This page explains how sponsored content works at Sonderbriefing (sonderbriefing.de), what the labels mean, and how we ensure that commercial material never interferes with our editorial independence. If you have any questions after reading this page, please contact our sponsored content team directly at sponsored@sonderbriefing.de — we are happy to walk you through the details.
What is sponsored content and how is it labelled?
Sponsored content is material that has been paid for by a third party — such as a company, organisation, or public institution — and is published on Sonderbriefing under a clear commercial agreement. Every piece of sponsored content on our site is labelled conspicuously and consistently so that you can tell it apart from our independent journalism. The label appears in three places: at the very top of the page, in the article metadata line, and again at the bottom of the text. The wording will read “Sponsored Content” or “Sponsored by [the paying entity’s name]”. No sponsored article is ever disguised as ordinary reporting, and no advertisement is allowed to use our editorial formatting or bylines.
What rules apply to sponsored content?
All sponsored content must comply with the same legal and ethical standards as our editorial journalism. It may not contain misleading claims, false information, or material that violates Swedish or European advertising law. Sponsored articles are reviewed by our editorial team for factual accuracy and compliance with our internal guidelines, including our editorial policy and fact-checking policy. The sponsor may suggest a topic or provide a draft, but Sonderbriefing reserves the right to reject, amend, or remove any piece that does not meet our quality bar. Sponsors are never granted editorial control over content published on our platform.
How is sponsored content different from affiliate links?
Affiliate links are a separate commercial tool. When you click an affiliate link on Sonderbriefing and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission — but the editorial recommendation or product mention is never paid for by the seller. Sponsored content, by contrast, is directly funded by the sponsoring entity. Affiliate links are disclosed at the point of use with a short notice such as “This link is an affiliate link”. Sponsored content carries a separate, prominent disclosure that identifies the paying sponsor. Full details are available in our advertising and affiliate disclosure policy.
Does sponsored content affect editorial independence?
No. Commercial relationships never determine editorial conclusions. The Sonderbriefing newsroom operates independently from the commercial team, and no sponsor may influence our coverage of any other subject, including the sponsoring company’s competitors, regulators, or industry. Our editorial independence is also outlined in our ownership and funding disclosure. Chefredaktör Tim Zimmermann has final say over all editorial decisions, including whether a sponsored piece is accurate and appropriate for our audience. If you ever suspect that sponsored content has influenced our broader reporting, please report it to complaints@sonderbriefing.de, and our editorial team will investigate.
How this works in practice
Imagine a Swedish energy company pays Sonderbriefing to publish a piece about home solar panels. The article will carry the label “Sponsored Content” at the top. The company can suggest data points and a draft, but our politikredaktör Sebastian Roth or another relevant editor reviews the piece for factual accuracy and tone. If the draft makes an unsubstantiated claim about grid savings, Laura Arnold, who is responsible for fact-checking, will flag it and request correction or removal. The final article is published only after a human editor approves it. Meanwhile, the same newsroom may publish an independent article about electricity prices the same day — that article will not be influenced by the sponsored piece in any way.
Who owns Sonderbriefing and how is it funded?
Sonderbriefing is owned and operated by Sonderbriefi Media Ltd., a private company registered in Gibraltar (company number C 92009, Malta Business Registry) with a registered office at Office 9, Business Centre, Valletta, 0000. Our funding comes from a mix of display advertising, affiliate links, commercial partnerships, sponsored content, newsletter sponsorships, and content licensing. Sponsored and commercial material is always clearly labelled. You can read more about our ownership structure and funding sources on our ownership and funding page.
How to enquire about sponsored content
If you represent a company, public body, or organisation interested in sponsoring content on Sonderbriefing, please write to sponsored@sonderbriefing.de. Our commercial team will explain pricing, placement options, and editorial requirements. For general press or partnership enquiries, you can also use our main contact page at /about-us/contact/ or email info@sonderbriefing.de.
In short
Sponsored content is clearly labelled, fact-checked, and subject to the same editorial standards as every other article on Sonderbriefing. It never dictates our reporting on other subjects, and you can always tell the difference between independent journalism and paid material at a glance.