Bylined Article
A written piece published under the name of a company executive or expert, typically placed through PR efforts in industry publications.
Definition
A bylined article is a written piece that appears in a publication under the name of a specific author — typically a company executive, industry expert, or thought leader — rather than a staff journalist. Unlike op-eds which express opinions on current events, bylined articles often provide educational content, industry analysis, or expert guidance on professional topics.
Bylined articles are a core PR tactic for establishing thought leadership. PR teams typically ghostwrite the article on behalf of the executive, working with industry publications to place the content. The article positions the named author as an authority while providing genuine value to the publication's readership.
Why It Matters
Bylined articles build executive visibility and company credibility simultaneously. When a CEO's name appears in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, or an industry trade publication, it creates a halo effect that benefits the entire organization. These articles become permanent digital assets that boost search visibility and can be shared in sales materials for years.
Unlike press releases or paid content, bylined articles demonstrate deep expertise because publications only accept content that genuinely serves their audience. The editorial gatekeeping process itself serves as quality validation that cannot be purchased.
Examples in Practice
A tech company's CTO publishes a bylined article in Wired about the ethical implications of AI in healthcare, positioning both the executive and the company as responsible leaders in AI development.
A PR agency places 12 bylined articles for their client's leadership team across industry publications over six months, creating a library of thought leadership content that supports the company's B2B sales process.
A financial services executive's bylined article on market trends in Bloomberg attracts speaking invitations from three major conferences, demonstrating how a single placement can compound into multiple opportunities.