Sponsored Content and Native Advertising Policy

Core rule

Paid or commercially influenced content must be recognizable as advertising or sponsored content before a reader clicks and again on the destination surface when needed. The more a placement resembles independent editorial content, the clearer and more prominent the disclosure must be.

Approved labels

• Advertisement
• Paid Advertisement
• Sponsored Advertising Content
• Sponsored Provider
• Sponsor Message

Label placement

• Place labels above or immediately before sponsored headlines, cards, thumbnails, and newsletter blurbs.
• Repeat labels on article pages, service guides, profile pages, emails, social posts, and media assets where the reader could encounter the item without the original card.
• Do not rely on sponsor logos alone to disclose commercial nature.

Editorial firewall

• Sales may sell labeled distribution and sponsor packages, not newsroom conclusions.
• Newsroom staff should retain editorial control over independent reporting, corrections, rankings, source treatment, and story decisions.
• Sponsored content should use a branded-content workflow with claim substantiation, fair-housing review where applicable, and final approval before publication.