Sponsored content is material produced by or on behalf of a commercial partner that appears on DailyCity.co.uk in a form that may resemble our regular editorial output but is clearly distinguished as advertising. All sponsored content is identified with one of the following labels, placed at the top of the page or in a prominent position near the headline:
- Sponsored by [Brand]
- Advertisement feature
- Paid partnership with [Brand]
- In association with [Brand]
Rules for sponsored content
Every piece of sponsored content is clearly labelled so that readers can immediately distinguish it from independent journalism. Commercial partners do not have editorial approval over any independent news coverage, reviews or analysis published on this site. When a partner commissions or funds content that appears under a sponsorship label, they may suggest themes or provide information, but they do not control the final editorial direction. Content that is not labelled as sponsored is produced entirely by our editorial team and is subject to our usual editorial standards and fact‑checking processes.
No sponsored material is ever disguised as independent editorial. If it is paid for, it is marked. This applies to all formats: articles, city guides, newsletters, video and audio. Promotional content that does not meet our standards of transparency will not be published.
How sponsorship differs from affiliate links and independent reviews
Affiliate links are a separate form of commercial arrangement, detailed in our advertising and affiliate disclosure. When we include an affiliate link in an editorial article, we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, but the content remains editorially independent and is never sponsored. Sponsored content, by contrast, is created with, or funded by, a partner and is always labelled as such.
Independent reviews — whether of restaurants, theatre, products or services — follow our reviews policy. They are produced without payment or influence from the subject or any commercial partner. A review that is sponsored would be labelled accordingly, but we do not accept sponsorship for star ratings or editorial verdicts. No review that carries an impartial rating can be bought; any sponsored mention of a product or venue is clearly separated from our independent critical coverage.
Editorial independence
Our commitment to editorial independence is set out in our editorial policy and explained further in our ownership and funding page. No commercial relationship — including sponsorship, advertising or affiliate income — determines editorial conclusions. Sponsored content lives in its own clearly marked space and does not influence the rest of our newsroom’s output.
Enquiries
For partnership proposals and all enquiries about sponsored content, please email sponsored@dailycity.co.uk. General contact details can be found on our contact page.