Guidelines for Sponsored Webinars and Podcasts

The Canadian Nutrition Society (CNS) delivers evidence-based webinars and podcasts that advance understanding of nutrition science and support its translation into clinical practice, health systems and public policy. These learning opportunities bring together researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, policy makers, industry professionals and trainees.

Sponsorship supports accessible education and knowledge exchange across this multidisciplinary community. CNS retains scientific, programmatic and editorial control of all sponsored webinars and podcasts.

Webinar Evaluation Criteria

The CNS Education Committee and CNS Clinical Advisory Committee identify webinar topics and consider proposals from potential sponsors. Proposals should identify the intended audience, a brief webinar description, proposed learning objectives and educational need.

Proposals are evaluated based on:

Sponsored Webinar Guidelines

1. Scientific oversight and sponsor involvement:

Sponsors may propose topics and suggest speakers for consideration. CNS determines the final learning objectives, program, speakers and moderator. Sponsors must not develop or control educational content.

The CNS Education Committee approves speakers based on relevant expertise. Proposed speakers employed or contracted by the sponsor require specific review and approval of their relationships and suitability.

2. Content development and scientific standards

Speakers are responsible for ensuring their presentations are scientifically balanced, consistent with the approved webinar description and learning objectives, and compliant with these guidelines. CNS reserves the right to request presentation materials in advance and require revisions where necessary to address concerns about scientific accuracy, balance or commercial influence.

Presentations should distinguish established findings from emerging evidence and acknowledge relevant limitations or uncertainty. Use of research that has not undergone peer review requires advance CNS approval and clear identification during the presentation.

Contributors are asked to follow CNS Guidance for Speakers, Moderators and Educational Contributors: Supporting Inclusive, Respectful and Evidence-Based Scientific Communication.

3. Disclosures and management of potential conflicts

Speakers must include a disclosure slide identifying relevant financial and other relationships, or stating that there are none, and explain these verbally at the beginning of their presentation. Moderators must also declare any relevant relationships at the outset of the webinar.

CNS may request clarification of disclosed relationships and take appropriate steps to address actual or perceived conflicts of interest or commercial bias. These may include additional disclosure, clarification during the session or follow-up with contributors.

Use of artificial intelligence: Speakers must disclose any substantive use of generative AI in developing educational content, including text, images or other media. The disclosure should identify the tool used and its purpose, appear on the disclosure slide or a separate slide, and be mentioned verbally. Routine spelling, grammar and formatting assistance does not require disclosure. Speakers remain responsible for verifying the accuracy, references and appropriateness of all content.

Additional disclosure requirements may apply to accredited activities and will be communicated to contributors by CNS.

4. Product and company references

Educational content must not promote a particular company, brand or product. Scientifically necessary references require advance CNS approval and must be presented in a balanced context. Required disclosures are permitted.

During discussion, moderators should remove promotional wording from questions while preserving legitimate scientific questions.

5. Coordination and moderation

CNS staff or the CNS-appointed chair coordinates speaker invitations and webinar preparation. The moderator introduces the session, facilitates discussion and selects audience questions based on educational relevance.

6. Sponsor recognition and promotional materials

CNS acknowledges sponsorship in webinar promotions, on its website, at the opening and closing of the webinar, and in the evaluation. Sponsor-prepared promotional materials require CNS approval before distribution.

Sponsorship does not constitute CNS endorsement of a sponsor or its products or services.

7. Evaluation

CNS collects participant feedback, including whether learning objectives were met and whether commercial bias was perceived. Feedback informs future programming and follow-up where concerns arise.

8. Disclaimer

Views expressed by speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent CNS.

Application to Sponsored Podcasts

The principles of scientific independence, balanced content, transparency and non-endorsement outlined above also apply to CNS sponsored podcasts. Podcast proposals should identify the intended audience, a brief episode description, proposed guests and educational purpose. Proposals are assessed using the relevant educational and scientific criteria outlined above.

CNS retains final authority over topic and guest selection, interview questions, editing and publication. Sponsors may suggest topics and guests but must not develop or control educational content.

Sponsor-prepared promotional materials require CNS approval before distribution. Sponsorship does not constitute CNS endorsement of a sponsor or its products or services. Views expressed by podcast hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent CNS.

Requirements specific to webinar slides, live audience questions and post-webinar evaluations do not apply to podcasts.

Commitment to Scientific Integrity

CNS is committed to maintaining responsible and transparent processes in all of its activities.  As with all of our sector stakeholders, CNS considers and values industry partner and sponsor input, but retains all programmatic and editorial control.  All CNS conference and webinar programming, educational initiatives and award recipients are reviewed and approved by respective CNS committees. To view our Prerequisite, Governance and Operational Principles – CLICK HERE.

Scientific Integrity Principles and Best Practices

CNS participated as a member of the Scientific Integrity Consortium, a group of approximately 30 organizations that came together across scientific disciplines with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and differences in approaches to scientific integrity strategies. The Consortium agreed on the importance of a community consensus and alignment around the necessity for scientific integrity standards and their content. The CNS has officially endorsed the Scientific Integrity Principles and Best Practices and uses them to guide and manage our collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Questions and Proposals

For questions or to discuss a proposed webinar or podcast, please contact:

Andrea Grantham
CNS Executive Director
[email protected]
613-482-8020 ext. 1

© 2026 CNS-SCN - Canadian Nutrition Society