Definition of the word byline

The term "byline" originated in the early 19th century when newspapers began to include the names of their writers or reporters in their published articles. Before then, articles were usually anonymous, and readers had no idea who wrote what they read. The origins of the term "byline" can be traced back to the British newspaper, The Times, which introduced editor-signed essays under their author's name in the 1820s. This practice of signing articles became popular in the United States in the 1830s, initially as a way for editors to claim authorship of their editorial work. The American usage of the term "byline" is attributed to Archibald Bell, an editor at the New York Herald, who used it to clearly distinguish the author's name from the headline of the article, creating a more prominent and prominent display of the writer's name. Bell's original "by-line" was a horizontal line with the author's name placed above it. Over time, the use of bylines became more common and eventually extended to cover all authored articles, both editorially and journalistically. Today, bylines are an established professional practice in journalism and are generally considered essential for the credibility and recognition of writers in print, digital, and online media.