Advertising Policies and Guidelines

POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

ACCEPTABILITY

SMU Look Media (the platform) reserves the right to reject advertising deemed to adversely affect the integrity and credibility of the platform as a source of truthful and accurate information, to conflict with the educational mission of the university community served or for any reason explained by the SMU Look Media advisors.

LIABILITY

Sole responsibility for the content of an ad rests with the advertiser, who unconditionally agrees to hold SMU Look Media SMU’s Division of Journalism harmless should a claim arise and to pay for any and all expenses incurred from the publication of an ad. Should an ad not be published as ordered, SMU Look Media or the SMU Division of Journalism cannot be responsible for any losses or damages caused as a result. Should there be an error in an ad, SMU Look Media’s liability is limited to the amount paid for the portion of the ad containing the error, and the advertiser will be expected to work with SMU Look Media in good faith to remedy the error. For event sponsors, SMU Look Media will make every good faith effort to guarantee an amazing event. However, we cannot guarantee attendance, media coverage or any element outside our direct control.

TERMS OF PAYMENT

All rates listed are non-commissionable (net) rates, and all payments must be made in advance of the advertisement run date.

ERRORS IN ADS/PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

SMU Look Media is not responsible for typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement/sponsorship. Liability for an omitted ad shall be limited to rescheduling at the advertiser’s request.

SMU Look Media is not responsible for errors in advertising copy accepted after deadline or when advertisers or their representatives have approved an ad containing those errors.

SMU Look Media will be responsible for only the first insertion of incorrect copy or scheduling. Compensation for errors made by SMU Look Media is limited to the cost of the first insertion of the ad.

Advertising Acceptability Guidelines

SMU’s Division of Journalism, hereinafter referred to as the “Division,” reserves the right to reject advertising submitted for publication on the Division’s Web sites, for any reason.

1. The Division presumes that most advertising copy submitted for publication will meet the standards embodied in these Guidelines. But, the Division also recognizes that some advertising copy, if published, would diminish the integrity and credibility of student media as sources of truthful and accurate information, would be repugnant to most readers/listeners served by the media, or would conflict with the educational mission of Southern Methodist University. This includes advertising copy that promotes academic dishonesty and/or violates local, state and federal statutes related to libel, obscenity, invasion of privacy and copyright infringement. This includes copy that is misleading or deceptive or that grossly exaggerates or makes unwarranted, unsubstantiated or unfair claims. This also includes copy that encourages the evasion or violation of any campus, municipal, state or federal law, regulation or ordinance.

2. The Division holds the advertiser fully responsible for the contents of an advertisement and for complying with applicable legal statutes and Division policies and procedures, and for obtaining model releases and seeking required copyright waivers, etc. Additionally, the Division holds the advertiser fully and unconditionally responsible for all claims as a result of publication/broadcast of an advertisement as well as for any and all expenses arising therefrom.

3. The Division conforms to local, state and federal Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines and will not accept for publication advertising that discriminates on the basis of race, age, sex, disability, religion, national origin or sexual orientation, except in those instances in classified employment and housing advertising when gender is a bona fide occupational qualification or when gender preferences are stated in ads involving shared living facilities.

4. The Division will not knowingly accept advertising that (a) encourages students to purchase reports and/or research material done by others; (b) requires readers to send money to obtain further information on a product or service; (c) promotes the sale of such products and services as drug paraphernalia, drugs, fireworks, adoption through/by individual(s), firearms, and organ donations. Advertising of alcoholic beverages is allowed provided the advertisement does not patently encourage and/or promote illegal, inappropriate or irresponsible consumption behavior, e.g., “Drink and Drown,” “Crash and Burn,” “All You Can Drink,” or drinking contests. Advertising copy is expected to conform to requirements of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Statements supporting responsible drinking by those of legal drinking age are encouraged.

5. Additionally, the Division will not knowingly accept advertising that most readers in the University environment would consider offensive or in poor taste. It will submit such copy in advance of publication to an internal review process outlined in the final paragraph of these Guidelines. This copy may include, but not be limited to, products or services that frequently have served as “fronts” for questionable, sometimes illegal or unethical activities, e.g., masseurs and masseuses, envelope stuffing and work-at-home projects, dating or escort services, sex-oriented chat lines and toll/toll-free numbers, modeling, topless clubs, pornographic movies, pregnancy referral, gambling, “get rich quick” promotions, advertising mentioning a product or service other than that provided by the advertiser, or advertising containing the words “must be 18.”

6. The Division will reproduce currency only in black and white and then only in reduced (no larger than 75 percent) or enlarged (at least 150 percent) sizes.

7. The Division will only use the University logo and other trademarked University symbols in advertisements promoting non-university sponsored activities and products if a royalty agreement between the University and the advertiser exists.

8. The Division requires that, as a service to readers and as a help in applying the Advertising Acceptability Guidelines, the majority of all advertising copy be in English. Single line deviations to this rule will be allowed for emphasis only.

9. The Division owns all advertising copy created by Division personnel.

10. The Division discourages use of advertising design resembling standard news and editorial matter and, when necessary to differentiate between the two, requires that a border be placed around an advertisement using a “news” font and that the word “Advertisement” be clearly and conspicuously printed at the top. The text also may require the name of the sponsor of the advertising.

11. The Division accepts opinion advertising to allow forums for presentation of diverse ideas and opinions, including those differing from the editorial positions of the various media, so long as such advertising is consistent with the Advertising Acceptability Guidelines. The Division requires and will publish full identification of the sponsors of all opinion advertisements. The Division requires evidence that all persons named in the advertising copy have given permission to use their names.

12. SMU Look Media assumes no liability whatsoever for cancelled/late publications or reduced distribution due to inclement weather or connectivity/Internet outages.

13. The Division has delegated responsibility for reviewing and making decisions regarding the acceptability of questionable advertising for publication in student produced media to student leaders. As part of the review process, the team shall seek guidance and information from a variety of sources, including appropriate members of the Division’s professional staff, legal counsel, municipal, state and federal government agencies, and consumer, business and industry trade groups.