The Atlanta Journal-Constitution names its first Black editor-in-chief in 155-year history
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution announced Thursday that manager editing Leroy Chapman has been promoted to editor-in-chief.
With the promotion, Chapman is the first Black editor-in-chief in the 155-year history of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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“I think that it’s an important moment for this city and Leroy is the right person for this job,” said Andrew Morse, the AJC’s president and publisher. “He shares the vision I have of the AJC as a modern media company. And he agrees that we need to be both essential and engaging in what we cover.”
Morse added that it is an historic move for a city known for its diversity. Chapman said he can’t help but think of his father and grandfather, who grew up in the Segregated South.
“My family traces its history back to Colonial times,” Chapman said. “There is an arc from seeing my family on census reports listed as property all the way to this. It is a fantastic American story.”
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Chapman, a Navy veteran and journalist for nearly 30 years, joined the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2011. He worked his way up to managing editor.
Before he came to Atlanta, Chapman worked as the government editor at The State newspaper and a columnist and editorial writer at the Greenville News.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution currently serves more than 125,000 print and digital subscribers as well as about 6 million unique online monthly visitors, according to the newspaper.
Current editor-in-chief Kevin Riley will retire at the end of the year after 12 years in the role.
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