Sponsored Content Policy

Trust is the only thing a news publication really has. This Sponsored Content Policy sets out, plainly, how Cubed News (cubednews.com) handles any content that a third party pays to place, so that our readers always know what they are looking at. The short version: sponsored content is clearly labelled, kept separate from our journalism, and never allowed to masquerade as independent reporting.

What Counts as Sponsored Content

Sponsored content is any material that an advertiser, sponsor, or commercial partner pays for, supplies, or commissions to appear on our site or in our newsletters. This includes branded articles, partner posts, and sponsored newsletter placements. It is different from our independent journalism, which no one pays to influence, and different from advertising units such as display banners, which are obviously commercial on their face.

Clear Labelling

Every piece of sponsored content carries a prominent, unambiguous “SPONSORED” label that a reader sees before and while engaging with it. We do not bury the label, use vague euphemisms designed to obscure the commercial nature of the content, or rely on the reader to infer it. Where a sponsor has produced or paid for the material, we name the sponsor. Our goal is that no reasonable reader could mistake sponsored content for our own editorial work.

Visual Separation

Sponsored content is visually segregated from independent journalism. It is presented with distinct styling and labelling so that it is clearly set apart from the articles our newsroom produces. We do not slot paid material into editorial feeds in a way that disguises its origin, and we do not let it borrow the authority of our reporting.

What We Never Do

Some practices are simply off-limits, regardless of the commercial offer:

• Never paid links. We do not sell links, place “do-follow” links for payment, or insert links into our editorial content in exchange for money. Sponsored material is handled in a way that does not pass undisclosed link value.
• Never disguised editorial. We do not publish paid material dressed up as independent journalism, and we do not allow sponsors to write, approve, or alter our reporting.
• Never gambling. We do not accept sponsored content for gambling, betting, casinos, or lotteries — Cubed News carries zero gambling. We also decline crypto-scam promotions and other categories incompatible with a trustworthy publication.
• Never a sale of coverage. Paying for sponsored content does not buy favourable treatment in our independent reporting, advance sight of our coverage, or any editorial influence.

Editorial Standards Still Apply

Sponsored content must still be accurate, lawful, and consistent with our values. We fact-check claims where appropriate, reject misleading or deceptive material, and retain final say over whether any sponsored item runs. We reserve the right to decline or remove sponsored content that does not meet these standards, at our sole discretion.

Why This Matters

The reason this brand exists is to give readers news they can rely on. A clear wall between what is paid for and what is reported independently is part of keeping that promise. If you ever see sponsored content on Cubed News that is not clearly labelled, or that appears to blur the line we describe here, please tell us at editorial@cubednews.com. For commercial enquiries about sponsored content, contact advertising@cubednews.com. You can also write to Cubed News, 1222 Clarence St, Sydney, Australia.