A practical account of what happens when you submit a case, what is asked of you at each stage, and what you can expect from us. Not every case is accepted. The criteria for acceptance are not published.
You complete the submission form, describing the dispute, the steps you have already taken, and the documentation you hold. You do not need to have everything in order — but the more complete the file, the more useful the review.
You receive an automatic confirmation. This confirms receipt only. It is not a decision.
We examine what you have submitted against criteria we do not publish. The review covers documentation, the seriousness of the matter, the proportionality of the proposed outcome, and whether MediaJudge is the appropriate route.
You receive a decision in writing. Cases not accepted are returned with a brief explanation, where possible. Acceptance is not a finding on the merits; it is a finding that the case meets the threshold for our review.
For accepted cases, we work with you to complete the documentation. This may include obtaining additional records, organising correspondence into a chronological account, and verifying facts where necessary.
The objective at this stage is a file that is legally robust and admissible — a document that can stand on its own when read by a journalist, an editor, or a court.
We prepare a documented resolution proposal — a concrete, reasoned outcome — and put it to the company together with the case file. The company is given a specified period to respond, normally twenty-one days.
Many cases end here. Where the company addresses the matter to your satisfaction, the case is closed. Where the response raises material questions, further exchange may follow. You are kept informed at every step.
If no resolution is reached, the case proceeds. The documentation is structured to move with it. From this point forward, the public step is yours to take. We support that process; we do not perform it.
Where the facts warrant it, we direct the case to the appropriate local court with jurisdiction. Where media attention is the more proportionate route, we help structure the file for that purpose. The decision is yours. Our role is to make sure the file holds up under either route.
If your case is urgent, involves immediate physical or financial harm, or is time-critical in a way that cannot wait for our review, this is not the right route. Contact a lawyer or the appropriate authorities directly.