What is a byline?
A byline is the signature on an article. It states who wrote it and, often, for which media outlet or from which city. In a newsroom, getting a byline is a mark of recognition: the article is attributed to a specific journalist who takes responsibility for it.
In public relations, the term is primarily used in the expression bylined article : a text written by an outside expert, published under their own name. Anglo-Saxon media also refer to this as a "contributed article."
Bylined article or op-ed: what's the difference?
An op-ed defends a position on a debate. A bylined article is broader: it can explain a trend, share a method, or analyze a market without necessarily taking sides. In France, the two formats are often conflated under the term "tribune." In the American and British press, the distinction is clearer, and "op-ed" pages are more selective than expert columns.
Why does a bylined article matter for a startup?
A bylined article establishes the executive as a thought leader on a topic, and therefore the startup as a reference in that field. It does not depend on company news: a solid analysis can be published at any time of the year.
It is also a useful format for entering a foreign market. An executive who is unknown in a country can publish an analysis there before having any clients, provided they talk about the market's challenges rather than their own product. Promotional copy will be rejected or rewritten by the editorial team.
Who actually writes the article?
Often, the text is prepared with the help of an agency or a ghostwriter, based on interviews with the executive. This is an accepted practice as long as the ideas, examples, and figures come from them, and they can stand by them in an interview. Some media outlets require exclusivity: the text must not have been published elsewhere, including on LinkedIn.
Learn more
For the writing method: writing an executive op-ed for the press. The format fuels thought leadership of the executive. To place signed articles in France or Europe: our public relations support.
Last updated: October 2026
