Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Awards
Timeline
Generic

Peter Crooks

Summary

Accomplished Senior Editor/Senior Writer with more than two decades at Diablo magazine in the San Francisco Bay Area. I've mastered editing and developing content in an entertaining and informative presentation. My expertise includes developing captivating stories and leading high-stakes projects, ensuring top-notch quality and audience engagement, and meeting deadlines.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Author/Editor

Ben Bella Books
01.2015 - Current
  • My true crime book, The Setup: A True Story of Dirty Cops, Soccer Moms, and Reality TV, exposed a police corruption and crime scandal that led to the arrests of five Bay Area police officers and a private detective in 2011. The book also investigated a failed reality television show and the motivations of characters searching for 15 minutes of fame.
  • The story has been covered by This American Life and CBS' 48 Hours Mystery.
  • I helped put together a documentary about the story with Raw Films in London, which is planned for release on Netflix in 2025.

Senior Editor/Senior Writer

Diablo Magazine
12.1998 - 10.2024
  • Developed new ideas for a monthly regional lifestyle magazine to engage, entertain, and inform East Bay Area audience
  • Created detailed project plans outlining timelines and deliverables for each job assignment
  • Edited and proofread content for accuracy, clarity, and consistency
  • Managed freelance writers and ensured timely delivery of high-quality work
  • Wrote award-winning investigative articles exposing police corruption and examining the appeal of reality television.
  • Profiled law enforcement experts, including Paul Holes, whose investigative work with DNA technology led to the arrest of the Golden State Killer.

Freelance Writer

Various Publications
12.1999 - 06.2024
  • Reported articles and conducted interviews for a range of publications, including Santa Cruz Style, Korn Ferry, and Via magazine
  • Managed multiple writing assignments simultaneously while adhering to tight deadlines.

Editor

San Francisco Giants magazine
05.2017 - 04.2022
  • Met with client to plan monthly magazine covering a variety of baseball-related stories
  • Wrote stories for each section of the magazine, including short pieces for the front of the book as well as feature stories and interviews
  • Edited and proofread manuscripts, articles, reports, and other documents to ensure accuracy of grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and formatting


Editor

Oakland Athletics magazine
05.2017 - 04.2021
  • Brainstormed lineup of stories, wrote features and shorter articles, and assigned and edited stories for this magazine commissioned by the Oakland Athletics
  • Developed new ideas for content to engage audience.

Editor

Diablo Arts magazine
01.2012 - 12.2018
  • Edited and wrote all the content for this quarterly publication for the events at the Lasher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek
  • Worked with the facility's management to plan content of each issue
  • Oversaw editorial redesign of publication to freshen the presentation of editorial content.

Film Reviewer

KFRC Radio 99.7 FM
02.2004 - 08.2008
  • Contributed weekly reviews of new movies for radio morning show
  • Covered/promoted unique screenings and entertainment events in Bay Area.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Communication -

University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA
05.1992

Skills

    • Long form story editing and feature writing
    • Development of new stories and content
    • Copywriting and editing
      • Article Writing
      • Online Editing
      • Marketing and promotion for stories and content

Awards

  • Best Special Issue, Diablo's "Sex and the Suburbs" issue, City and Regional Magazine Awards, 2005
  • Best Series of Articles, "The Setup" and "Norman Wielsch profile," Maggie Awards 2012

Timeline

Editor

San Francisco Giants magazine
05.2017 - 04.2022

Editor

Oakland Athletics magazine
05.2017 - 04.2021

Author/Editor

Ben Bella Books
01.2015 - Current

Editor

Diablo Arts magazine
01.2012 - 12.2018

Film Reviewer

KFRC Radio 99.7 FM
02.2004 - 08.2008

Freelance Writer

Various Publications
12.1999 - 06.2024

Senior Editor/Senior Writer

Diablo Magazine
12.1998 - 10.2024

Bachelor of Arts in Communication -

University of California-San Diego

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Peter Crooks