| Print full guidance

What material does not need an imprint?

The following types of material do not need to carry an imprint even if they meet the relevant test:

  • Material, other than an advert, published on a website or app which is primarily for journalism
  • Organic digital material published by an individual non-party campaigner who is not registered with the Electoral Commission
  • Certain shared material which still includes the original imprint. See Sharing and republishing digital material for more details

Material published on a website or app which is primarily for journalism

Material, other than an advert, which is published on a website or mobile app whose primary purpose (or one of whose primary purposes) is journalism does not need to include an imprint. This exemption does not apply to adverts, regardless of whether the platform has been paid to publish the advert or not.

Websites or apps which have journalism as one of their primary purposes can include for example:

  • Online newspapers or news channels
  • Newspaper apps
  • Online radio stations

Print newspapers and periodicals 

Material published as a part of the editorial content of a print newspaper or periodical does not need to include an imprint. 

Adverts in print newspapers and periodicals must include an imprint if they are election material.

Organic digital material – unregistered individual campaigners

If you are an individual non-party campaigner who is not registered with the Electoral Commission, then you do not need to include an imprint on any organic digital material you publish on your own behalf. 

Unregistered individuals who only publish material on their own behalf will only need to include an imprint on paid adverts. 

Last updated: 20 August 2025