Right of Reply
Anyone we make a serious allegation against has a fair chance to respond before we publish.
Fairness is a condition of credibility. Before we publish, the people and organisations we write about get the chance to answer.
When it applies
We offer a right of reply whenever we intend to publish a serious allegation, a critical finding or a claim that could damage the reputation of a person, an organisation or an institution. It applies equally to politicians, officials, public bodies, companies and private individuals, whatever their party or position.
What we do
- We contact them in writing, using the most reliable address we can find, and we say clearly that this is a request for a response.
- We set out the substance of the allegations, with specific questions, and we share the evidence where it is safe to do so.
- We give a reasonable deadline, which we state in the request. [TO ADD: your usual response window, for example "we normally allow at least X working days"]
- We keep a record of every attempt to reach them, and of every reply.
- We report the response fairly, in their own words where possible, next to the allegation and not buried below it.
If there is no reply
We say so in the story, and we state what we did to reach them. A refusal to comment is reported as a refusal, and not as an admission.
Late replies
If a response arrives after publication, we add it to the story and note the update. If it shows that we were wrong, we correct the story under our corrections policy.
When we may publish without prior contact
Contacting the subject of a story could, in rare cases, put a source or another person at risk, or could lead to evidence being destroyed or hidden. A senior editor may then decide to publish without prior contact. The decision and its reasons are recorded. Where we safely can, we explain them in the story.
What the right of reply does not mean
- The subject cannot approve or change our story.
- We do not agree to withhold or delay publication in return for a response.
- We do not change our findings because of pressure or threats. See editorial independence.
If you disagree with how we handled it
See our complaints policy.