Right of Reply

When I report on named people or organisations, I approach them before I publish and give them a fair opportunity to respond. This page explains what that means in practice.

When I approach

I approach before publication where a piece:

• Makes a specific factual claim about a named individual or organisation that they could reasonably dispute;
• Attributes a decision, action or statement to a named person or organisation;
• Draws a critical conclusion about a named person or organisation.

I do not approach for every mention. General descriptive references, commentary on matters already in the public record, and routine contextual mentions do not normally require a pre-publication approach.

What I send

When I approach a subject, I will tell them:

• Who I am and what I am working on
• The specific claims or attributions I intend to publish about them
• Where those claims come from (named sources and documents wherever possible)
• The questions I would like answered
• The deadline for response

I do not send the full draft of the piece, but I give enough detail that the subject can meaningfully respond.

Response windows

• Standard: 5 working days.
• Shorter where time-critical: 48 hours for a genuinely time-sensitive story. Shorter windows are used sparingly, and I will say why.
• Longer where needed: where a subject needs additional time for a serious and substantial response, I will consider it.

A response window is the outer limit. Where a subject comes back earlier, I proceed as soon as I have reasonably considered the response.

How responses are incorporated

• A substantive response that directly addresses our claims is quoted or summarised in the piece, fairly and in proportion to the claims.
• A denial without detail is reported as a denial.
• A no comment is reported as a no comment.
• A non-response (no reply within the window) is reported as "did not respond to a request for comment", with the method and timing of our approach stated accurately.

I do not publish partial or selective quotations designed to mislead the reader about the balance of a response.

Post-publication right of reply

Subjects retain the right to respond after publication:

• If I failed to reach a subject despite a genuine attempt, they can request a post-publication right of reply.
• If a subject has new information or evidence that would change the account, they can raise it through the Complaints Procedure.
• Where a post-publication response is material, I publish it — as a note on the piece, a stand-alone reply, or a correction, depending on the content.

Questions or concerns

If you have been approached by Ennui Nation® and have questions about the process, or if you were not approached and believe you should have been, email complaints@ennuination.com.