What sponsored content means

Sponsored content is advertiser-supplied or advertiser-requested material about a business, service, event, campaign, product or local offer. It can tell a business story, introduce a service area, explain a community initiative or direct readers to a business website. It should be useful and factual, not disguised as breaking news, emergency information or independent editorial investigation.

Clear “Sponsored Content” labelling

Published sponsored articles must be clearly labelled as “Sponsored Content” near the top of the page. The disclosure should be visible before or around the article body so readers know the article is commercial material. Sponsored content may also include the business name, source link, image caption and business responsibility notes. Labelling is not optional and cannot be removed because an advertiser prefers editorial-style presentation.

Editorial review required

Payment does not place an article directly onto the public site. Sponsored submissions are reviewed by the admin team before publication. Review can include checking the title, body, image, image alt text, category, target city or state, website link, disclosure confirmation and policy risk. The team may edit for clarity, reject unsuitable claims or ask for changes before publication.

Payment does not guarantee publication

Sponsored Article payment gives the advertiser the ability to submit material for review, not an unconditional right to publish any claim or creative. Publication can be declined if the article is misleading, unsafe, offensive, unlawful, overly promotional in a deceptive way, unsupported by evidence or unsuitable for a local news environment. Businesses should submit accurate, clear and source-aware content to improve the chance of approval.

No fake journalist wording

Sponsored articles must not pretend to be independent reporting by a journalist if they are business-supplied advertising material. Wording such as “our investigation found” or “reporters uncovered” should not be used unless it accurately reflects real editorial work. Sponsored content can be polished and informative, but it must not misrepresent who created the material or why it appears on the site.

No misleading claims

Advertisers must avoid exaggerated, unverifiable or high-risk claims. Medical, legal, financial, safety and emergency-related claims require special care. The article should not promise guaranteed results, imply official endorsement, use fake urgency or present opinion as verified fact. Images should match the business or topic and alt text should describe the image honestly.

Business responsibility for accuracy

The advertiser is responsible for the accuracy of business details, contact information, service descriptions, promotional statements, legal compliance and website links. 19News.au can review and moderate content, but the business remains responsible for claims it supplies. If details change after publication, the business should request an update or correction.

Corrections and removals

Sponsored content may be corrected, updated, unpublished or removed if an issue is identified after publication. Readers and businesses can use the credit or removal page to request review of attribution, image use, privacy concerns, copyright concerns or removal. Requests do not guarantee removal, but they will be reviewed so the public record remains accurate and fair.

How to submit sponsored content

Eligible businesses can submit sponsored content through the advertiser portal after business approval and payment. The form asks for an article title, business name, contact email, story body, target city, target state, category, website URL, image, image alt text and disclosure confirmation. The submission enters the admin review queue before any public article is created.

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Advertising information

Advertising resources

These pages explain how advertising works on 19News.au, what businesses can buy, how sponsored content is reviewed, and which advertising claims or categories are not accepted. Paid placements are kept separate from editorial decision making and public placements are labelled so readers can recognise commercial material.

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