An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's
editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies.
The editor-in-chief heads all departments of the organization and is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members and managing them. The term is often used at
newspaper
A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as poli ...
s,
magazine
A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...
s,
yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a type of Annual publication, a book published annually. One use is to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school. The term also refers to a book of statistics or facts published annually ...
s, and
television news programs. The editor-in-chief is commonly the link between the publisher or proprietor and the editorial staff.
Responsibilities
Typical responsibilities of editors-in-chief include:
* Ensuring that content is
journalistically objective
*
Fact-checking
Fact-checking is the process of verifying the factual accuracy of questioned reporting and statements. Fact-checking can be conducted before or after the text or content is published or otherwise disseminated. Internal fact-checking is such che ...
, spelling, grammar, writing style, page design and photos
* Rejecting writing that appears to be plagiarized,
ghostwritten, published elsewhere, or of little interest to readers
* Evaluating and editing content
* Contributing editorial pieces
* Motivating and developing editorial staff
* Ensuring the final draft is complete
* Handling reader complaints and taking responsibility for issues after publication
* For books and journals, cross-checking citations and examining references
* Working to advance the commercial success of the publication
* Position may involve recruiting, hiring and firing staff
In academic journals
The term is also applied to
academic journal
An academic journal (or scholarly journal or scientific journal) is a periodical publication in which Scholarly method, scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. They serve as permanent and transparent forums for the ...
s, where the editor-in-chief gives the ultimate decision whether a submitted manuscript will be published. This decision is made by the editor-in-chief after seeking input from
reviewers selected on the basis of relevant expertise. For larger journals, the decision is often upon the recommendation of one of several associate editors who each have responsibility for a fraction of the submitted manuscripts.
See also
*
Journalism ethics and standards
*
Journalistic interventionism
*
Value judgment
References
Further reading
*
*
* ''The New Fowler's Modern English Usage'' (3rd edn 1996, edited by
R. W. Burchfield);
Bryan A. Garner, ''Garner's Modern American Usage'' (2009).
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
Editors by type
Leaders of organizations