Warren James Hinckle III (October 12, 1938 — August 25, 2016) was an American political journalist and editor. From 1964 to 1969 he was executive editor of Ramparts, transforming it from a Catholic intellectual quarterly to a slick antiwar New Left muckraking monthly. He co-founded and edited Scanlan's Monthly, then went on to edit Francis Ford Coppola's City of San Francisco magazine, and revived Ambrose Bierce's The Argonaut in 1992.

He is recognized for midwifing gonzo journalism when he edited Hunter S. Thompson "The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved" and matched him with British illustrator Ralph Steadman for the June 1970 issue of Scanlan's. The piece is considered the first work of gonzo journalism. President Nixon personally intervened to shut down Scanlan's.

With his black eyepatch and trademark basset hound by his side, Hinckle reveled in the theatricality with which he navigated every layer of San Francisco society. His political instincts were legendary, and he is credited with electing three city mayors. Hinckle even ran for mayor once himself, coming in fourth, then wrote an expose about it.

Paper Trail: Deciphering Warren Hinckle is a documentary film about Hinckle's life and work by documentary filmmaker George Csicsery. Together with Warren Hinckle's journalist daughter Pia Hinckle, the film examines the enigmatic persona of Hinckle, his pivotal role in shaping journalism in the 1960s and 1970s, and his fearless investigative reporting and unyielding commitment to challenging authority and institutions, from the Catholic Church to the government. The film is an exploration of the paper trail of Hinckle's parade of brilliant magazines and writing.