# Editorial Exception Request

Request, assess, and approve a time-limited departure from an editorial policy while preserving the rule, rationale, safeguards, accountability, and review trail.

## Usage note

Use this request only when a current editorial rule genuinely applies and the proposed work cannot meet it as written. Do not use an exception to bypass mandatory law, safety, privacy, contractual duties, or a qualified reviewer. The policy owner should decide whether an exception is permitted and what evidence, safeguards, duration, and follow-up it requires.

## How to use this template

1. Cite the applicable policy clause and describe the smallest precise departure being requested.
2. Explain the documented need, deadline, audience effect, and why normal compliance is not currently feasible.
3. Evaluate compliant alternatives and record why each is insufficient for this case.
4. Assess risks, propose compensating controls, define scope and expiry, and send the request to the authorized policy owner.
5. Record the decision before acting, monitor its conditions, and close or escalate the exception when it expires.

## Blank template

### Request identity

- **Request ID:** [Use a durable identifier]
- **Requester:** [Name and role]
- **Content or project:** [Title and internal link]
- **Decision deadline:** [Date and time]
- **Policy owner:** [Authorized role]
- **Policy version:** [Date or version]
- **Applicable clause:** [Quote briefly and link the source]
- **Requested departure:** [Describe the exact deviation]

### Need and alternatives

- **Audience or operational need:** [Explain the consequence of not proceeding]
- **Evidence for urgency:** [Dates, dependencies, or service impact]
- **Compliant option A:** [Describe and explain feasibility]
- **Compliant option B:** [Describe and explain feasibility]
- **Why an exception remains necessary:** [Use concrete constraints]
- **Policy purpose:** [What harm or inconsistency does the rule prevent?]

### Risk and safeguards

- **Potential harm:** [Factual, legal, privacy, safety, fairness, or trust effects]
- **Affected people:** [Who bears the risk?]
- **Compensating controls:** [Review, limits, notices, monitoring, or evidence]
- **Scope:** [Files, channels, regions, and audience]
- **Effective period:** [Start and expiry]
- **Stop conditions:** [Events that cancel approval]
- **Control owners:** [Name each owner and due date]
- [ ] Required specialist reviewers have been consulted.
- [ ] The exception does not override a mandatory external duty.
- [ ] Temporary controls can be verified before publication.

### Decision and closure

- **Decision:** [Approved / Approved with conditions / Declined]
- **Decision maker and authority:** [Name and role]
- **Rationale:** [Why this result protects the policy purpose]
- **Conditions:** [List every binding condition]
- **Decision time:** [YYYY-MM-DD and time]
- **Outcome review:** [What happened?]
- **Closure date:** [YYYY-MM-DD]
- **Policy follow-up:** [No change / Clarify / Propose revision]