diff --git a/submissions/utils.py b/submissions/utils.py
index fa6ee261ff7fd37d0dcd84ec65488fa1184a414d..3c055ef1b2142bd226b6e185265d7f83b44515ed 100644
--- a/submissions/utils.py
+++ b/submissions/utils.py
@@ -86,8 +86,9 @@ class SubmissionUtils(BaseMailUtil):
                       + cls.assignment.submission.preprint.identifier_w_vn_nr
                       + ' (also accessible from your personal page '
                       'https://scipost.org/personal_page under the Editorial Actions tab). '
-                      'In particular, you should now invite at least 3 referees; you might want to'
-                      ' make sure you are aware of the '
+                      'In particular, unless you choose to directly formulate a Recommendation, '
+                      'you should now start a refereeing round and invite at least 3 referees; '
+                      'you might want to make sure you are aware of the '
                       'detailed procedure described in the Editorial College by-laws at '
                       'https://scipost.org/EdCol_by-laws.'
                       '\n\nMany thanks in advance for your collaboration,'
@@ -104,8 +105,9 @@ class SubmissionUtils(BaseMailUtil):
             '(also accessible from your '
             '<a href="https://scipost.org/personal_page">personal page</a> '
             'under the Editorial Actions tab).</p>'
-            '\n<p>In particular, you should now invite at least 3 referees; you might want to '
-            'make sure you are aware of the '
+            '\n<p>In particular, unless you choose to directly formulate a Recommendation, '
+            'you should now start a refereeing round and invite at least 3 referees; '
+            'you might want to make sure you are aware of the '
             'detailed procedure described in the '
             '<a href="https://scipost.org/EdCol_by-laws">Editorial College by-laws</a>.</p>'
             '<p>Many thanks in advance for your collaboration,</p>'
diff --git a/submissions/views.py b/submissions/views.py
index 9d959a6423f17f07fcf716a930beb099371805d5..7adcdc8a66f779fd3876de7ed37b51f9c654ea7e 100644
--- a/submissions/views.py
+++ b/submissions/views.py
@@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ def editorial_assignment(request, identifier_w_vn_nr, assignment_id=None):
             else:
                 # Inform authors about new status.
                 mail_sender = DirectMailUtil(
-                    'authors/inform_authors_eic_assigned_direct_rec', submission=submission)
+                    'authors/inform_authors_eic_assigned_direct_rec', assignment=assignment)
                 mail_sender.send_mail()
 
             submission.add_general_event('The Editor-in-charge has been assigned.')
diff --git a/templates/email/authors/inform_authors_eic_assigned_direct_rec.html b/templates/email/authors/inform_authors_eic_assigned_direct_rec.html
index bc74bafdce6f189418769a6037aa82bb9ca5b839..3787809638becb6423216292c3e710e5b5370a9a 100644
--- a/templates/email/authors/inform_authors_eic_assigned_direct_rec.html
+++ b/templates/email/authors/inform_authors_eic_assigned_direct_rec.html
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 <p>
-  Dear {{ submission.submitted_by.get_title_display }} {{ submission.submitted_by.user.last_name }},
+  Dear {{ assignment.submission.submitted_by.get_title_display }} {{ assignment.submission.submitted_by.user.last_name }},
 </p>
 <p>
   For your information, your Submission
   <br><br>
-  {{ submission.title }}
-  <br>by {{ submission.author_list }}<br>
-  (see https://scipost.org{{ submission.get_absolute_url }}.
+  {{ assignment.submission.title }}
+  <br>by {{ assignment.submission.author_list }}<br>
+  (see https://scipost.org{{ assignment.submission.get_absolute_url }}.
 </p>
 
 <p>has been assigned to an editor. The editor chose to directly formulate an Editorial Recommendation.</p>
@@ -19,4 +19,4 @@
 </p>
 {% include 'email/_footer.html' %}
 
-{% include 'email/_submission_thread_uuid.html' with submission=submission %}
+{% include 'email/_submission_thread_uuid.html' with submission=assignment.submission %}
diff --git a/templates/email/authors/inform_authors_eic_assigned_direct_rec.json b/templates/email/authors/inform_authors_eic_assigned_direct_rec.json
index 65a877254cfc307f05cd2e176ee77def12d8f9fa..80399d1b57d929fc8b62f13d941650a8a2e09db3 100644
--- a/templates/email/authors/inform_authors_eic_assigned_direct_rec.json
+++ b/templates/email/authors/inform_authors_eic_assigned_direct_rec.json
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 {
     "subject": "SciPost: Editor assigned",
     "recipient_list": [
-        "submitted_by.user.email"
+        "submission.submitted_by.user.email"
     ],
     "bcc": [
-        "editor_in_charge.user.email",
+        "to.user.email",
         "edadmin@scipost.org"
     ],
     "from_name": "SciPost Refereeing",