How does Southampton Wire make money?
Southampton Wire generates revenue through a mix of display advertising, affiliate links, commercial partnerships, sponsored content and newsletter sponsorships. Sliema Media Limited (Malta Business Registry C 84217) owns and operates the site, and every funding stream is managed transparently so that our editorial independence is never compromised.
Our primary income sources include traditional banner ads, affiliate commissions when readers purchase products through links on our site, paid partnerships with local businesses and organisations, clearly labelled sponsored articles, and sponsorship of our daily or weekly newsletters. We also accept promotional content from third parties, but only when it offers genuine value to our Southampton and Hampshire audience. All sponsored material is unmistakably marked – usually with a “Sponsored” or “Paid Partnership” label – so you always know what you’re reading. For a full breakdown of who funds us, see our ownership and funding page.
What are affiliate links and how do they work here?
Affiliate links are special URLs that allow us to earn a small commission if you click through and buy something from a partner retailer – at no extra cost to you. When a writer, editor or fact-checker includes an affiliate link in an article, the decision to recommend or reference that product is made independently of any financial incentive.
For example, if we review a local shop or recommend a useful household gadget, the link may lead to a retailer like Amazon or a specialist store. Southampton Wire receives a percentage of the sale, which helps us keep most of our content free for readers. Our team – led by Editor-in-Chief William Ashby and Standards & Fact-Checking Lead Diane Forbes – ensures that all affiliate placements are reviewed and do not influence the factual accuracy or fairness of the article. You can read more about how we vet content on our editorial policy page.
Does advertising influence our editorial coverage?
No. Commercial relationships – whether from advertisers, affiliates or sponsors – never determine what we cover or how we cover it. Every story is drafted by a named writer, reviewed by an editor, and fact-checked before publication, and those decisions are made entirely by our editorial team.
We maintain a strict separation between our revenue team and our newsroom. Sales staff do not have veto power over stories, and no advertiser is promised positive coverage or warned about negative reporting. Our sponsored content policy sets out clear boundaries: sponsored pieces are produced in collaboration with the paying partner but are always labelled, and they are never allowed to mislead readers or misrepresent facts. If you ever feel an article has been unduly influenced by a commercial interest, please contact our editor-in-chief directly at william.ashby@southamptonwire.co.uk or our advertising team at advertising@southamptonwire.co.uk.
What you can expect from us
You can expect total honesty about how we are funded and total independence in what we publish. Our mission is trustworthy local journalism without spin, and that means being open about every revenue stream and every editorial process.
We publish a dedicated ownership and funding page that lists all significant financial backers, and we update it whenever new partnerships are formed. Every article carries a byline, an editor’s review and a fact‑check, so accountability is built into our workflow. If we make a mistake, we correct it promptly – see our corrections policy. And if you have a tip or a concern about an affiliate link or an ad, you can reach our team via our contact page or email info@southamptonwire.co.uk. Our managing editor Sarah Mills and compliance lead Diane Forbes oversee all disclosures to ensure they meet the standards set out in the UK Advertising Codes and the CAP Code.
Questions or concerns?
If anything in this disclosure is unclear, or if you believe an article or advert has not been properly identified as sponsored or affiliate‑linked, please get in touch. We take these matters seriously and will investigate every report.
Email our advertising and partnerships team at advertising@southamptonwire.co.uk for commercial queries, or contact the editor-in-chief at william.ashby@southamptonwire.co.uk for editorial concerns. You can also write to our registered office: Sliema Media Limited, Level 3, Tower Business Centre, Tower Street, Swatar, Birkirkara BKR 4013, Malta. For general complaints, please use our complaints procedure. We are committed to being as transparent as possible because your trust is the foundation of everything we do.