Sponsored Content Policy

Purpose

The Builder publishes stories about people, businesses, ideas, innovations and initiatives making meaningful contributions across industries and communities. This policy explains how we handle paid promotions, sponsorships, branded features, advertorials and other content created or published in exchange for money, products, services or another material benefit.

Our objective is to maintain transparency with readers and distinguish paid promotional content from independent editorial coverage.

What counts as sponsored content

Sponsored content may include articles, interviews or profiles funded by a business, organisation or individual; paid features promoting a product, service, event, campaign or initiative; branded videos, podcasts, social media posts, newsletters or other media; content produced in partnership with a sponsor; and material published in exchange for payment, gifts, services, travel, discounts or other material benefits.

A commercial relationship may require disclosure even when no direct cash payment is made.

Clear disclosure

Where content is sponsored or otherwise materially influenced by a commercial arrangement, The Builder will use a clear and prominent label appropriate to the format, such as "Sponsored", "Paid Partnership", "Advertisement" or "Brand Partner Content". Disclosures should be easy to notice and understand. They should not be hidden among unrelated text, buried at the end of an article or presented in a way that could mislead a reasonable reader.

Where content is shared across multiple channels, we will take reasonable steps to ensure the disclosure remains visible on each relevant channel.

Editorial independence

Sponsors may provide background information, suggest topics, arrange interviews or review factual details relating to their own products, services or activities. Unless a written agreement clearly states otherwise and the arrangement is transparently disclosed, sponsors do not control The Builder's independent editorial decisions.

Payment does not guarantee favourable coverage, a particular conclusion, publication, audience reach or a positive review. The Builder may decline, edit, postpone or remove sponsored content if it is inaccurate, misleading, unlawful, inconsistent with our standards or otherwise unsuitable for publication.

Accuracy and prohibited content

Sponsored content must not contain claims that are false, misleading, unsubstantiated or likely to create a deceptive impression. Advertisers and sponsors are responsible for providing accurate information and reasonable supporting evidence for claims they make. The Builder may request substantiation or clarification before publication.

We may reject or remove material that promotes unlawful activity, impersonation, fraud, harmful discrimination, deceptive schemes or other content that we reasonably consider inappropriate. Sponsored content remains subject to applicable advertising, consumer-protection, intellectual property, privacy and other laws.

Use of names, images and testimonials

Sponsors must have the necessary rights and permissions for supplied logos, photographs, recordings, testimonials and other materials. Where a sponsored feature identifies a person, includes their image or records their statements, appropriate permissions and consent arrangements must be addressed before publication.

The Builder will not knowingly present fabricated testimonials or endorsements that misrepresent a person's genuine experience.

Audience trust and corrections

We aim to make commercial relationships understandable to readers and preserve the distinction between paid promotions and independent editorial material. If a sponsored publication contains a material factual error, misleading statement or inadequate disclosure, we may correct it, add clarification, update the disclosure or remove the content as appropriate.

Readers and organisations may report concerns about sponsored content by contacting the publisher.

Sponsor responsibility and agreements

Sponsors must provide accurate details about their identity, products, services, claims and commercial relationship with The Builder. Individual sponsorship agreements may set out pricing, deliverables, deadlines, approval processes, usage rights, distribution channels and other commercial terms. Those agreements do not override applicable law or this Policy's transparency requirements.

The Builder reserves the right to refuse sponsorship arrangements that conflict with our editorial standards or legal obligations.

Contact

For sponsorship enquiries, disclosure questions or complaints about sponsored content, contact TechPro Consulting Pty Ltd, Suite 304A, Level 3, 167–169 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Email: editor-in-chief@thebuilderau.com.