Advertising Guidelines
Our principles
- Ads never masquerade as news. Paid placement will always be clearly labeled "Sponsored" or "Advertisement" and visually distinguished from editorial headlines. No blending, no typographic tricks, no "recommended for you" redirects to third-party publishers.
- No behavioral tracking. We will not enable third-party ad tech that sets cookies, fingerprints devices, or builds profiles of our readers. Ads on NUZU will be context-based — if any — never audience-based.
- No deceptive creative. No fake close buttons, no simulated system alerts, no fake comments, no fake quotes from real journalists, no "this one weird trick" patterns.
- No ads that contradict our editorial values. Accuracy, source integrity, and reader trust come ahead of ad revenue. If we ever need to pick between the two, revenue loses.
- Full advertiser disclosure. For any sponsored placement, we will show the advertiser's real name in a form any reader can look up.
What we will and won't accept
✓ We will consider
- Advertisements from news publishers, nonprofits, and civic organizations.
- Books, documentaries, podcasts, and journalism-education programs.
- Consumer products and services with clear, truthful claims.
- Recruitment ads from reputable employers.
- Event, conference, and subscription promotions from established outlets.
- Local-business placements that serve our readers without deceptive claims.
✕ We will not accept
- Political advertising, PAC spending, or campaign-funded content of any kind.
- Content that targets or misrepresents specific ethnic, religious, or marginalized groups.
- Anti-vaccine, pseudo-medical, or miracle-cure advertising.
- Get-rich-quick, crypto-pump, or high-risk investment promotions without licensed disclosure.
- Online gambling aimed at jurisdictions where it's illegal.
- Adult content, escort services, or weapons sales.
- Advertising for products or services under active regulatory investigation for deceptive practices.
- Anything that looks, reads, or links like a news story without the "Sponsored" label.
Editorial independence
Advertisers never see editorial content before it publishes. Advertisers cannot request story placement, suppression, or removal. NUZU's source list, tier classifications, and clustering logic are decided entirely by the editorial team and are not influenced by advertising relationships. If we ever refuse an advertiser for editorial reasons, that refusal is final.
Disclosure to readers
- Every sponsored placement will include the word "Sponsored" or "Advertisement" at the top of the unit in a size no smaller than the advertiser's name.
- Affiliate links, if ever used, will be disclosed in-context and in a dedicated line on this page.
- Advertorials (long-form paid content) will be clearly branded as paid content and will never use the same typography as news headlines.
Fact-checking and claims
We reserve the right to require substantiation for any factual claim in creative. If the claim can't be substantiated — or if substantiation depends on a source we already classify as Tier 3 for reliability — the creative doesn't run.
Technical requirements
- Static images or plain HTML only — no third-party JavaScript, ad networks, or tracking pixels.
- Creative must weigh under 200 KB and must not auto-play audio or video.
- A single destination URL per placement, pointing to a domain that resolves to the advertiser named in the deal.
Rates and inventory
NUZU does not publish a public rate card at this time. Inquiries are evaluated individually; pricing reflects the placement, creative spec, flight length, and fit with these guidelines. First-time advertisers should expect a short editorial review in addition to the commercial discussion.
Tell us about your brand, the product or service you want to promote, intended flight dates, and any creative you already have. We respond to every inquiry, even if the answer is "not a fit."
Start an inquiry →Changes to these guidelines
These guidelines will evolve as the site grows. Any material change will be dated at the top of this page. Existing advertisers will be notified in writing before any change takes effect for their placement.