EiC

Editor-in-Chief, abbreviated EiC, is the top editorial role in a publication, including newspapers, magazines, and scholarly journals. The EiC sets the overall editorial vision, policy, and standards, and has final authority over content decisions, including what to publish and how stories are presented. The position also involves representing the publication publicly, guiding its ethical stance, and coordinating with editors, writers, and production staff to ensure consistency and quality.

In academic publishing, the EiC oversees the peer review process, appoints editors and an editorial board, defines the journal’s scope and policies, and enforces ethical guidelines and conflicts of interest rules. They balance scholarly quality with timeliness and may respond to appeals and complaints. The EiC typically works with a publisher or editorial board and may delegate day-to-day management to a managing editor while maintaining final responsibility for the journal’s integrity.

Appointment and tenure vary: EiCs are usually appointed by a publisher or governing board, sometimes elected by the editorial board, and may serve fixed terms or indefinite appointments, often reflecting the holder’s scholarly stature or leadership role within the institution.

Variations exist across industries: some publications have co-editors-in-chief or regional editors; in some cases, the title used is Chief Editor. Regardless of format, the EiC's decisions significantly influence a publication’s reputation, editorial standard, and adherence to ethical norms, and failures in this role can impact credibility and trust.