Editorial Complaints & Dispute Resolution Policy

1. Introduction

VALCORED News Network is committed to responsible journalism and meaningful editorial accountability.

We recognise that readers, news sources and individuals affected by published material may sometimes have legitimate concerns about accuracy, fairness, privacy, attribution or journalistic conduct.

Our Editorial Complaints & Dispute Resolution Policy explains how concerns may be submitted, how they are assessed and how VNN determines appropriate outcomes.

We believe criticism should be considered on its merits, and credible complaints should provide an opportunity to identify errors, clarify information and strengthen editorial standards.

2. Purpose

This policy aims to:

• Provide an accessible process for raising editorial complaints.
• Ensure concerns are assessed fairly and proportionately.
• Distinguish factual inaccuracies from disagreements of opinion.
• Establish appropriate editorial review and escalation procedures.
• Protect legitimate privacy and confidentiality interests.
• Address significant errors through appropriate corrective action.
• Explain how complainants may seek reconsideration.
• Improve accountability and professional publishing practices.

3. Scope

This policy applies to concerns involving material published or editorially controlled by VNN, including:

• News reports and articles.
• Breaking-news coverage.
• Headlines and summaries.
• Editorial photographs and videos.
• Opinion and analysis.
• Newsletters and editorial alerts.
• VNN-operated social media publications.
• Syndicated material published on VNN’s platforms.
• AI-assisted editorial content.
• Material attribution or sourcing disputes.

Complaints about reader comments, advertisements, copyright or technical problems may also be received but may be managed under additional relevant policies.

4. Who May Submit a Complaint?

Complaints may be submitted by:

1. Readers.
2. Individuals named or identifiable in reporting.
3. Organisations affected by published information.
4. News sources and interviewees.
5. Legal or authorised representatives.
6. Contributors and other relevant parties.

A person does not necessarily need to be directly named in a publication to raise a legitimate concern.

Anonymous complaints may be considered, although an absence of contact details can limit VNN’s ability to investigate or provide an outcome.

5. Matters That May Be Complained About

5.1 Factual Inaccuracy

Claims that published material contains incorrect or materially misleading factual information.

5.2 Unfair Reporting

Concerns that significant information, responses or context have been omitted or misrepresented.

5.3 Privacy

Allegations that publication unnecessarily intrudes upon legitimate personal privacy interests.

5.4 Misleading Headlines or Images

Concerns involving headlines, thumbnails, captions or visual material that create a materially inaccurate impression.

5.5 Source Attribution

Concerns regarding unacknowledged original reporting, inaccurate quotations, plagiarism or misleading attribution.

5.6 Editorial Independence

Allegations involving undisclosed commercial relationships, conflicts of interest or improper editorial influence.

5.7 Discrimination or Unnecessary Harm

Concerns that content unnecessarily promotes discriminatory representations, creates serious avoidable harm or breaches relevant editorial standards.

5.8 Artificial Intelligence

Concerns involving fabricated material, undisclosed material AI involvement, synthetic media or AI-generated factual errors.

5.9 Failure to Correct

Concerns that a significant, adequately evidenced error has not received an appropriate editorial response.

6. Matters Outside the Editorial Complaints Process

Some issues require a different process.

Examples include:

• Technical website problems.
• Advertising account enquiries.
• Employment disputes.
• Requests for paid commercial placements.
• Copyright licensing negotiations.
• Formal legal proceedings.
• General business questions.
• Complaints solely about external websites over which VNN has no editorial control.

VNN may direct such enquiries to an appropriate contact channel.

However, where externally produced content is republished by VNN, the organisation should consider its own responsibilities in relation to that publication.

7. How to Submit an Editorial Complaint

Editorial Complaints Contact

A complaint should ideally include:

1. The complainant’s name or appropriate contact details.
2. The relevant article title.
3. A direct URL or sufficient information to locate the material.
4. The date of publication, if known.
5. A clear description of the concern.
6. Identification of the particular statement, image or editorial decision being challenged.
7. Relevant supporting evidence.
8. The remedy being requested.

Complaints should be presented in good faith and with sufficient detail to allow meaningful assessment.

A formal legal notice should be directed through the appropriate legal channel where required.

8. Acknowledgement and Initial Screening

Following receipt, a complaint should be assessed to determine:

• Whether the relevant content is within VNN’s editorial responsibility.
• Whether sufficient information has been provided.
• The seriousness of the allegation.
• Whether urgent action may be required.
• Whether an applicable legal process is involved.
• Whether the complaint is substantially duplicative of an earlier resolved matter.
• Whether the matter can appropriately be handled through an ordinary correction request.

VNN aims to consider credible complaints promptly, taking account of available resources and the significance of the issue.

No fixed acknowledgement or resolution deadline is guaranteed unless specifically published.

9. Urgent Complaints

Certain issues may justify immediate editorial attention.

Examples include:

• An alleged breach of a suppression order.
• Publication of information exposing a child to serious harm.
• Incorrect identification of a suspected offender.
• Disclosure of a confidential source’s identity.
• A serious and unjustified invasion of privacy.
• Publication of material presenting an immediate safety concern.
• A significant false emergency alert.
• Unlawful or seriously harmful imagery.

Where necessary, VNN may temporarily restrict relevant material while further enquiries are undertaken.

Temporary restriction does not necessarily mean that the complaint has been upheld.

10. Investigation Procedure

The nature of an investigation will depend on the complaint.

Appropriate steps may include:

Step 1 — Identify the Publication

Locate the article or material and preserve relevant records where appropriate.

Step 2 — Define the Issues

Identify the factual, ethical or legal questions requiring determination.

Step 3 — Review Supporting Evidence

Examine relevant source material, records, links, documents and other credible evidence.

Step 4 — Consult Relevant Editorial Personnel

Seek explanations from the journalist, editor or other person responsible for the material.

Step 5 — Consider the Complainant’s Position

Assess the substance of the complaint fairly and without unnecessary assumptions.

Step 6 — Obtain Additional Information

Where appropriate, request clarification, corroboration or a response from affected individuals.

Step 7 — Make an Editorial Determination

Evaluate the available evidence against VNN’s published standards.

Step 8 — Determine Appropriate Action

Select a remedy, if warranted, proportionate to the nature and seriousness of the issue.

11. Fairness and Procedural Integrity

Complaint reviews should be conducted impartially.

An editorial review should not be dismissed solely because the publication was previously approved.

Where possible, the person conducting the review should not have an unresolved material conflict concerning the complaint.

The complainant and relevant editorial personnel should be given reasonable opportunities to provide information appropriate to the circumstances.

This process does not automatically establish a right to obtain confidential editorial records, unpublished source material or privileged legal advice.

12. Possible Complaint Outcomes

A complaint may result in:

Complaint Upheld

The review identifies a relevant breach or material editorial defect.

Complaint Partly Upheld

Some concerns are substantiated while others are not.

Complaint Not Upheld

The available evidence does not establish that the publication breached the applicable editorial standards.

Clarification Required

Further context or explanation is warranted.

Correction Required

A material factual error has been identified.

Retraction or Withdrawal

The seriousness of the defect justifies withdrawal or another substantial remedy.

Further Review Required

Additional verification or legal assessment is necessary before a final decision.

The appropriate outcome will depend on the evidence and circumstances.

13. Remedies and Corrective Action

Potential remedies include:

• Correcting factual information.
• Publishing a clarification.
• Amending a misleading headline.
• Correcting an image caption.
• Adding material source attribution.
• Including a relevant response.
• Publishing an editor’s note.
• Retracting a fundamentally unreliable publication.
• Restricting or removing material.
• Improving editorial procedures.
• Providing additional editorial training.

VNN will not automatically remove accurate, lawful reporting merely because it is unpopular or disputed.

14. Communication of Outcomes

Where contact details are available and a response is appropriate, VNN should aim to communicate the outcome of a substantive complaint.

The response may explain:

1. The issue considered.
2. The general basis for the determination.
3. Any corrective action taken.
4. Whether further review is available.
5. Any material limitations on information that can be disclosed.

VNN may be unable to disclose confidential sources, protected personal information, legal advice or certain internal records.

15. Requests for Reconsideration

A complainant who disagrees with an outcome may seek reconsideration.

A reconsideration request should explain:

• Which aspect of the determination is disputed.
• Why the original assessment may have been incorrect.
• Whether relevant evidence was overlooked.
• Whether significant new information has become available.
• What revised outcome is requested.

Where practicable, a reconsideration should be assessed by someone other than the original decision-maker.

VNN may decline repeated requests that provide no material new basis for review.

16. External Complaint Mechanisms

Depending on the nature of the issue and the publication’s actual memberships or regulatory status, external processes may be available.

The Australian Press Council provides a complaints mechanism for publications within its jurisdiction.

VNN does not claim membership of the Australian Press Council unless and until such membership is formally established.

Other legal or regulatory avenues may be available depending on the subject matter and applicable law.

VNN’s internal complaints process does not remove a person’s statutory rights.

17. Privacy and Confidentiality

Personal information submitted during a complaint should be handled in accordance with applicable privacy obligations and VNN’s Privacy Policy.

Relevant information may need to be shared with authorised editorial personnel, legal advisers or other appropriate parties for legitimate assessment.

Confidentiality requests should be considered carefully.

Absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where disclosure is required by law or necessary for a fair and lawful process.

18. Abusive or Misleading Complaints

VNN welcomes legitimate criticism, including strong disagreement.

However, threats, unlawful harassment, knowingly fabricated evidence and abusive conduct may be managed through proportionate restrictions.

The use of forceful language does not automatically invalidate a substantive complaint.

Where possible, a legitimate editorial concern should be assessed separately from inappropriate conduct accompanying it.

19. Record Keeping

VNN should retain appropriate records of material complaints and outcomes where lawful and proportionate.

Records may include:

• The original complaint.
• The relevant publication.
• Supporting evidence.
• Editorial findings.
• Communications with relevant parties.
• Corrective action taken.
• The final determination.

Access should be restricted appropriately, and retention should be consistent with legal and privacy requirements.

20. Continuous Improvement

Significant or recurring complaints should inform improvements in editorial practice.

VNN may review patterns involving sourcing, headline accuracy, sensitive reporting, AI-assisted material, attribution or inadequate corrections.

Our objective is not only to resolve individual concerns but also to reduce the likelihood of similar problems recurring.

21. Policy Review

This policy should be reviewed annually and when significant editorial, legal or operational changes occur.

The publisher or designated editorial lead is responsible for overseeing its implementation.

22. Our Commitment to Readers

A responsible newsroom must remain open to legitimate scrutiny.

VNN believes that a clear, fair and accessible complaints process helps protect the integrity of journalism and the interests of the people affected by it.

A complaint deserves consideration because of the evidence it raises, not because of the status or influence of the person making it.