bylined

Bylined is an adjective describing content that carries a byline—the line naming the author of a piece. In journalism and publishing, a byline is typically presented near the top of an article, often immediately beneath the headline, and may include the author's professional title, affiliation, and sometimes the date or location of reporting. A piece is described as bylined when its author is identified; if no author is named, the work is usually described as anonymous or credited to a generic outlet staff line such as "Staff" or "News Desk."

The primary purpose of a byline is attribution: it records who wrote or contributed to the article, enabling readers to evaluate perspective, expertise, and accountability. Bylines also facilitate follow-up, such as seeking comment or requesting corrections, and they contribute to the author’s professional visibility and reputation within media ecosystems.

Variations exist across outlets. A single author may have a simple "By [Name]" byline, while collaborative pieces may use multiple bylines (e.g., "By A. Author and B. Collaborator") or separate lines like "Reported by" for journalistic teams. In online publishing, bylines can be augmented with author bios, links to profiles, or social handles. Some organizations distinguish between "Written by," "Edited by," or "Produced by" bylines to indicate different roles in the creation of the content.

Historically, bylines emerged to credit authors in print journalism and have become standard in most contemporary media, though practices and formats vary by publication and platform.