Atlanta Journal-Constitution names its first Black Editor in Chief, Leroy Chapman Jr.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has taken an historical step in naming Leroy Chapman Jr. editor-in-chief.

Chapman, 52, becomes the first Black top editor in the newspaper’s 155-year history. Chapman has been with the AJC since 2011 and was formerly managing editor with the paper.

He takes the reins as the AJC is accelerating plans to transform the storied daily newspaper into a 24/7 digital news organization.

A Navy vet, Chapman has been a journalist for 28 years. He attended the University of South Carolina and joined the AJC after working with The State newspaper in S.C.. Chapman and his wife Dawn live in Gwinnett County and are the parents of three adult children.

During his time at the AJC, Chapman oversaw coverage of a number of high-profile stories, including efforts to undermine Georgia’s 2020 election results and the court cases of teachers and administrators charged in the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal. Chapman said, “The AJC should stand on the side of what is right and that’s how history is going to judge us.”

Chapman recently met with the staff after his historic appointment and shared the following on his new role:

“This is the honor of a lifetime. Getting here, and I’ve said this a couple of times, is a great American story. I can trace my family back to Colonial America. That’s on my mother’s side. Even on my father’s side, we can’t trace it back that far, but can trace it to the white family that bears my name, who still lives on the properties where my family was owned. So given that, this is significant, and I get it. I know that I represent a lot of people who did not have the same opportunities, no matter their ambitions or talents. They just didn’t get a chance. My grandfather, my dad’s dad, was born in 1909. When you think about the arc of his life, he died when I was 8. He never could have envisioned this. My father passed away in 2020. I hate that he didn’t get to see this, but I know he’s proud.”