Canada Scene, owned and operated by Northern Beacon Media Inc., publishes sponsored content that is clearly distinct from editorial journalism. This policy sets the rules for labelling, separation from affiliate links, and editorial independence. All sponsored content inquiries should be directed to sponsored@canadascene.org.
Who is responsible for sponsored content at Canada Scene?
The Editor-in-Chief, Catherine Roy, oversees all editorial standards and publication decisions, including sponsored content. Northern Beacon Media Inc., as the publisher, sets commercial policy, and Standards & Fact-Checking Lead Andrew Leblanc reviews sponsored material to ensure compliance with this policy. The commercial team manages partnerships via sponsored@canadascene.org.
Any sponsored content proposal is evaluated by both the commercial and editorial departments. Catherine Roy retains final authority to reject or modify sponsored material that does not meet Canada Scene’s journalistic standards. This dual oversight prevents commercial pressure from overriding editorial judgment.
How is sponsored content labelled?
Every sponsored article, video, or newsletter is clearly labelled with “Sponsored” or “Sponsored Content” at the top of the page, and the sponsor’s name appears prominently. The label is formatted in a contrasting colour and is visible before any content loads. Sponsored material may also include a brief disclosure explaining that the content was produced by or in collaboration with the sponsor.
Canada Scene never uses ambiguous terms such as “partner content” or “brought to you by” without the explicit “Sponsored” designation. Readers can always identify sponsored material immediately, without needing to scroll or inspect metadata.
What is the difference between sponsored content and affiliate links?
Sponsored content is paid for by an advertiser and is clearly labelled as such; affiliate links are earned through commissions when readers purchase products via links in editorial articles. Affiliate links are disclosed in accordance with our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure policy, and they never influence editorial coverage.
Unlike sponsored content, affiliate links appear within standard editorial pieces and are not paid placements for the article itself. Canada Scene does not accept affiliate partnerships that require favourable coverage. The commercial team manages both categories separately, and each has distinct disclosure requirements.
How does Canada Scene guarantee editorial independence?
Canada Scene’s editorial decisions are made solely by the newsroom, led by Catherine Roy and Managing Editor Marc Tremblay. Sponsors have no input into editorial topics, headlines, or publication timing. Our Editorial Policy prohibits any commercial arrangement from dictating news coverage or fact-checking.
All sponsored content is produced either by Canada Scene’s editorial team under a clear commercial agreement or by the sponsor and reviewed by our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Andrew Leblanc. In either case, the sponsor does not review or approve editorial content. Any implied endorsement is avoided, and sponsored articles are not included in the same RSS feeds as editorial news unless the feed itself is labelled as containing sponsored material.
How can readers inquire about or report sponsored content?
Readers with questions about a specific sponsored piece, or who believe a disclosure is insufficient, should contact sponsored@canadascene.org. Complaints regarding editorial standards are handled via our Complaints Procedure. General contact information is available on our Contact page.
Canada Scene responds to all sponsored content inquiries within two business days. If the enquiry relates to a potential violation of this policy, Andrew Leblanc leads the investigation and reports findings directly to Catherine Roy. Corrective actions, including removal or re-labelling, are communicated to the reader and published as a correction note on the affected content.
Our commitments
- We label all sponsored content with a clear, visible “Sponsored” designation at the top of the page.
- We never allow sponsors to influence editorial news coverage or to approve editorial content before publication.
- We maintain a strict separation between the commercial and editorial teams, with final authority resting with the Editor-in-Chief.
- We disclose affiliate links separately from sponsored content, in accordance with our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure.
- We investigate all reader complaints about sponsored content promptly and transparently, publishing corrections when necessary.