When you read a story on BuzzLayer, you may notice advertisements or links to products and services. This page explains how our funding works and what that means for you as a reader. Our goal is to be transparent so you can trust what you read and make informed choices about the content you engage with.
What does BuzzLayer’s funding model mean for you?
BuzzLayer is funded by a mix of display advertising, affiliate commissions, commercial partnerships, sponsored content, newsletter sponsorships and content licensing. None of these revenue streams determines what we publish or how we cover a story. Our editorial team makes all content decisions independently, and any commercial material is clearly labelled so you can always tell the difference between journalism and advertising.
Advertising on our site includes banner ads, native ad units and programmatic placements. These are served by third-party networks and are not tied to specific articles or topics. We do not accept advertising that misleads readers or promotes harmful products. If you see an ad that seems out of place, please let us know at advertising@buzzlayer.org.
How do affiliate links work on our site?
When we recommend a product or service, we may include an affiliate link. If you click that link and make a purchase, BuzzLayer earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our journalists and editors choose what to write about based on editorial merit, not commercial potential. Commission structures never influence coverage, and all affiliate relationships are disclosed either in the article or on this page.
For example, a review of a new laptop might include a link to a retailer where you can buy it. That link is an affiliate link. We still test and evaluate the product independently. If we wouldn’t recommend it to a friend, we won’t recommend it to you — affiliate link or not. You can read our full Sponsored Content Policy for more details on how we handle paid collaborations.
How this works in practice
Let’s say our Consumer Tech Editor, David Kim, reviews a smartphone. The article compares battery life, camera quality and price. At the bottom of the piece, there is a link to buy the phone from an online store. That link is an affiliate link. David wrote the review based on his testing, and the fact-checking team led by Priya Sharma verified all claims. The only difference is that if you click the link and buy the phone, BuzzLayer receives a small percentage of the sale. The editorial conclusion — whether the phone is worth buying — is not for sale.
We apply the same approach to sponsored content. When a brand pays us to create an article, it is clearly marked as “Sponsored” or “Paid Content.” That label appears at the top of the page so you know it is not a staff-written news story. Our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Priya Sharma, ensures that even sponsored pieces meet our accuracy requirements. No advertiser or partner has veto power over our editorial judgments.
Who owns and operates BuzzLayer?
BuzzLayer is owned and operated by Northern Beacon Media Inc., an Ontario corporation registered in the Ontario Business Registry (company number 1003194827). Our registered office is at Unit 12, 95 King Street East, Toronto, ON M5C 1G4, Canada. The company was founded to produce trustworthy Canadian journalism, and that mission guides every decision, including how we handle advertising and affiliate relationships. You can learn more about our funding and ownership structure on our Ownership & Funding page.
Editor-in-Chief Alex Nguyen has final authority over all editorial content and commercial integrations. Neither the ownership nor any advertiser can override his decisions about what to publish or correct. If you ever suspect that a commercial relationship influenced a story, please contact Alex directly at alex.nguyen@buzzlayer.org or use our Complaints Procedure.
How can you contact us about advertising or partnerships?
If you are interested in advertising on BuzzLayer or exploring a commercial partnership, please reach out to advertising@buzzlayer.org for display and programmatic opportunities, or partnerships@buzzlayer.org for sponsored content and newsletters. We review all proposals against our Editorial Policy to ensure they align with our standards. For general inquiries, you can use our contact page.
We also encourage readers to report any concerns about advertising or affiliate disclosures. Our team takes every report seriously and will investigate promptly. More details on how we handle feedback are available in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.
In short
BuzzLayer is funded by advertising, affiliate links and partnerships, but none of these ever determines what we write. Our journalists and editors remain independent, and every piece of commercial content is clearly labelled. If you ever have a question about how money flows through this site, we welcome you to ask.