• by Ray Schultz , March 23, 2023

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has named Leroy Chapman Jr. as editor in chief.

Chapman, the first Black EIC in the paper’s 155-year history, replaces Kevin Riley, whose retirement was announced on Thursday.

He takes the helm as the AJC is accelerating plans to become a 24/7 digital news organization, the AJC reports. 

Andrew Morse, the president and publisher of the AJC, states that Chapman is “the right person for this job.”

Morse, who came to the AJC in January, adds that Chapman “shares the vision I have of the AJC as a modern media company.”

He adds that, in “a city where there is such a dynamic and influential Black community, it means a lot to have a leader like Leroy.”

For his part, Chapman comments, “The AJC should stand on the side of what is right, and that’s how history is going to judge us.”

Chapman, a Navy veteran, joined the AJC in 2011 and was a managing editor. Previously, he served at The State in South Carolina.

Morse previously served in senior roles at CNN, Bloomberg and ABC News.