editor-in-chief

The editor-in-chief reviews the final layout of the magazine.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Principal editor: "editor-in-chief" refers to the senior editorial manager who has overall responsibility for the content, direction, and quality of a publication (such as a newspaper, magazine, or journal), or a media outlet (such as a website or broadcast news program). This person oversees the editorial staff, makes final decisions on what is published, and represents the publication publicly.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The editor-in-chief approved the front-page story before it went to print. (The senior editor gave final authorization for the article.)
  • She was promoted to editor-in-chief after ten years of working as a section editor. (She became the top editorial leader after a long career at the publication.)

Advanced Usage

• "to serve as editor-in-chief": to hold the position of principal editor.

  • He served as editor-in-chief of the university newspaper for two semesters. (He was the top editorial leader during that period.)

• "editor-in-chief of a department": in larger organizations, an editor-in-chief may oversee a specific section or division.

  • The editor-in-chief of the opinion section works closely with columnists and contributors. (The senior editor for opinions manages that part of the publication.)

Variants and Related Words

• Editorial (adj): relating to the editing or content of a publication.

  • The editorial board meets weekly to discuss upcoming stories. (The group of editors and decision-makers convenes regularly.)

• Editorialize (v): to express an opinion in a news article rather than reporting facts.

  • The journalist was criticized for editorializing in a news report. (She inserted personal opinions where they were not appropriate.)

• Co-editor-in-chief (n): a person who shares the role of editor-in-chief with another.

  • The two co-editors-in-chief divided responsibilities for the magazine's sections. (They jointly led the editorial team.)

Synonyms

• Managing editor: a senior editor who oversees day-to-day operations, though often subordinate to the editor-in-chief.
• Executive editor: a high-level editorial role, sometimes synonymous with editor-in-chief, but may focus on strategy and long-term planning.

Related Idioms

• "The buck stops here": a phrase meaning that ultimate responsibility lies with the person in charge, often used to describe the editor-in-chief's accountability.
  • As editor-in-chief, she knows that the buck stops here for any errors in the paper. (She accepts final responsibility for mistakes.)