1. The Meteor (‘We’ or ‘Us’) views complaints as an opportunity to learn and improve the quality of our journalism and the contents of our publication(s) for the future, as well as a chance to put things right for the person (or organisation) that has made the complaint.
2. Our policy is:
- To provide a fair complaints procedure that is clear, convenient and easy to use for anyone wishing to make a complaint (in particular those that are vulnerable or who have disabilities).
- To uphold and adhere to the Standards Code (“Code”) set out in the IMPRESS Regulatory Scheme in our assessment of all complaints.
- To publicise the existence of our complaints procedure so that readers know how to contact us to make a complaint.
- To make sure everyone working for us knows what to do if a complaint is received.
- To make sure all complaints are dealt with promptly and fairly, with decisions based on sufficient investigation of the circumstances and (where appropriate) offer a suitable remedy.
- To make sure that complaints are, wherever possible, resolved and that trust in our journalism and our publication(s) remains strong.
- To identify and respond appropriately to vexatious complaints.
- To gather information about all the complaints we receive to help continually improve the quality of our journalism and our publication(s).
- To submit an annual report to IMPRESS of all complaints received and their outcomes.
- To submit any complaint that is not resolved by us in a timely or satisfactory way to IMPRESS and to comply with directions issued by IMPRESS relating to its Regulatory Scheme.
- To make available to all our members a confidential whistleblowing hotline which is independently operated by IMPRESS and not to take any action to the detriment of anyone who uses the hotline or declines to breach the Code.
Definition of a Complaint
3. A complaint is any expression of dissatisfaction, whether justified or not, about the editorial content, standards of journalism or conduct of production members or contributors involved in production of our publication(s) that engages the standards set out in the Code.
Who Can Complain and How?
4. Complaints may come from any person or organisation who is:
- personally and directly affected by an alleged breach of the Code
- a representative group affected by an alleged breach of the Code, where there is public interest in the complaint
- a third party seeking to ensure accuracy of published information
5. A complaint should be received by email to the editor (editor@themeteor.org), although complaints are accepted by other reasonable means where it is not convenient or practical for the individual complainant to complain in writing.
6. A complaint should be clearly marked as such. General enquiries and requests for corrections will not normally be dealt with as a complaint under this policy unless the complainant makes it clear that they wish to make a complaint.
Vexatious Complaints
7. If We receive a complaint that has the intent of disturbing, disrupting and/or pressurising The Meteor or any of its members, the Editor and Production Team members will meet to discuss the complaint, and decide how to proceed.
8. If a complaint is judged to be vexatious, the Editor will respond to the complaint stating this, and explain why We have reached that decision. If there is no substantive element to the complaint at all, We will then close the complaint.
9. If a vexatious complaint contains substantive elements that do require investigation, these parts of the complaint will be dealt with through the ordinary complaints process.
10. We reserve the right to restrict access to Our online communications, including comments on articles and posts in forums and/or on social media if these channels are used to disturb, disrupt or pressurise The Meteor or any of its members.
11. In the event of coordinated campaigns against The Meteor or any of its members, we will take measures to maintain our service and protect members from harassment. In cases where the complaints procedure is abused for this purpose, we will issue a standard statement rather than replying to each complaint individually.
Whistleblowing Rights of Members and Contributors
12. Members or contributors are encouraged to contact the IMPRESS confidential whistleblowing hotline (“the Hotline”) if they are being pressurised to breach the standards set out in the Code or if they have concerns that the standards set out in the Code are not being adhered to more generally by Us.
13. We will publicise the contact details of the Hotline to all our members and contributors.
14. Any member or contributor who uses the Hotline does so with Our full support and in the knowledge that they will not be sanctioned as a result of doing so.
15. We guarantee to protect all whistle-blowers from possible reprisals, victimisation or sanction if a disclosure has been made in good faith even if a subsequent independent investigation carried out by IMPRESS into our journalism finds there to be no breach of the Code or of the IMPRESS Regulatory Scheme. For the avoidance of doubt, We will not take any action to the detriment of anyone who uses the IMPRESS whistleblowing hotline or declines to breach the Standards Code adopted by Us as part of our compliance with the IMPRESS Regulatory Scheme.
Confidentiality
16. All information provided to The Meteor will be handled sensitively, telling only those who need to know and following any relevant data protection requirements, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Compliance Records
17. In respect of each title We will maintain a written record of all complaints, to include the name and contact details of the complainant, the material or conduct in respect of which the complaint is made and the alleged Code breach.
18. For each complaint record, We will include any steps taken by Us to address the complaint, and the outcome of the complaint. This record will be made available to IMPRESS and to the public (in a redacted form, where necessary), for publication by IMPRESS in its annual report.
19. We will report to IMPRESS all compliance failures of which We become aware (whether complained about or not).
20. Monitoring and learning from complaints are reviewed quarterly by Us to identify any trends which may indicate a need to take further action.
Responsibility
21. Overall responsibility for this policy and its implementation lies with our Production Team, with oversight from the Board of Directors.
22. Responsibility for ensuring that complaints are managed in accordance with this policy lies with the Ethics Circle lead for each title.
23. Each title shall include a statement of arrangements which includes details of the internal authority structure, where responsibilities for Code compliance lie, to whom notice of failure in compliance would be reported (whether complained about or not), together with steps to deal with any failures in compliance.
Complaints Process
Stage One: Making a Complaint
- Information on how to make a complaint is clearly publicised in the ‘Complaints’ page on our website, with details provided in the Contacts section of any printed versions of our publication.
- Complaints may be sent by e-mail to editor@themeteor.org.
- Complainants should provide their name, address, e-mail address and telephone number when contacting Us with their complaint.
If the complaint is about a news article it must include:
- The name and date of the publication and page reference of the specific article being complained about plus the URL.
- URL/Link to any visual or audio element of the complaint.
- A written account of what is being complained about with clear reference made to
- any specific words or phrases in the article that are relevant to the complaint; and
- any clauses of the Standards Code adopted by IMPRESS (“Code”) that the complainant believes to have been breached.
- The desired outcome or remedy sought by the complainant.
If the complaint is about the conduct or behaviour of a Member or contributor it must include:
- The name(s) of the individual(s) being complained about (if known) or any other information which may identify the individual(s).
- a written account of what is being complained about with clear reference made to
- the nature of the behaviour or conduct being complained about including any relevant times, dates, correspondence or other evidence to support the complaint; and
- any clauses of the Code that the complainant believes to have been breached
- The desired outcome or remedy sought by the complainant.
We will make reasonable efforts to contact a complainant by telephone, e-mail or in writing to ensure that sufficient information is provided to respond to the complaint.
Stage Two: Recording, Investigating and Resolving the Complaint
- The editor will confirm receipt of the complaint within 7 calendar days, via email.
- The complaint information should be passed to the Ethics, Governance & Compliance lead. They will record it in the complaints log and will confirm in the log that the editor has acknowledged receipt of the complaint within 7 calendar days of receipt of the complaint.
- In most cases, the complaint will be dealt with by the editor of The Meteor. Regardless, the acknowledgement of receipt of a complaint should say who is dealing with the complaint and when the person complaining can expect a reply. Any conflicts of interest should also be declared at this point. A copy of this complaints policy should be attached.
- The Ethics, Governance & Compliance lead is responsible for ensuring that the circumstances of the complaint are investigated fairly and that any conflicts of interest are managed. This may require the complainant to provide additional information, documents or other evidence to support their complaint.
- Complainants should receive a final decision letter within 21 calendar days from the date of the receipt of the complaint.
- The final decision letter will inform complainants that they have the right to refer their complaint to IMPRESS, stating the applicable time limits, set out in clause 4.4 of the IMPRESS Regulatory Scheme, and how to contact IMPRESS.
- Whether the complaint is justified or not, the reply to the complainant should describe the action taken to investigate the complaint, the conclusions from the investigation, and any action taken as a result of the complaint.
Stage Three – Escalating the Complaint to IMPRESS
If the complainant feels that the problem has not been satisfactorily resolved by Us at Stage Two or if the complainant feels that there are justifiable reasons why the complaint is so urgent that they cannot wait for Us to respond, they can request that the complaint is reviewed by IMPRESS in accordance with its Regulatory Scheme, by contacting IMPRESS using the following details.
Review
This policy is reviewed regularly and updated as required.
Adopted on: 28/06/2021
Last reviewed: 28/06/2021