Quick answer: This advertising disclosure explains how Cubed News identifies advertising, sponsored content and affiliate links so readers always know what is commercial. Paid placements are clearly labelled and kept separate from our journalism, which stays independent — our coverage is never for sale. Contact us with any questions.
Key takeaways
- What this covers: how we label advertising, sponsored content and affiliate links.
- Our principle: readers should never be misled about what is commercial.
- Compliance: we follow the FTC endorsement guidelines.
- Separation: paid content never influences editorial — our coverage is never for sale.
- No hidden links: we do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links.
Why we publish this disclosure
Trust depends on clarity. This advertising disclosure sets out, in plain terms, how Cubed News handles every kind of commercial content so that you are never in doubt about what you are reading. Being explicit about this is a core part of how we work, not an afterthought — and it is what allows us to accept advertising and sponsorship without compromising the independence of our journalism.
We would rather over-explain than leave room for doubt. A reader should be able to look at any page on Cubed News and tell immediately whether they are reading our independent journalism or a commercial placement, without having to squint at fine print or guess. This page exists so that the rule behind those labels is written down in one place and applies consistently — to us, to our advertisers, and to every kind of content we publish. If you ever find something that seems unclear, we want to hear about it and put it right.
How we label advertising
Display advertising and campaign sponsorship on Cubed News are visibly marked as advertising. These placements appear around our content, never woven into it as if they were editorial. Advertisers pay to reach our audience; they do not gain any influence over our reporting. You can read more about the formats available on our advertise page.
How we label sponsored content
Sponsored articles — content funded by a brand and written to promote it — always carry a clear “sponsored” label at the point where you encounter them. They are produced separately from our newsroom’s journalism and reviewed for accuracy and compliance before publication. Details of how sponsored articles work are on our sponsored content page.
How we handle affiliate links
Some articles include affiliate links, where we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them at no additional cost to you. Where we use affiliate links, we disclose them in line with our affiliate disclosure. Their presence never changes our editorial judgement — we would say the same thing with or without the link.
The order of decisions matters here. We decide what to recommend or explain first, on the merits, and only then consider whether a relevant affiliate link exists; we do not start from the commission and work backwards. If the best option for a reader carries no affiliate arrangement, that is still the option we point to. This is why the disclosure is a statement of fact rather than an apology: the link is a way of funding the work, not a reason for the recommendation. Readers who prefer to avoid affiliate links entirely are always free to navigate to any product or service directly.
The line between commercial and editorial
All commercial content — advertising, sponsored articles and affiliate links — is kept strictly separate from our independent journalism. No advertiser, sponsor or affiliate partner has any say over which stories we cover or how we report them. Our coverage is never for sale, and we do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links. This separation is the whole point of disclosure: it lets you trust both the journalism and the clearly marked commercial content around it.
The label is only half the promise; the other half is that what sits on the editorial side of the line stays genuinely independent. Disclosure would be hollow if a “sponsored” tag simply gave cover for buying influence over everything unlabelled. It does not. The commercial content is clearly marked, and the journalism around it is nobody’s to buy — both statements are true at once, and each depends on the other. For the fuller picture of how these revenue streams fund the newsroom without steering it, see how we make money.
FTC compliance
Our disclosure practices follow the FTC endorsement guidelines, which require that material connections between a publisher and a paying party be made clear to readers. In practice that means visible labels on advertising and sponsored content, and disclosure of affiliate arrangements wherever they appear.
The spirit of those guidelines matters as much as the letter. A disclosure that is technically present but hidden in tiny text or buried far from the content does not really inform anyone, so we aim to place labels where a reader will actually see them, in language a reader will actually understand. The test we hold ourselves to is simple: would a reasonable reader, glancing at the page, know that this content is commercial? If the honest answer is anything other than yes, the disclosure is not doing its job and we fix it.
What we will not do
- Publish paid content without a clear, honest label.
- Present advertising or sponsorship as independent reporting.
- Sell undisclosed or disguised paid links of any kind.
- Allow a commercial relationship to influence, soften or suppress coverage.
Cubed News is an independent news publication run by a named editorial team under a published editorial policy; you can learn more about us and see who we are on our team page. This disclosure follows the FTC endorsement guidelines and works alongside our affiliate disclosure; for the fuller picture of how we fund the newsroom, see how we make money.
Questions about this disclosure
If you have any questions about how we label commercial content, contact us via our contact page or email partners@cubednews.com. To advertise or publish sponsored content, see our advertise and sponsored content pages. If you ever come across something on Cubed News whose commercial status seems unclear to you, we would genuinely welcome the message — reader feedback is one of the best ways we keep our labelling honest and easy to understand.
Frequently asked questions
What does this advertising disclosure cover?
It explains how Cubed News labels advertising, sponsored content and affiliate links so readers always know what is commercial.
How do I tell advertising from editorial on Cubed News?
Advertising is visibly marked as advertising and sponsored articles carry a sponsored label. Everything else is independent journalism.
Do you follow the FTC guidelines?
Yes. Our disclosure practices follow the FTC endorsement guidelines on material connections and labelling.
Does paid content affect your reporting?
No. Commercial content is kept separate from journalism. Our coverage is never for sale and is not influenced by advertisers or sponsors.
What are affiliate links and how are they disclosed?
They are links that may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. We disclose them per our affiliate disclosure.
Do you sell links?
No. We do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links. Any commercial links appear only within clearly labelled placements.
Where can I learn how you fund the site?
See our how we make money page, or ask us directly via the contact page.