Advertising Policy
Last Updated: September 13, 2025
Purpose
Advertising allows South Asian Affairs to remain a free and accessible platform while funding independent journalism.
Separation of Editorial and Advertising
- Editorial decisions are completely independent of advertisers, sponsors, and commercial partners.
- Journalists and editors are not involved in ad sales.
- No advertiser influences what stories we publish or how they are written.
Types of Advertising We Accept
- Display Ads: banners, sidebar, in-article placements via Google AdSense and other partners.
- Sponsored Content: funded articles, clearly labeled as “Sponsored” or “Advertisement.”
- Affiliate Links: disclosed where applicable.
Advertising Standards
We reject ads that promote or contain:
- Illegal products or services
- Adult or explicit content
- Tobacco, drugs, or weapons
- Gambling where prohibited
- Hate speech, discrimination, or violence
- Misleading, false, or harmful claims
Transparency and Labeling
- Advertisements are clearly distinguished from editorial content.
- Sponsored content includes a visible label.
- Native ads are accepted only with transparent labeling.
Responsibility for Advertisers’ Claims
- Advertisers ensure legal compliance for their claims.
- South Asian Affairs does not endorse advertised products or services.
- Reader engagement with ads is at their own risk.
Placement of Ads
- Ads may appear on homepages, category pages, or within articles.
- Ad placement will not compromise readability or user experience.
- Pop-ups or auto-playing sound/video ads are discouraged.
Data and Targeting
- Cookies and tracking may be used to display relevant ads (see Cookie Policy).
- Users can opt out of personalized ads via browser or AdSense settings.
Complaints and Feedback
Report problematic ads to ads@southasianaffairs.com. We will review and remove if necessary.
Updates
This policy may be updated as laws or practices change; updates will be posted with a revised Last Updated date.