Editorial policy
Sponsored content policy
Our commitment
The Daily Ballarat is committed to honest, transparent advertising in line with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) guidance on advertising and selling, and the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010). Readers must always be able to tell at a glance whether a story is independent journalism or paid commercial content.
How we label paid content
Any article, newsletter section, social post or homepage tile that has been paid for by a third party — or produced in exchange for goods or services — will be clearly labelled. We use plain-English labels at the top of the item, in equivalent or larger type to the headline, including:
- Sponsored — paid placement, copy supplied by the sponsor.
- Partner content — produced in collaboration with a partner.
- Advertisement — display advertising.
- Newsletter sponsor — a sponsored slot inside the Morning Briefing.
Editorial independence
Sponsors do not influence which independent stories we cover, how we cover them, or which stories appear adjacent to their placement. Sponsored content is produced by a separate workflow and is never presented in a way that could mislead a reasonable reader into believing it is editorial.
What we will not accept
- Content that misleads or deceives, including testimonials that don't reflect a genuine experience.
- Health, financial or legal advice from sponsors who are not appropriately qualified or licensed.
- Hidden affiliate links. Any affiliate relationship is disclosed at the point of the link.
- Political advertising during a regulated election period without the authorisation required by the Commonwealth Electoral Act.
Affiliate and referral disclosures
Where we earn a commission on a click or purchase (for example, ticketing, property listings or product round-ups), the article will carry a visible disclosure near the top and the relevant links will be marked. Affiliate revenue never determines what we choose to recommend.
Corrections and complaints
If you believe a piece of sponsored content has been inadequately labelled or breaches this policy, please contact the newsroom via our contact page. We will respond within five business days and publish a correction or amend the labelling where warranted.
Regulatory references
- Australian Consumer Law — misleading or deceptive conduct (s18) and false or misleading representations (s29).
- ACCC guidance on advertising and selling, including online reviews and influencer disclosures.
- Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) Code of Ethics.