What is sponsored content on Lagepunkt?
Sponsored content on Lagepunkt is material paid for by an external partner and published on our site under a clear commercial agreement. It is distinct from our editorial news and analysis, and is never written or commissioned by the newsroom. Every sponsored piece is marked with a prominent disclosure, and our editorial team retains no influence over its production or placement.
Lagepunkt Media Ltd., the publisher, maintains a strict separation between editorial operations and commercial partnerships. Thomas Kuhn, Chefredaktör, and Maria Müller, Redaktionschef, oversee the editorial side, while the commercial team handles all sponsored content. No advertiser or sponsor can dictate coverage, tone, or timing. If a story originates from a paying partner, it is categorised as sponsored and labelled accordingly.
How is sponsored content labelled?
Every sponsored article carries a clear, visible label at the top of the page, typically reading “Sponsored” or “In cooperation with [partner name]”. The disclosure appears before the headline and is repeated at the end of the piece. We do not use vague terms like “promoted” or “partner content” without an explicit statement of payment.
The label is applied by the publishing system and cannot be removed by the partner. Lisa Schumacher, Ansvarig för faktagranskning, may audit sponsored content for compliance with our disclosure standards, though the commercial team is responsible for initial placement. If any sponsored material fails to meet our transparency requirements, it is removed or corrected.
What is the difference between sponsored content and affiliate links?
Sponsored content is a single piece of material paid for by an advertiser and published as a standalone article or page. Affiliate links, by contrast, are embedded within editorial or commercial content and earn Lagepunkt a commission when a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. Both are disclosed, but they follow different rules.
Affiliate links are always disclosed with a statement such as “This article contains affiliate links” and are managed under our advertising and affiliate disclosure policy. Sponsored content does not include affiliate links unless the sponsor explicitly agrees and the arrangement is disclosed in both the sponsorship label and a separate affiliate notice. The commercial team at sponsored@lagepunkt.de handles all inquiries about sponsored placements.
What you can expect from us
You can expect every sponsored piece to be clearly separated from editorial journalism. No sponsored content will be presented as independent reporting or analysis. The label is always prominent, and the partner’s role is explicitly stated. We never use sponsored content to disguise advertising as news.
Our commitment to editorial independence means that no commercial relationship influences what our newsroom covers or how. Political, economic, and cultural reporting – including coverage of the Riksdag, government policy, and Swedish society – is produced entirely by our editorial team, led by Niklas Zimmermann, Politikredaktör, Johanna Fuchs, Wirtschaftreporter, and Maximilian Roth, Kultur- och samhällsredaktör. Sponsored content partners are not involved in planning or reviewing our editorial calendar.
How is editorial independence maintained?
Editorial independence is protected by our organisational structure. The newsroom reports to Thomas Kuhn, who has final authority over all editorial content. Commercial partnerships are managed by a separate team that does not share editorial decision-making. No sponsor or advertiser can demand changes to editorial articles, influence the placement of stories, or prevent the publication of critical reporting.
Our editorial policy and ownership and funding page outline these safeguards in detail. Any sponsored content that attempts to bypass these rules – for example, by requesting a favourable review in exchange for payment – is rejected. We also require that all sponsored content is fact-checked for accuracy, though the responsibility for claims made in such pieces rests with the partner. Lisa Schumacher’s fact-checking team may independently verify claims if they appear in sponsored material.
Who can I contact about sponsored content opportunities?
All inquiries about sponsored content, including proposals, rates, and placement, should be directed to sponsored@lagepunkt.de. Our commercial partnerships team will respond with details on formats, disclosure requirements, and our editorial guidelines. Sponsored content is managed separately from advertising and affiliate relationships.
General advertising and partnership questions can be sent to advertising@lagepunkt.de or partnerships@lagepunkt.de. For information about our funding model and how commercial income supports independent journalism, see our ownership and funding page. If you believe a sponsored piece has not been properly labelled, you can submit a complaint via our complaints procedure.
Questions or concerns?
If you have questions about this policy or want to report a possible violation, contact our commercial team at sponsored@lagepunkt.de. Editorial concerns about the boundary between sponsored and independent content should be addressed to Thomas Kuhn at anders.lindqvist@lagepunkt.de or our contact page. We take all reports seriously and will investigate any mislabelling or breach of editorial independence.