If you are going to jump the chain of command, you must inform your immediate senior you are going over his head and why you are doing it.
Yep. It isn’t a good thing when the first the boss hears about it is in the newspapers.
You do not TELL your superior you are going over his head, you instead request permission to do so. In any and all cases this request will be granted. To not do so is itself a violation of protocol by the superior officer.