Civic Affairs is a free-to-read news publication, and like most independent outlets, we rely on a mix of funding sources to sustain our reporting. This page explains how we are funded, what affiliate links are, how advertising works, and – most importantly – what this all means for you, our reader.
How is Civic Affairs funded?
Civic Affairs is funded through display advertising, affiliate links, commercial partnerships, sponsored content, newsletter sponsorships, content licensing, and event or media partnerships. The operating company, Sliema Media Limited, is registered in Malta, but editorial decisions are made independently in our UK newsroom.
None of these revenue streams determines our editorial conclusions. Our editorial policy makes clear that commercial relationships never influence what we report, how we report it, or which stories we choose to cover. You can read more about our ownership and funding structure on our ownership & funding page.
What are affiliate links and how do they work?
Affiliate links are special tracked URLs that allow us to earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. When we include such links, we always disclose them clearly near the link or at the top of the article using standard wording such as: “This article contains affiliate links. Civic Affairs may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.”
We only recommend products, services or resources that we genuinely believe are relevant to our coverage of UK civic affairs, public policy and community life. We never allow a commercial arrangement to influence whether we mention something or not. Our sponsored content policy provides further detail on how we handle paid-for material.
How this works in practice
Imagine you are reading a community affairs article that mentions a useful guide to local council services, and that guide is sold through a third‑party publisher. If we include an affiliate link to that guide, you will see a disclosure notice above the link or in the article’s intro. If you click the link and buy the guide, Civic Affairs receives a small percentage of the sale – typically a few pence or pounds, depending on the item. The price you pay stays exactly the same. You are never charged extra, and our editorial decision to mention that guide was made entirely on its relevance to the story, not on any potential commission.
Does advertising ever influence our editorial coverage?
No. Advertising and editorial teams are operationally separate, and advertising never controls editorial conclusions. Our Editor‑in‑Chief, William Ashby, oversees editorial policy and ensures that all content – including sponsored or commercially supported material – is clearly labelled and held to the same journalistic standards.
Our Standards & Fact‑Checking Lead, Diane Forbes, reviews sensitive stories and monitors compliance with these rules. Any sponsored or commercial material is labelled as such, and affiliate links are disclosed. For full details of how we maintain that separation, see our editorial policy.
Who operates Civic Affairs?
Civic Affairs is operated by Sliema Media Limited, a company registered in Malta (Malta Business Registry company number C 84217). Our registered office is Level 3 Tower Business Centre, Tower Street, Swatar, Birkirkara BKR 4013, Malta. Although the operating company is based in Malta, every editorial decision – from story selection to fact‑checking – is made by our UK‑based team under the direction of Editor‑in‑Chief William Ashby.
Our full team is listed on our site, along with contact details for each editor and correspondent. You can also read our contact page for general enquiries.
How can I get in touch about advertising, affiliate or partnership enquiries?
For advertising and commercial partnerships, email advertising@civicaffairs.uk. For affiliate‑related questions or programme enquiries, email affiliate@civicaffairs.uk. For sponsorships, content licensing or other partnership opportunities, email partnerships@civicaffairs.uk.
General editorial or reader enquiries can be sent to info@civicaffairs.uk. We aim to respond to all commercial and affiliate queries within two working days.
In short
We are funded by a mix of advertising, affiliate commissions and partnerships – but these never dictate what we report or how we report it. Every affiliate link is clearly disclosed, and our editorial independence is protected by a strict separation between commercial and newsroom operations.