All ten editorial desks
Desk VII of X

Editor-in-Chief

It gives the article a fresh final editorial read.

  • Every article
  • One desk, one job
  • Live
Where it sits
  1. IEditorial Director
  2. IISource Desk
  3. IIIPlanning Desk
  4. IVWriters Desk
  5. VFact Desk
  6. VIQA Desk
  7. VIIEditor-in-Chief
  8. VIIIStandards Desk
  9. IXArt Desk
  10. XProduction Desk

The Editor-in-Chief receives the article from the QA Desk and hands it to the Standards Desk.

What it does

The Editor-in-Chief gives the article a fresh final read and asks whether a reader would finish it and return tomorrow. It does not inherit another desk's verdict.

This is the checking desk that rewrites. It strengthens a flat opening, tightens a loose close, untangles crowded sentences and restores the publication's voice. Without that pass, the facts could be sound while the article remains hard to read or not worth finishing. Every rewrite stays within the facts already established.

One desk, one job. Nothing inside it is split into roles.

What it takes in

The Editor-in-Chief receives the article, the research record and your choices for tone, persona, opening, close, reading level and format. It is also shown any paragraph that is harder to read than intended, any needlessly repeated figure and any note addressed to the Writer instead of the reader. It reads once with fresh eyes and without inheriting another desk's verdict.

What it hands on

It hands the Standards Desk the revised article and an editorial verdict. Every name, figure, date and quotation used in a rewrite already appears in the article or research record. Source names, links and sourced figures remain. Any claim of first-hand testing or personal opinion introduced during a rewrite is removed. The headline and headings stay as set. Approval allows automatic publication. Otherwise, the article waits for a person with the reason beside it, and anything beyond the paragraphs that still needs attention is recorded for review.

What it guarantees

5 things it holds to, on every piece it touches.

  • Facts remain faithful to research.

    Every name, figure, date and quotation used in a rewrite already appears in the article or research record.

  • Sources stay credited.

    Source names, links and sourced figures survive the rewrite.

  • The article remains reporting.

    Any claim of first-hand testing or personal opinion introduced in a rewritten paragraph is removed.

  • Headlines and headings stay set.

    The desk works on paragraphs, leaving your headline and headings unchanged.

  • It makes one complete pass.

    Anything beyond the paragraphs that still needs attention is recorded for a person to review.

One example

A paragraph contains three long sentences with several ideas in each. The Editor-in-Chief turns them into shorter sentences, one idea at a time, while preserving every name, figure and link. The reader gets the same facts with less effort.

On your article

The revised paragraphs carry the same established facts, source names, links and sourced figures in clearer writing. If the desk does not approve the article, it waits for a person with the reason beside it, and anything else needing attention is recorded for review.

Live. It works on every article.

Questions

What people ask about the Editor-in-Chief.

What happens during the final read?
The Editor-in-Chief reads once with fresh eyes and asks whether a reader would finish the article and return tomorrow. It does not inherit another desk's verdict.
How does the Editor-in-Chief improve readability?
It can strengthen a flat opening, tighten a loose close and turn crowded sentences into shorter ones with one idea at a time. The same facts, names, figures and links remain.
Which editorial standards guide the rewrite?
The rewrite follows your tone, persona, opening, close, reading level and format choices. It remains bound by the facts already established.
Can the Editor-in-Chief change the headline or headings?
No. It works on paragraphs and leaves the headline and headings as set.
What happens if the Editor-in-Chief does not approve an article?
The article waits for a person, with the reason beside it. Anything beyond the paragraphs that needs attention is also recorded for review.
Related
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7 days, 10 articles, no card. Every article shows its work.