Procedure, forms and guidance

Complaints will generally be allowed on the following grounds:

WesternEye has violated the standards of journalism set out in the UWESU Student Media Guidelines, and especially those standards enshrined in the National Union of Journalists’ Code of Conduct and the UK Press Complaints Commission Code of Practice

The first stage of making a complaint is to get in touch with the editor, George Rowe, at: editor@westerneye.net.

Please state the nature of your grievance and the article that it is concerned with. If possible, the editor will attempt to resolve the complaint informally with you, possibly by offering to print a correction, clarification or apology, or offering the opportunity to voice your complaint in the form of an article. If this is not acceptable, or the editor does not believe the complaint to be valid, then the complaint then enters the formal complaint process.

The editor will supply you will all the relevant documentation for making a complaint, including: Formal Complaint form, Formal Complaint guidance notes, and a copy of the UWESU Student Media Guidelines.

The Formal Complaint Form has the following sections to be completed:

• The nature of the complaint
• The specific story or WesternEye operative with which the complaint is concerned
• The details of any offensive material, misleading statements, or unprofessional behaviour concerned in the complaint
• The details of any specific harms caused by the actions of WesternEye
• The complainant’s contact details
• Desired outcomes

This formal complaint will then be taken to the Editorial Board, and the complainant will receive a reply stating when the complaint will be heard and when they should expect a resolution. If the Board cannot meet within a reasonable period of time then an ulterior method of resolution will be sought.

The Board (with the Editor lacking a vote) shall have fourteen actual days from receiving a complaint to investigate the complaint and either render judgement or seek additional time. The Board may take up to 20 additional days on the grounds that:

(i). Professional legal advice must be sought on the matter

(ii). The Board is unable to meet for reasonable logistical reasons (i.e., it is mid-summer and several members are unavailable) and must work more slowly.

(iii). Additional evidence related to the complaint must be gathered and cannot be found within the fourteen-day limit for a specified reason.

When taking additional time under i.i-i.iii above, the Board will advise the complainant on the reasons for delay and on when they should expect a reply. Any delay beyond ten days for reasons not specified in i.i-i.iii above or beyond thirty-four days for reasons including i.i-i.iii above must be agreed with the complainant.

Complainants should be advised that if they are not satisfied with the decision of the board then they should contact the Press Complaints Commission.

The editor and the Board will:

• consider their judgments on complaints on the basis of fairness and not simply on the minimum action required to avoid liability or public embarrassment.
• not harass, threaten, or otherwise unduly dissuade a complainant from proceeding with a complaint and should volunteer procedural information helpful to making a complaint.
• be transparent in its operational practices and in how it handles complaints. It should, at the same time, protect confidential sources and methods of information-gathering.

WesternEye will maintain accurate records of complaints and judgements and use these to educate its editors and reporters in order to avoid the repetition of harmful mistakes.

Decisions of the Board

1. a. The decisions of the Board regarding complaints will be made public so that the process is open and transparent, unless the complainant wishes otherwise.
2. b. The Board will be able to make recommendations on what action should be taken e.g. publishing a formal apology.
3. The Board can communicate its conclusions to other SU committees and meetings that it deems appropriate, unless the complainant wishes otherwise.