Readers deserve to know who stands behind a piece of work. A byline is the line of text, usually placed between the headline and the body of an article, that names the writer or writers responsible for the story.

Bylines confer both credit and accountability. A reporter whose name appears regularly builds a public reputation; the same name also becomes the target when errors or ethical lapses occur. Some organizations add a short bio or contact link beneath the byline online.

Shared bylines reflect collaborative reporting. In rare cases a newsroom may withhold a byline for security reasons or publish under a desk name. For most daily journalism, however, the byline remains the simplest signal of authorship and responsibility.

• Line naming the author of an article
• Provides credit and public accountability
• May list multiple contributors
• Standard feature of professional news stories