What is an editor-in-chief?
The editor-in-chief carries final responsibility for the journalistic content and direction of an outlet. He or she decides what the outlet does and does not publish, guards quality and independence, and leads the newsroom. For day-to-day news selection, the desks and their editors are usually the point of contact.
Written by Timon Hendriks · Last updated on 12 July 2026
How it works in practice
The editor-in-chief works mostly on the big picture: the journalistic course, quality, staffing, and accountability to readers and the publisher. For debates about independence or complaints about coverage, the editor-in-chief is the highest point of contact. The daily choice of which stories get made sits with desk editors and reporters.
For PR, the editor-in-chief is therefore rarely the right entrance. Sending your press release to the top feels important, but at best it gets forwarded to the writer who covered the subject anyway. The exceptions are small outlets where the editor-in-chief still writes, and op-eds, where the editor-in-chief or opinion desk is the normal route.
Example
A Boston software founder emails her press release straight to the editor-in-chief of a large tech site, assuming the news will be taken more seriously that way. She gets no reply. On the second try she emails the writer who covers business software weekly. He publishes an article within days: the subject fell exactly within his beat.
Common mistake
Assuming news has a better chance via the editor-in-chief. In practice the desk journalist decides what gets covered; the detour via the top only costs time.
Frequently asked questions
What does an editor-in-chief actually do?
Sets the journalistic course, guards quality and independence, leads the newsroom, and represents the outlet externally. Daily news selection sits with the desks.
Should you send a press release to the editor-in-chief?
Usually not. The reporter or desk editor who covers your subject decides on coverage in practice. Only at very small outlets or for op-eds is the editor-in-chief a logical entrance.