The right-to-reply policy

The standard

A substantive objection must include three things:

1. The specific statement in the Brief being objected to — quoted directly, not characterized.
2. The basis of the objection — factual error, missing context, defamation, or other clearly stated ground.
3. Supporting material, where the objection asserts a factual error — primary documents, public records, or other evidence that bears on the disputed point.

Vague objections, generalized denials, retraction demands without basis, and legal threats without engagement on substance do not meet the standard and will not trigger review.

The process

Substantive objections are reviewed within fourteen days. Three outcomes are possible:

1. The Brief stands unchanged. The review concludes the Brief accurately reflects the evidence and the objection does not warrant revision.
2. The Brief is corrected or clarified. Where the review finds factual error or material missing context, the Brief is updated and the change is noted at the foot of the Brief.
3. The Brief includes an appended response from the complainant. Where the objection is substantive but the Brief stands on the evidence, the complainant may have a response appended verbatim, with a header noting their name and the date of the response.

What this policy is not

The right to reply is not a veto. The Brief will not retract a Brief on the basis of displeasure, reputational concern, or the prominence of the complainant. It will revise a Brief where the evidence warrants revision, and it will append a substantive response where the evidence supports the Brief but the complainant has a substantive case to make.

How to submit

Send your objection to us on X, at @synthebrief. A direct message or a reply both reach us. Include the three things set out above — the statement you object to, quoted; the basis of the objection; and any supporting material. If the material is too long for a message, say so and we will arrange another way to receive it.

A dedicated submission interface will be added at public launch. Until then, X is the channel, it is monitored, and an objection sent there is treated exactly as this policy describes.