Editorial Standards, Corrections and Complaints Policy
Editorial Standards, Corrections and Complaints Policy Effective from 25 July 2026
Ownership and editorial responsibility
MidlandsGRIT is published by Just Only Limited, company number 09031530. Mike Olley is the editor and the person responsible for editorial decisions and publication.
MidlandsGRIT publishes independent journalism, commentary and analysis concerning Birmingham, the West Midlands and matters affecting the wider region. Our purpose is to scrutinise power, explain public affairs, recognise achievement and contribute to an informed civic life.
Accuracy
We aim to publish information that is accurate, properly sourced and presented in its correct context. Material facts should be checked before publication wherever reasonably possible. Headlines, images, captions and social-media descriptions should accurately reflect the substance of the article and should not materially mislead readers.
Where information is uncertain, disputed or based upon an allegation, that should be made clear. We will distinguish between established fact, reported allegation, professional judgement, inference and opinion.
A quotation may be shortened for clarity or length, but its meaning must not be materially altered.
Fairness and the opportunity to respond
People and organisations facing significant criticism or serious allegations will normally be given an appropriate opportunity to respond before publication, where it is reasonable and practicable to do so.
The time allowed for a response will depend upon the seriousness, complexity and urgency of the matter. A refusal or failure to respond will not automatically prevent publication.
Fairness does not require MidlandsGRIT to give equal weight to claims that are demonstrably false or unsupported. It does require us to represent material evidence honestly, avoid deliberate distortion and include relevant responses fairly.
Comment, analysis and opinion
MidlandsGRIT publishes comment and analysis as well as factual reporting. Opinion should be recognisable as opinion and should be based upon honestly held views.
Comment may be forceful, humorous, satirical or critical, but it should not rely upon facts known to be false. The distinction between reporting and personal commentary should remain reasonably clear to the reader.
Independence and conflicts of interest
Editorial decisions will not be controlled by politicians, public bodies, advertisers, sponsors, commercial partners, campaigners, friends or habitual sources.
Any significant personal, political, professional or financial interest that could reasonably affect a reader’s understanding of an article should be disclosed where relevant.
Hospitality, gifts or personal relationships must not purchase favourable treatment or prevent legitimate scrutiny. Paid or sponsored material will be identified clearly and will remain separate from independent editorial judgement.
Sources and confidential information
We will take reasonable steps to assess the reliability, motives and knowledge of sources. Information supplied by one source should be independently checked where the seriousness of the allegation or public consequences make that necessary.
MidlandsGRIT may protect the identity of a confidential source where there is a legitimate reason to do so. Confidentiality will not be promised casually, and it cannot be used to excuse publishing information that has not been adequately tested.
Documents, recordings, correspondence and other evidence will be handled responsibly and in accordance with applicable law.
Privacy, grief and vulnerable people
We will balance the public interest in publication against the reasonable expectation of privacy held by individuals.
Particular care will be taken when reporting matters involving grief, trauma, illness, disability, children, vulnerable adults or people unfamiliar with media attention. Intrusion should not be greater than the public interest requires.
The fact that information has appeared on social media does not automatically make its wider publication fair or necessary.
Discrimination and personal characteristics
References to race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age or other personal characteristics should be included only where genuinely relevant to the story.
MidlandsGRIT will not use prejudicial or demeaning language merely to provoke attention. This does not prevent legitimate reporting or criticism of ideas, conduct, organisations or public policy.
Children
The welfare and privacy of children will be treated with particular care. A child’s identity, image or personal information should not be published without proper consideration of consent, public interest and possible harm.
The child’s interests will not automatically be overridden because a parent, school, organisation or public authority wishes publicity to occur.
Crime, courts and allegations
A person accused of wrongdoing will not be presented as guilty before that has been properly established.
Court and criminal-justice reporting must be accurate, fair and attentive to legal restrictions. Particular care will be taken with anonymity requirements, reporting restrictions, contempt of court, spent convictions and material that could prejudice proceedings.
Where an investigation has ended without charge, a prosecution has been discontinued, or a person has been acquitted, that outcome should be reported when it is materially relevant to earlier coverage.
Artificial intelligence and digital tools
MidlandsGRIT may use digital and artificial-intelligence tools to assist with tasks such as transcription, research organisation, formatting, editing, accessibility, image development, audio or video production and distribution.
Such tools do not replace human editorial responsibility. Material facts must be checked by a person before publication, and the final decision to publish remains a human decision.
Artificial intelligence must not be used knowingly to invent quotations, sources, evidence, events or factual claims. Where synthetic material, digital presenters or substantial AI-generated imagery could reasonably be mistaken for an authentic recording or photograph, its nature should be disclosed.
Personal, confidential or legally sensitive information should not be entered into external systems without proper consideration of privacy, security and data protection.
Corrections
We will correct significant factual errors promptly and with appropriate prominence.
Minor spelling, grammar or formatting mistakes may be corrected without a formal notice where they do not alter the meaning of the article. Where a correction changes a material fact, the article should normally carry a clear correction note explaining what was changed.
An article will not ordinarily be removed simply because it has become inconvenient or unwelcome. Removal may, however, be considered where publication is unlawful, seriously inaccurate, disproportionately harmful, or no longer justified by the public interest.
Updates may be added where later events materially change the position reported in the original article.
Complaints
Anyone may complain about material published by MidlandsGRIT. A complaint should identify:
the article or material concerned;
the date of publication, where known;
the statement, image or conduct being challenged;
why it is believed to be inaccurate, unfair or otherwise contrary to this policy;
the correction or remedy being sought;
any supporting evidence.
Complaints may be submitted by replying to the relevant MidlandsGRIT email or through the contact details published on the MidlandsGRIT website.
We aim to acknowledge a substantive complaint within seven days and to provide a considered response within 21 days. Complex complaints may require longer, particularly where documents must be examined, third parties consulted or legal advice obtained. Where possible, the complainant will be told if additional time is required.
How complaints will be considered
A complaint will be assessed against the material available when the article was published, any relevant new evidence, the seriousness of the issue and the public interest.
Possible outcomes include:
no change;
clarification;
amendment;
correction;
apology;
additional right of reply;
publication of an update;
removal of material in exceptional circumstances.
Disagreement with an opinion, criticism or editorial conclusion does not by itself establish that this policy has been breached.
Abusive, threatening, persistently repetitive or plainly vexatious correspondence may be brought to an end once the substantive issues have been addressed.
Complaints involving the editor
Where a complaint concerns the personal conduct or interests of the editor, Just Only Limited will, where reasonably practicable, seek an independent view from an appropriately experienced person who was not involved in preparing the article.
The final response will explain the conclusion reached and any action taken.
Accountability
MidlandsGRIT expects accountability from the organisations and individuals it reports upon. We therefore accept the same obligation ourselves.
Mistakes will be acknowledged, corrected and learned from. Good-faith criticism will be considered seriously. Editorial independence will not, however, be surrendered merely because accurate public-interest journalism causes discomfort, embarrassment or disagreement.
MidlandsGRIT is published by Just Only Limited, company number 09031530. Editor: Mike Olley.