
The End of Hibernation

In his quarterly publisher’s note, Will Hearst envisions a summer of exploration to find the places that feel like home.
Apr 7, 2021
Imagine a Wilder Future

In his quarterly note to Alta’s readers, publisher Will Hearst charts a course for the next West.

Jan 13, 2021
Art, Beauty, and Passion: A Note from Will Hearst
In his quarterly publisher’s note, Alta’s publisher explains the origin of our high standards—and the magazine’s plan to keep your mind…
Oct 19, 2020
Kevin Kelly: Postcards from the Future

His latest visionary idea: one million people working together in real time.

Sep 30, 2020
Look Past First Impressions

Will Hearst wraps up the mystery and ties together the loose ends—just like every good noir story—in his quarterly publisher’s note.

Jul 7, 2020
Extraordinary Voyages

Alta publisher Will Hearst considers science fiction as an ancient discipline and a genre of storytelling.
Apr 8, 2020
The Science of Publishing
Alta publisher Will Hearst proposes a new way of thinking about the content we deliver our readers—right down to the advertisements tha…
Apr 1, 2020
London’s Newest Queen
A recent London transplant, Tales of the City writer Armistead Maupin tells Will Hearst why he left San Francisco, what his next big bo…
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Jan 14, 2020
Talking with David Talbot

The author of Between Heaven and Hell discusses his stroke, his recovery, and what it means to restart his life.
Jan 8, 2020
The Inspiration for Alta

Publisher Will Hearst credits the late painter Russell Chatham with helping shape the Western sensibility that inspires Alta. 
Nov 11, 2019
‘You’re an Artist. That’s What You Do.’
In what would be his final interview, the famed Marin County–based landscape painter Russell Chatham tells Alta publisher Will Hearst w…
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Oct 11, 2019
Art, Science, and the Wild

In his Fall 2019 Publisher's Note, Will Hearst ruminates on the importance of staying unmoored.
Aug 12, 2019
Anthony Wood and the Future of Streaming
Do you watch Netflix or Hulu on a smart TV? The CEO of Roku reveals how his company helps those services (and soon Disney and Apple, to…
Jul 16, 2019
Publisher's Note: The Far West Is Our North Star

Publisher Will Hearst looks westward to answer the oft-asked question, “What is Alta about?”
Apr 23, 2019
The Spirit of This Era

Alta publisher Will Hearst reflects on his goal to have the magazine evoke a sense of place and discovery—today and decades from now. 
Feb 4, 2019
Writing Her Own Script
Lucy Fisher started out as a waitress, but ended up running the studio. Will Hearst sits down for a Q&A with the groundbreaking Hollywo…
Jan 8, 2019
A Refuge for the Written World

Publisher Will Hearst reflects on our first year of Alta Journal.

Oct 31, 2018
Not Just Another Talking Head
In a conversation with Alta Publisher and Editor Will Hearst – his former Harvard roommate – Talking Heads mainstay Jerry Harrison expo…
Sep 4, 2018
The Next Step
As her husband’s term as governor winds down, first lady Anne Gust Brown reflects on his legacy and the future in this sit-down intervi…
Jan 16, 2018
Recipe For Change
The woman who changed the way we eat looks back at nearly 50 years of running her famed restaurant, Chez Panisse — and looks forward to…
Nov 7, 2017
Portrait of the Architect: Frank Gehry
The nation’s foremost architect designs startling buildings: swooping, glimmering structures. He demands attention, experimenting with …