Abendfokus (abendfokus.de) is committed to transparency in all commercial arrangements. Sponsored content is any material produced or commissioned by a third party that has paid for its placement on the site. It is clearly labelled so that readers can distinguish it from independent editorial content.
What is sponsored content and how is it labelled?
Sponsored content on Abendfokus is any article, video, infographic or other piece that has been paid for by a commercial partner. Every such piece carries the label “Sponsored” or “Sponsored by [partner name]” at the top of the page, and the same label is used in all promotional material, including newsletters and social-media previews. The label is always visible before a reader clicks through.
We also include a brief disclosure statement at the beginning of the content explaining that the piece was produced in collaboration with the sponsor. No sponsored content is published without this explicit labelling. If the sponsor has provided the copy, that too is stated. Readers can verify our labelling standards in our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure.
How does sponsored content differ from affiliate links?
Affiliate links are ordinary editorial links that earn Abendfokus a small commission if a reader buys a product after clicking. Sponsored content, by contrast, is a paid placement where the sponsor controls the topic and approves the copy before publication. Affiliate links do not involve payment for the editorial content itself; they are simply a way to monetise existing articles.
We treat the two separately in our commercial agreements and in our disclosures. Affiliate links are disclosed at the bottom of the relevant article via a standard sentence. Sponsored content carries a prominent label at the top. Our full policy on affiliate relationships is available in the Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure.
What rules govern sponsored content on Abendfokus?
All sponsored content must comply with the same editorial standards as independent journalism: it must be accurate, verifiable, and free of misleading claims. Sponsors are not permitted to demand false or unsubstantiated statements, nor may they request the removal of factual context that would be necessary for a fair understanding of the topic.
The sponsor receives a maximum of two rounds of factual review – to correct errors or clarify ambiguities – but does not have veto power over the final editorial decision. Any piece that fails to meet our Editorial Policy or our Fact-Checking Policy is rejected or revised until it does. The named writer and editor responsible for the piece are listed in the byline and the editorial metadata, exactly as with regular reporting.
What you can expect from us
We treat sponsored content with the same rigorous editorial oversight as all other material on abendfokus.de. Every sponsored piece is assigned to a staff writer or editor, fact-checked by our fact-checking team, and reviewed by the Chefredaktör Thomas Bergmann before publication. Our fact-checking lead Lisa Otto ensures that every factual claim in sponsored content can be traced to a reliable source.
We never allow commercial considerations to influence independent reporting. Sponsored content is clearly separated – both visually and organisationally – from news, analysis and opinion written by our editorial team. No sponsor may influence the topics, tone or conclusions of our independent journalism. Readers who have doubts about a specific piece can contact our fact-checking team at factcheck@abendfokus.de.
How is editorial independence maintained?
Editorial independence is non‑negotiable. Sponsors contract only for the placement and production of a specific piece; they have no input into our broader editorial agenda, story selection, or the opinions expressed by our reporters. Any attempt by a sponsor to pressure our newsroom is reported to the Chefredaktör and may result in termination of the commercial relationship.
Our Editorial Policy explicitly states that commercial relationships never determine editorial conclusions. Sponsored content is a funding stream that helps us sustain independent journalism, not a vehicle for exerting influence. The same principle applies to all forms of funding, including display advertising, newsletter sponsorships and content licensing, as described in our Ownership & Funding page.
How can I enquire about sponsored content?
Organisations interested in sponsoring content on Abendfokus should write to our commercial team at sponsored@abendfokus.de. We require all enquiries to include a brief description of the proposed topic, the target audience, and whether the sponsor will provide its own copy or commission a piece from our team.
All proposals are evaluated by our commercial director against our content guidelines. We do not accept sponsored content from advertisers in certain categories – such as gambling, tobacco, and political advocacy – unless it meets strict public‑interest criteria. For full details, please see our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure.
Questions or concerns?
If you believe a sponsored piece has not been clearly labelled, or if you have questions about how we manage commercial partnerships, please contact our editorial team at complaints@abendfokus.de or use the Contact page. The Chefredaktör, Thomas Bergmann, reviews every complaint related to sponsored content personally. You can also write to our complaints department via our formal complaints procedure.