Sponsored Content Policy
Last updated: May 2026
The Carnegie Journal maintains clear disclosure standards for sponsored content, paid partner placements, and commercial links. Readers and partners should be able to distinguish paid participation from independent editorial selection without ambiguity.
The Carnegie Journal publishes independent editorial content and clearly labelled commercial features where applicable.
The publication may receive compensation from paid links or partnership placements. Editorial judgement, publication decisions, and awards recognition remain human-reviewed.
Application and editorial selection for The Carnegie Journal Select Awards are free. Optional presentation, reuse, physical, event, profile, and sponsorship products may be offered separately after selection or confirmed publication.
Editorial Independence
Editorial coverage and The Carnegie Journal Select Awards decisions are made independently. Paid commercial participation does not guarantee nomination, finalist status, selection, ranking, or awards results.
Commercial Labelling
Commercial relationships, where present, are labelled through restrained but visible language such as Sponsored Feature, Partner Placement, Commercial Listing, Partner Booking, or Affiliate Link.
Awards & Optional Recognition Materials
Application and editorial selection are free. Optional post-selection materials, profiles, event participation, reuse licences, and disclosed partner placements may be offered separately. They do not influence awards selection, ranking, category placement, editorial judgement, or future consideration.
No Performance Guarantee
The Carnegie Journal does not guarantee traffic, bookings, revenue, rankings, search visibility, or commercial results from any paid placement, link, profile, feature, or recognition material.
Corrections or Questions
Questions about disclosure or labelling may be sent to the partnerships desk for review.
Commercial Labels
Editorial Mention
An editorial reference selected by the editorial desk. It is not sold as placement.
Partner Booking
A clearly labeled official or booking link that may appear where a commercial agreement exists.
Commercial Listing
A paid listing or commercial presence in a guide, index-adjacent surface, or partner environment.
Featured Partner
A disclosed commercial partner placement with stronger presentation or storytelling context.
Brand Page
A dedicated commercial or partner page for a brand, property, destination, or hospitality group.
Sponsored Feature
A story or feature produced with commercial participation and visible disclosure language.
Affiliate Link
A link through which The Carnegie Journal may receive compensation if a reader takes an action.
Recognition Materials
Physical or digital materials issued only after confirmed selection, publication, listing, feature, or disclosed commercial placement.
Recognition Materials
Recognition materials reflect the actual status or underlying presence granted and are not quality guarantees, ratings, certifications, or awards unless expressly stated by The Carnegie Journal Select Awards.
Honouree Presentation Plaque
For actual honourees of The Carnegie Journal Select Awards only, after selection has been granted independently.
Finalist Recognition
For actual finalists only, after finalist status has been granted independently.
Featured Partner Plaque
For actual paid guide or commercial partners only, with the partner context made clear.
Annual Partner Plaque
For annual partners only, where recognition materials are included in the agreed partnership terms.
Related references: /partners · /awards · /guides/seoul-stay · /reading-room
Disclosure questions: partners@thecarnegiejournal.com
