Hibberd is a graduate of the
University of Texas journalism program. He worked at the
Austin American-Statesman and later moved to
Phoenix, Arizona, and worked as a staff writer for the
Phoenix New Times. In 2001, while a writer at the
Phoenix New Times, Hibberd conducted an interview with an active serial eco-arsonist who had not yet been captured by police. After the interview Hibberd declined to assist in the investigation, and refused to turn over any of his interview notes or other materials to investigators despite being subpoenaed to do so. Some criticized Hibberd’s decision, including
The Arizona Republic and the mayor of Phoenix, who accused him of assisting the arsonist. A judge ruled that Hibberd was
not legally obligated to hand over any material to police as the arsonist was a protected source. The arsonist was later apprehended. From 2003 to 2008 he worked for
TelevisionWeek, becoming senior editor. In 2008 Hibberd joined
The Hollywood Reporter as a senior television reporter, before returning to
The Hollywood Reporter in March 2021. Hibberd co-wrote the screenplay
Waco with
Rupert Wainwright about the
Waco siege, after spending a year researching the story. Hibberd wrote the screenplay to the film
Tell Me How I Die which was released in 2016 to mixed reviews. ==References==