Complaints

You do not need to use legal language or identify a particular rule or code.

What can I complain about?

You can complain about published journalism or journalistic conduct, including concerns about:

• accuracy;
• misleading information;
• fairness;
• privacy;
• harassment or intrusion;
• discrimination;
• reporting involving children or vulnerable people;
• confidential information;
• the way information was obtained;
• a failure to provide an appropriate opportunity to respond;
• a potential conflict of interest;
• another matter covered by my Editorial Standards.

You can also contact me if you believe an important piece of context has been omitted in a way that makes published reporting materially misleading.

A disagreement with an opinion, conclusion or editorial judgement will not necessarily mean that editorial standards have been breached.

How to make a complaint

Please include:

• the article, page or material you are complaining about;
• a link to the material where possible;
• what you believe is wrong or unfair;
• why you believe it should be corrected or otherwise addressed;
• any documents or information that may help me understand the complaint;
• how you would like me to contact you.

You do not need to identify a particular clause of an editorial code.

There is no charge for making a complaint.

When should I complain?

Please contact me as soon as reasonably possible after the publication or conduct concerned.

As a general guide, complaints made within four months of publication or the relevant conduct are easier to investigate properly.

However, I will not automatically refuse to consider an older complaint, particularly where:

• material remains publicly available;
• a significant factual inaccuracy is alleged;
• there is a continuing impact;
• there is another good reason why the complaint could not reasonably have been made sooner.

Who can complain?

You can complain if you are personally affected by something I have published or by my journalistic conduct.

I will also consider:

• complaints made by somebody authorised to act for another person;
• complaints identifying a significant factual inaccuracy even where the complainant is not personally involved;
• complaints from organisations or representative groups where appropriate;
• other complaints where there is a clear public interest in considering the issue.

Where somebody else is more directly affected by the issue, I may take their position into account before deciding how to proceed.

What happens after I complain?

I will treat complaints seriously and respectfully.

Some complaints may take longer, particularly where they involve:

• complex investigations;
• archived material;
• several people or organisations;
• legal issues;
• confidential sources;
• significant amounts of evidence.

If I cannot reasonably complete my consideration within 20 working days, I will explain that and provide an update.

These are service standards rather than statutory deadlines for editorial complaints.

How I will consider a complaint

I will consider the relevant published material, the information provided by the complainant and any underlying records needed to assess the issue fairly.

Depending on the complaint, I may also consider:

• source material;
• interview notes;
• documentary evidence;
• correspondence;
• responses sought before publication;
• applicable law;
• public interest considerations;
• recognised journalistic standards.

My Editorial Standards have regard, where relevant, to recognised principles contained in the Editors' Code of Practice (opens in a new tab) and the National Union of Journalists Code of Conduct (opens in a new tab).

Possible outcomes

After considering a complaint, I may:

• uphold it;
• uphold it in part;
• not uphold it;
• seek further information;
• correct published material;
• clarify or update an article;
• add an editor's or correction note;
• offer an appropriate opportunity to reply;
• remove material where there is a proper reason to do so;
• apologise where appropriate;
• take another proportionate editorial step.

The appropriate outcome will depend on the circumstances.

I will normally explain the reasons for my decision.

Corrections

If your concern is simply that a factual statement is wrong, you can also use my Corrections page.

Significant inaccuracies should be corrected promptly and transparently.

Where an article is materially corrected after publication, the correction or update should normally be identified on the article itself.

Data protection complaints

A complaint about the way I have collected, used, stored, disclosed or otherwise handled your personal information is a data protection complaint.

This includes concerns about:

• access to your personal information;
• accuracy of personal information;
• retention;
• security;
• data protection rights;
• lawful processing.

You can still email ryan@ryanjarvis.uk.

If possible, use the subject: Data protection complaint.

Data protection complaints are handled under the separate requirements of UK data protection law.

I will acknowledge a data protection complaint within 30 days and will take appropriate steps to investigate it and communicate the outcome without undue delay.

Read my Privacy Notice.

The ordinary 20 working day editorial complaints target does not replace the requirements that apply to data protection complaints.

Where one complaint raises both editorial and data protection issues, I may consider the different aspects together while applying the correct requirements to each.

Legal complaints or threatened proceedings

If your complaint concerns:

• threatened or ongoing legal proceedings;
• defamation;
• contempt of court;
• breach of confidence;
• copyright;
• another legal claim;

please make that clear when contacting me.

A legal dispute may affect how an editorial complaint can be investigated or answered, but I will not automatically refuse to consider a complaint merely because legal issues have been raised.

I may obtain independent legal advice where appropriate.

Confidential sources

Nothing in this complaints procedure means that I will automatically identify a confidential journalistic source or disclose confidential source material.

Source protection is an important journalistic principle and any request for source information will be considered in accordance with applicable law, journalistic ethics and the circumstances of the case.

Independent status

Ryan Jarvis Journalism is currently an independent journalism operation.

I am not currently regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).

My reference to the Editors' Code of Practice reflects the journalistic standards I choose to have regard to. It does not mean that IPSO regulates this website or can necessarily consider complaints about my journalism.

Respectful communication

I will communicate with complainants courteously and expect the same in return.

I may restrict repeated, abusive or threatening communications where doing so is reasonable and does not prevent a legitimate complaint from being properly considered.

A complaint will not be rejected merely because it is strongly expressed or critical of my journalism.

Contact

ICO registration: ZB338223 (opens in a new tab)