An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor

Editing

Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...

, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task. The term is generally applied to newspaper

Newspaper

A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...

s, magazine

Magazine

Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...

s, yearbook

Yearbook

A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...

s, and television news programs. The term is also applied to academic journals, where the editor-in-chief ultimately decides whether a submitted manuscript will be published in the journal. This decision is made by the editor-in-chief after seeking input from reviewers

Peer review

Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...

 selected on a basis of relevant expertise.

Typical responsibilities of editors-in-chief include:

• Cross-checking facts, spelling, grammar, writing style, design pages and photos;
• Rejecting writing that appears to be plagiarized, ghost-written by another sub-editor, or previously published elsewhere;
• Editing any content in question;
• Contributing editorial pieces;
• Motivating and developing editorial staff;
• Ensuring final draft is complete and no area is left empty;
• Handling reader complaints and taking responsibility for resulting issues; and
• For books or journals, cross-checking citations and examining references.

External links

• "editor in chief" (merriam-webster.com)