Sponsored Content Policy

1. Purpose and scope

This Policy explains how Proximity News Network Ltd handles:

• sponsored articles;
• advertisement features;
• native advertising;
• paid partnerships;
• display advertising;
• affiliate or commercial links;
• supplied promotional material; and
• other content involving payment, benefit or commercial control.

It applies across all publications owned or operated by Proximity News Network Ltd.

2. Independent editorial content

Ordinary editorial coverage is selected and produced according to editorial judgement.

The receipt of a press release, invitation, product, quotation or story suggestion does not automatically make resulting coverage sponsored content.

Where no payment or other material benefit is provided and the subject does not control the content, material may be treated as independent editorial coverage.

The fact that an organisation advertises with us does not guarantee:

• favourable editorial coverage;
• publication of its press releases;
• removal of legitimate criticism;
• advance approval of independent stories; or
• protection from corrections.

3. What counts as sponsored or advertising content

Content will generally be treated as sponsored or advertising material where:

• payment or another material benefit is provided for publication; and
• the advertiser, sponsor or commercial partner has control over, approves or materially influences the content.

We may also label content where the commercial relationship should be disclosed to prevent readers being misled, even if the strict legal definition of an advertorial is not met.

4. Labelling

Proximity News Network’s commercial content must be obviously identifiable before a reader engages with it.

Depending on the arrangement, labels may include:

• Advertisement;
• Advertisement Feature;
• Sponsored Content;
• Paid Partnership; or
• another equally clear label appropriate to the format.

5. Editorial and compliance review

All sponsored content remains subject to review by Proximity News Network.

We may edit, reject, postpone, remove or require changes to content for reasons including:

• legal or regulatory risk;
• unsupported claims;
• misleading presentation;
• unsuitable subject matter;
• poor quality;
• reputational risk;
• conflict with our editorial standards;
• failure to disclose the advertiser;
• intellectual-property concerns; or
• technical requirements.

Payment does not create an unconditional right to publication.

6. Accuracy and substantiation

Advertisers and agencies must ensure that factual and objective claims are accurate and can be substantiated.

They must hold evidence for claims concerning matters such as:

• prices and availability;
• performance;
• savings;
• market leadership;
• environmental benefits;
• health or medical outcomes;
• investment returns;
• customer numbers;
• comparative claims;
• awards and endorsements; and
• testimonials.

We may request substantiation before or after publication.

Approval by us does not transfer legal responsibility for an advertiser’s claims away from the advertiser or agency.

7. Regulated and sensitive sectors

Content involving regulated or high-risk sectors may require additional review.

This may include:

• financial products and investments;
• credit and debt services;
• health, medicines and medical devices;
• legal services;
• gambling;
• alcohol;
• tobacco, nicotine or vaping;
• food and weight-related claims;
• environmental claims;
• property and housing;
• employment and recruitment;
• charities and fundraising;
• political or election-related material; and
• products or services restricted by age.

We may require evidence of regulatory authorisation, mandatory warnings, targeting restrictions or specialist approval.

We may refuse any category of advertising at our discretion.

8. Editorial independence

Commercial teams and advertisers may discuss objectives, factual information, format and timing.

However, advertisers may not use payment to:

• require changes to independent editorial coverage;
• prevent reporting on matters of public interest;
• control the handling of an editorial complaint;
• prevent correction of an inaccuracy; or
• obtain undisclosed influence over another article.

Sponsored content may be produced or reviewed by separate commercial personnel where appropriate.

9. Advertiser control and approvals

The relevant commercial agreement should state:

• who supplies or drafts the content;
• who has final approval;
• the publication or publications involved;
• the required label;
• the publication period;
• permitted revisions;
• distribution and promotional arrangements;
• reporting commitments; and
• fees, cancellation and refund terms.

Where an advertiser has approval rights, those rights do not prevent Proximity News Network from making changes required by law, regulation, accuracy or editorial standards.

10. Supplied materials and rights

Advertisers must have all necessary rights and permissions for:

• copy;
• photographs;
• logos;
• video;
• music;
• trademarks;
• quotations;
• testimonials;
• personal information; and
• other submitted material.

By supplying material, the advertiser grants Proximity News Network Ltd the rights reasonably necessary to review, edit, format, publish, distribute, promote and archive it for the agreed campaign.

The advertiser must notify us of any licence restrictions before publication.

11. Personal information and targeting

Advertising involving cookies, pixels, audience matching, profiling, retargeting or measurement must comply with our Privacy Policy and applicable data-protection and electronic-communications law.

Non-essential advertising tracking will not be activated before valid consent where consent is required.

Advertisers must not provide unlawfully obtained customer lists, special-category information or targeting data.

12. Affiliate links and commissions

Where we may receive a commission from a link, purchase or referral, the commercial relationship will be disclosed where necessary to ensure that readers understand it.

Affiliate relationships do not guarantee a positive review or recommendation unless the content is separately identified as advertising.

13. Gifts, samples and hospitality

Products, travel, event access, hospitality or other benefits provided in connection with content may be disclosed where they could reasonably affect how readers understand the material.

Receipt of a product or invitation does not guarantee coverage.

14. Corrections, withdrawal and removal

Sponsored content may be corrected, amended, suspended or removed where:

• it is inaccurate or misleading;
• substantiation is not supplied;
• a regulator, court or authority requires action;
• it breaches the applicable agreement;
• it infringes third-party rights;
• the advertiser’s identity was misrepresented;
• continued publication creates material risk; or
• payment obligations are not met.

Where a campaign is withdrawn because of advertiser breach, refunds may be refused or reduced in accordance with the applicable commercial agreement.

Removing content does not necessarily remove cached copies, search results or third-party reposts outside our control.

15. Performance and results

Unless expressly agreed in writing, we do not guarantee:

• a particular number of views;
• engagement;
• enquiries;
• sales;
• search-engine ranking;
• media pickup;
• audience behaviour; or
• any particular commercial result.

Any forecasts are estimates and not guarantees.

16. Advertising enquiries

Organisations interested in advertising, sponsorship or paid content across the Network should visit our Advertise with us page or via email at advertise@proximitynewsnetwork.com

Submitting an enquiry does not guarantee acceptance.