Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
The Publisher Platform Terms of Service (these “Terms”) constitute binding agreements between you and Particle Media, Inc., a Delaware corporation, its subsidiaries, and affiliated companies (collectively, “NewsBreak” or “we”) that governs your use of the Publisher Services. “Publisher Services” means the services accessible via NewsBreak’s platform, through which your content (the “Content”) may be visible and accessible to the users of our website at www.newsbreak.com, our mobile application “NewsBreak,” newsletters, and other products or services owned or operated by NewsBreak.
These Terms include and incorporate NewsBreak’s Terms of Use (the “General Terms of Use”), Privacy Policy, and all other terms, conditions, policies, and documentation that are referred to herein and therein, including, without limitation, our Community Standards (“Community Standards”) (collectively, these Terms and all such others, the “Agreements”).
BY PARTICIPATING IN THE PUBLISHER SERVICES AND USING OR OTHERWISE ACCESSING THE PUBLISHER SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO THE AGREEMENTS, WHICH MIGHT BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE OR CANNOT COMPLY WITH TO THE AGREEMENTS, PLEASE DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLISHER SERVICES OR USE OR OTHERWISE ACCESS THE PUBLISHER SERVICES.
THESE AGREEMENTS REQUIRE THE USE OF BINDING INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION TO RESOLVE DISPUTES RATHER THAN JURY TRIALS OR ACTIONS. YOUR PARTICIPATION OR USE OF THE PUBLISHER SERVICES IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
You need to register for an account to access our Publisher Services. Please safeguard your password to the account, and keep your account information current. NewsBreak recommends that you do not share your password with others. You are not allowed to transfer your account without our permission.
If you use the Publisher Services on behalf of a company, organization, or other entity, then (a) you hereby represent and warrant that you are an authorized representative of the entity with authority to bind the entity to the Agreements and that you agree to the Agreements on the entity’s behalf, and (b) the word “you” includes you and that entity. If you are accepting the Agreements and using the Publisher Services on behalf of someone else (such as another person or entity), you hereby represent and warrant that you are authorized to do so, and in that case, the words “you” or “your” in the Agreements include that other person or entity.
Any use or access to the Publisher Services by anyone under the age of 18 is prohibited and in violation of the Agreements. By using the Publisher Services, you affirm that you are over 18 years old.
Subject to the terms of the Agreements, NewsBreak hereby grants you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, non-transferable license to access and use Publisher Services to submit your Content to Publisher Services and make available the Content on the Publisher Services. This license may be revoked by NewsBreak at any time for any reason, with or without notice.
We reserve all rights that are not explicitly granted under these Agreements. These Agreements don’t grant you any ownership right, title, or interest in the Publisher Services, or any right, title, or interest of other user’s content on the Publisher Services, or our trademarks, logos, or other brand features.
You are responsible for any Content you provide. You own or have permission to authorize us to use the Content.
You hereby grant to us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully paid, and sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, publicly perform and display your Content, store, tag, transmit, disassemble, publish, translate, and create derivative works from the Content, including, without limitation, texts, photographs, images, videos, media, and other works in the Content and any portion thereof, for any purpose in connection with NewsBreak’s services and business, including but not limited to, the right to (1) make the Content available on the Publisher Services, (2) abridge, summarize, or format the Content, (3) advertise around the Content, (4) provide, promote, and improve the Publisher Services or our products and other services, (5) make the Content available to other companies, organizations, or individuals for the syndication, broadcast, distribution, repost, promotion, or publication of the Content or business on other media and services, (6) archive the Content, and (7) license the Content to advertisers for incorporation into advertisements.
You hereby represent and warrant that (i) you have the full license, power, right and authority to grant the rights to NewsBreak as granted herein, and that the exercise by NewsBreak of such rights shall not violate the rights of any third party; (ii) you are not subject to any obligation which will or might hinder or prevent the completion or performance by you of any of you obligations; (iii) your Content does not contain material that is false, spam, intentionally misleading, or defamatory; (iv) your Content does not infringe the intellectual property rights, or proprietary rights, privacy rights, or any other rights of any person or entity; (v) your Content does not contain any unlawful content, including illegal hate speech or pornography, exploit or otherwise harm minors, violate or advocate the violation of any law or regulation; (vi) your Content does not violate NewsBreak’s regulations and policies, including but not limited to our Community Standards; (vii) your Content and the process and mechanism by which your Content is made available to NewsBreak is free of infection from any viruses or other code or computer programming routines that contain contaminating or destructive properties or that are intended to damage, surreptitiously intercept or expropriate any system, data or information; and (viii) your website includes a terms of use, privacy policy and your contact information. You covenant that, during the time of your agreement with us, the foregoing representations and warranties shall continue to be true and correct.
You hereby grant NewsBreak a non-exclusive, non-transferable, worldwide license, and royalty-free to use your trademarks, service mark, service name, trade name, design, or logo(s) (collectively, “Publisher Marks”) solely in connection with the rights granted to NewsBreak for any purpose in connection with NewsBreak services and business, including, without limitation, to identify your participation in NewsBreak’s Publisher Services and business or other promotional materials as a content provider for NewsBreak.
You hereby represent and warrant i) you do not collect NewsBreak’s users’ personal information, ii) you comply with all data protection and privacy laws, and iii) your website applies the same standard privacy policy as NewsBreak’s privacy policy (https://www.newsbreak.com/privacy).
You agree not to disclose to any third party any Confidential Information (as defined below) of NewsBreak that you may receive. “Confidential Information” means information marked as confidential or normally considered confidential or proprietary under the circumstances, including, without limitation, information regarding our businesses, operations, prospective marketing, and promotional activities. Confidential Information will not include information that is publicly known or rightfully received from a third party with no confidentiality restrictions.
NewsBreak may, in our sole discretion, determine your Content to be hosted on our Publisher Services and remove some or all of the Content for any reason.
You acknowledge that our decision to place any Content on the Publisher Services does not mean that we have reviewed the Content or have agreed to be liable for the Content and that you shall remain solely responsible for your Content at all times.
Any feedback that you may provide to us shall be deemed to be non-confidential. NewsBreak shall be free to use such feedback unrestrictedly without any obligation to you.
THE PUBLISHER SERVICES AND THE PRODUCTS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE PUBLISHER SERVICES, WHETHER PROVIDED BY NEWSBREAK, ITS LICENSORS, ITS VENDORS, OR ITS USERS, AND OTHER INFORMATION ON OR ACCESSIBLE FROM THE PUBLISHER SERVICES, ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION, CONDITION, OR GUARANTEE OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, CONDITIONS OR GUARANTEES OF QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, ALL OF WHICH ARE DISCLAIMED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. SPECIFICALLY, BUT WITHOUT LIMITATION, NEWSBREAK DOES NOT WARRANT THAT: (I) THE PUBLISHER SERVICES ARE FREE OF ERRORS; (II) THE FUNCTIONS OR FEATURES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MECHANISMS FOR THE DOWNLOADING AND UPLOADING OF CONTENT) WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR FREE OF ERRORS; (III) DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED; OR (IV) THE PUBLISHER SERVICES OR THE SERVER(S) THAT MAKE THE PUBLISHER SERVICES AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.
IN NO EVENT SHALL NEWSBREAK OR ITS AFFILIATES, LICENSORS, VENDORS, OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR ANY DAMAGES, WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR OTHERWISE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF USE, COSTS OF OBTAINING SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES), SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, COMPENSATORY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, OR ANY BUGS, VIRUSES, TROJAN HORSES, OR SIMILAR ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLISHER SERVICES, ANY MATERIALS, INFORMATION, OR RECOMMENDATIONS APPEARING ON THE PUBLISHER SERVICES, OR ANY LINK PROVIDED ON THE PUBLISHER SERVICES, WHETHER OR NOT NEWSBREAK HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND WHETHER BASED UPON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, VIOLATION OF STATUTE, OR OTHERWISE. THIS EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY SHALL APPLY TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AND IN ANY EVENT, OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY WILL NOT EXCEED THE HIGHER OF THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO NEWSBREAK FOR THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE TO WHICH THE CLAIM RELATES, OR $100.
YOU AGREE TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, AND HOLD NEWSBREAK AND ITS RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, MEMBERS, SHAREHOLDERS, OR REPRESENTATIVES (AND ALL SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING), HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY CLAIM OR DEMAND, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND DISBURSEMENTS, MADE BY ANY THIRD PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF YOUR VIOLATION OF THESE AGREEMENTS, THE TERMS, NEWSBREAK PRIVACY POLICY, AD POLICY OR COMMUNITY STANDARD, YOUR VIOLATION OF AN APPLICABLE LAW, YOUR SUBMISSION, POSTING, OR TRANSMISSION OF ANY CONTENT TO THE PUBLISHER SERVICES, ANY BREACH OF YOUR REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR ALLEGATIONS, AND/OR YOUR VIOLATION OF ANY RIGHTS OF ANOTHER, INCLUDING CLAIMS FOR DEFAMATION. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT, AT OUR OWN EXPENSE, TO ASSUME THE EXCLUSIVE DEFENSE AND CONTROL OF SUCH DISPUTES, AND IN ANY EVENT, YOU WILL COOPERATE WITH US IN ASSERTING ANY AVAILABLE DEFENSES.
NewsBreak reserves the right at any time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Publisher Services (or any part thereof), with or without notice. You may terminate these Agreements with 60 days written notice to your NewsBreak representative. You agree that NewsBreak shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuance of the Publisher Services. Upon termination, your right to access the Publisher Services and these Agreements will terminate, and all rights you have to access the Publisher Services will immediately terminate; however, provisions of these Agreements will still apply post-termination, including but not limited to “Confidentiality,” “Our Rights,” “No Warranties; Limitation of Liability,” “Indemnity,” “Arbitration,” “Governing Law and Venue.” Terminating your account may also include, at NewsBreak’s sole discretion, the deletion of your account and/or advertiser profile.
Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation, or validity thereof, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, shall be determined by arbitration in Santa Clara County before three arbitrators. The arbitration shall be administered by JAMS pursuant to JAMS’ Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures. Judgment on the Award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. This clause shall not preclude parties from seeking provisional or injunctive relief in aid of arbitration from a court of appropriate jurisdiction.
These Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of California, notwithstanding its conflicts of law principles. Except for claims subject to mandatory arbitration, any dispute arising out of either: i) these Agreements or ii) the use of the Publisher Services, seeking provisional remedies or injunctive relief shall be initiated and conducted in the state or federal courts of Santa Clara County, California and you and NewsBreak consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts.
Your relationship with NewsBreak will be that of an independent contractor and not be that of an employee. You shall defend, indemnify, and hold NewsBreak Parties harmless from any allegation or determination by a court of agency that you are an employee.
Notwithstanding any other provisions, NewsBreak has the right to terminate your participation in or your use of the Publisher Services at any time. NewsBreak may change, terminate, or restrict access to any aspect of the Publisher Services at any time, with or without notice. Nothing in these Agreements shall restrict or limit our rights to use any of your content or marks that constitutes existing rights under applicable laws.
Local news and information help us live safer, more vibrant, truly connected lives by empowering our communities. NewsBreak’s commitment to editorial excellence and the use of cutting-edge technologies will enable us to provide trusted and timely information.
We look to our contributors and partners for relevant local content that enriches lives. We emphasize utility and celebrate innovation, aspiration, and compassion. Together with thousands of publishing partners, we tell stories about community concerns that change lives.
Our mutual success requires all of us to adhere to an agreed-upon set of principles, standards, and guidelines. Our commitment to transparency informs our vigilance in fighting disinformation and misinformation. We reject inappropriate efforts by governments, advertisers, and other interested parties to influence our coverage. We eschew political and religious extremism and reject racism and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, age, color, caste, national origin, immigration status, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental illness, disability, serious medical condition, socioeconomic class, or veteran status. We disclose and correct our mistakes.
Additionally, NewsBreak has developed detailed guidelines for each of the four categories of content in the ecosystem:
These policies are part of the broader suite of policies governing your use of our platforms, including our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy. Failure to comply with the guidelines listed here may result in disciplinary action including decreased distribution or removal from the platform. These policies and guidelines are non-exhaustive, and NewsBreak reserves the right to remove content or profiles in its sole discretion at any time.
NewsBreak is a safe space where people come together to engage with credible and relevant local information and to share their thoughts about it. We enforce our community standards on our platform to foster trust within our community. In doing so, we aim to help people deepen ties to their communities and foster a greater sense of belonging.
These principles are designed to help foster a healthy, safe environment of authenticity for the NewsBreak community.
NewsBreak believes the foundation of a healthy community is credible information. NewsBreak takes the accuracy of the content on its platform very seriously and prohibits the publication of rumor, hearsay, or unverified information. This applies to all formats across written, video, audio, and still imagery.
Integrity is imperative in establishing trust with our community. NewsBreak expects publishers and community organizations to provide transparent information to the public about who controls, owns, or provides significant funding to their operations and expects outlets or individuals to retain editorial independence from the influence of owners or funders. Publishers and contributors must be who they say they are.
NewsBreak expects publishers, contributors, community organizers, and all users to be accountable for all of the information they publish, including what they re-publish, aggregate, quote, or embed. NewsBreak expects publishers, contributors, or community organizations not to provide information for which they do not have the proper expertise. Publishers and contributors must be clear when something is an opinion.
NewsBreak believes in highlighting diverse voices, stories, opinions, and sources. We favor work that presents all relevant sides of a story and provides all necessary context. It is equally important that our contributors and partners do not draw false moral equivalencies where none exist.
Respectful discourse is the cornerstone of our communities. We seek to facilitate healthy debate within our community and showcase a variety of opinions in our editorial content. All editorial opinion pieces must be rooted in fact, labeled clearly, and not be intended to cause harm to groups or individuals.
We believe in doing what’s best for the communities we serve. We are an inclusive community for our neighbors to find credible information, share ideas and look out for one another. There is no place on the platform for hate speech or harassment. NewsBreak seeks to minimize harm to communities by prohibiting discriminatory, defamatory, harassing, or derogatory language, especially behavior intended to threaten violence or incite violence or discrimination against an individual or a group based on race, ethnicity, age, color, caste, national origin, immigration status, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental illness, disability, serious medical condition, socioeconomic class, or veteran status.
We do not permit content that:
We do not permit content that:
We do not permit content that:
We aim to prevent offline harm potentially related to content on NewsBreak. Although we celebrate freedom of expression and understand it’s common to show disagreement with hyperbolic speech, we remove content and disable accounts when we see a real risk of physical harm or credible threats to the public’s safety. For example, an aspirational and standalone statement like, “Terrorists should be shot” are non-credible.
We do not permit content that:
NewsBreak removes content that actively deceives, knowingly misrepresents, or similarly defrauds or exploits the community for property, money or other advantages. This includes any activity utilizing NewsBreak to coordinate or promote such activities and behavior. We allow for counterspeech and warning or condemning these behaviors as long as other policies are not violated.
We do not permit content that:
NewsBreak cares about its communities and their wellness. While we support members of our community in sharing their personal experiences with these issues in a safe way to raise awareness and find community support, we do not allow the promotion of any content that encourages self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, or drug abuse.
We do not permit content that:
Everyone has the right to use NewsBreak free of harassment, bullying, or the threat of violence. Content that targets individuals with harassment or bullying is not permitted. We also don't allow content that makes repeated or malicious comments against one’s inherent characteristics. These inherent characteristics include protected group status, physical characteristics, or one’s status as a survivor of exploitation of non-consensual intimate imagery, sexual assault, and domestic abuse to name a few.
We do not permit content that:
While we allow critical comments directed toward public figures to allow for expression on subjects of newsworthiness and public concern, major abusive attacks against public figures are prohibited.
NewsBreak is for users aged 13 and above. We do not allow content that potentially places minors at risk, exploits them, or portrays them in a negative or harmful manner physically or psychologically. This includes animated, implied, or dramatized situations. In order to protect this more vulnerable group, we have even more strict guidelines where relevant. In most cases, those that violate these rules will immediately be removed from the platform upon discovery.
We do not permit content that:
If you find any child sexual abuse or exploitative material, report it to compliance@NewsBreak.com. If you believe a child is in danger, contact law enforcement immediately.
False or Misleading Content
NewsBreak is not a place for misinformation or disinformation. We want all information on NewsBreak to be credible and thus we prohibit the distribution of false or misleading content that may harm our users or the public’s well-being, safety, or trust.
We do not permit:
NewsBreak does not allow any content that incites interference with democratic processes or provides false or misleading information about elections or the democratic processes.
We do not permit:
We do not permit content that:
We do not permit content that:
We prioritize a safe and inclusive environment, but exceptions called "EDSA" (Educational, Documentary, Scientific and Art) allow certain content that would typically violate our policies. We assess factors like titles, descriptions, and context to determine EDSA eligibility. Examples include educational anti-bullying campaigns, historical documentaries, artistic expression in comedy, and nudity for scientific or artistic value. EDSA exceptions require clear intent within the content itself and do not apply to sensitive or harmful content.
If someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can send in a complete written notification to our designated Copyright Agent as described in our Terms of Use.
We do not permit content containing:
NewsBreak connects and empowers local audiences, contributors and businesses with the goal of helping people everywhere live safer, more vibrant, more truly-connected lives. Our contributors are a big part of our effort to inform and inspire communities by providing them with credible and trustworthy information about the world around them.
Because we place a premium on quality, NewsBreak requires each contributor to comply with Editorial Standards and Guidelines in order to ensure the safety of our community.
There are three levels of contributors on NewsBreak (Learn more here):
Our Contributor Editorial Standards & Guidelines apply to all contributors on NewsBreak. Failure to comply with the guidelines listed here may result in disciplinary action including decreased distribution or removal from the platform.
Accuracy & Fact-Checking
NewsBreak takes the accuracy of the content on its platform seriously. NewsBreak prohibits contributors from publishing rumor, hearsay, or unvetted or unverified information. Attempts to introduce misinformation or disinformation are grounds for account termination. The introduction of provably false information into stories is also grounds for account termination.
All contributors are responsible for fact-checking their stories.
Fabrication of information is strictly prohibited on NewsBreak. False information presented as fact will result in immediate removal from the platform.
The use of clickbait by contributors is prohibited. NewsBreak defines clickbait as a headline or photo that deliberately teases, misleads or omits key information in order to elicit clicks or where the headline does not accurately represent the article’s content.
Fairness
All Contributors should strive for truth and accuracy. It is important to present all relevant sides of a story. Contributors should not intentionally omit information that provides vital context to the story. Similarly, it’s also important not to draw a false moral equivalency where none exists.
Contributors should only refer to the race, gender, or sexuality of an individual if it is relevant to the story.
Specifically for Journalist Contributors or those doing reporting in their pieces, a reasonable amount of time must be allowed for comment from organizations, officials and/or individuals mentioned in a story before publication.
When it comes to reporting on crime, Contributors must not name a suspect or person of interest unless they are formally charged with a crime. An exception to this rule is if the person in question is named by police because she is a fugitive and considered dangerous.
NewsBreak does not publish mugshots of suspects unless they have been charged and may remove any articles published that contain them..
If charges against a suspect have been dismissed, NewsBreak will consider removing or updating stories on a case-by-case basis. We will also consider requests for removal of stories involving misdemeanors in which suspects are named on a case-by-case basis where the story does not contribute to discourse.
Attribution
Contributors must attribute all facts that reasonably could be challenged (in other words, are not well understood common knowledge). This includes information received first-hand from police, politicians, officials, victims, or any other entity providing the information.
If a Contributor is quoting from a document (such as an email or a press release), the contributor should indicate so. Original reporting is preferred, but when citing others’ work, Contributors must attribute to the original source unless that source itself lacks credibility. Contributors should not report information received from a source that lacks credibility without first independently verifying the facts reported.
When referencing other reporting, it must be hyperlinked and video, tweets, posts, and photos should be embedded unless those sources are not credible. For help with how to evaluate the credibility of a source, refer to this Poynter source evaluation guide.
The use of unnamed sources in all storytelling is allowed only when there are two unattributed sources who corroborate the same information. Granting unnamed sources confidential status requires approval of the content team.
In a non-news context, such as advice or relationship columns, Contributors who are recounting experiences of others must never present the experience as their own.
Contributors must accurately quote individuals, sources and/or documents and never take words or actions out of context. Where quotes have been shortened for length, Contributors should indicate that’s the case by using an ellipses.
Impartiality
The role of a Journalist Contributor is to remain impartial. Journalist Contributors should seek to avoid bias in their storytelling, reflecting all relevant sides and not favoring any one side in particular.
The Impartiality policy does not apply to Contributors who were brought onto the platform specifically to offer their opinions on local happenings, politics, restaurants, etc. (as long as their content is labeled as such). But Journalists, in particular, should refrain from political or social commentary unless they have been expressly invited or approved to write commentary. If they are approved, such content must be clearly labeled as opinion or commentary.
Prior Review from Sources
We prohibit Contributors from sending stories to sources for approval prior to their publication, except in the cases of Sponsored content which must be clearly labeled. In some cases we’ll recognize as appropriate, a source may ask to see a copy of her quotes or a journalist may want to send an excerpt to a source to ensure accuracy. However, sources should never get final sign-off on or approval of a piece before it is published.
Labeling
Pieces that express opinion or are satirical in nature must have "Opinion:" or "Satire:" at the beginning of the headline. This also applies to other disclaimers that might be needed at the beginning of certain posts.
Language
Written and video posts must be written/produced in legible, intelligible English. Poor grammar and/or syntax is not permitted.
NewsBreak does not allow Contributors to publish fictional content, this includes poems and song lyrics. Exceptions are made for editorial coverage of newsworthy excerpts.
Contributors are prohibited from publishing media that is altered with the intent to confuse, harm, or mislead. Media may not be edited in a way that changes its meaning or provides false context that could confuse the audience.
For example, Contributors may edit media to improve technical quality for color correction or to add graphics in post-production. Editorial manipulation of videos to deliberately mischaracterize an event or subject is strictly prohibited.
All editing of photos must be done in service of restoring their accuracy. Cropping and small adjustments to tone and color density are acceptable as long as it doesn’t alter the meaning of the photo. For example, cropping an individual out of a photo to intentionally be misleading is prohibited.
NewsBreak also prohibits the use of video captured secretly with malicious intent or in any manner that violates the law. This includes, but is not limited to, filming someone without their permission in an embarrassing or inappropriate environment where a reasonable expectation of privacy is held. Unless that footage violates state law, surveillance video or doorbell camera footage does not fall within this category.
Deep fakes (synthetic media manipulated to replace the person in the original video with someone else) are prohibited unless the deep fake is the subject of the story itself and clearly labeled as such for the audience.
Contributors who airbrush beyond recognition or manipulate the content of an image must indicate that it is a composite image or graphic in its caption.
In photos or videos relating to crimes, Contributors must blur the faces of minors unless the child’s photo has been released by law enforcement to assist in investigation of the crime or Contributors obtain the parents’ permission. We also ask Contributors blur faces of alleged victims in certain circumstances such as stories about sexual assault where the accuser wishes to remain anonymous.
Conflicts of Interest
Contributors should avoid even the appearance of conflicts of interest to preserve the integrity of their storytelling and the credibility of the platform.
Contributors should avoid reporting on friends or family unless it is essential to the telling of a story. In such cases, these ties must be disclosed at the top of the story.Contributors should not accept gifts from sources of coverage and if they do, must disclose that conflict of interest in accordance with NewsBreak’s promotions policies.
For Contributors who receive goods or services to review them or receive any other form of compensation in exchange for a review, they must disclose that they have received compensation at the top of the post
Contributors should refrain from covering subject matter from which they would directly benefit. If unavoidable, the conflict must be cited at the top of the story.
Contributors covering the stock market should be mindful of securities laws. For example, if a Contributor writes about a stock with the intention to inflate the price and sell the stock afterward, it could be considered fraud or insider trading. Contributors may not have any other financial interest in a company, enterprise, or industry that may be likely to figure in coverage that they provide.
The penalties for not complying with these Standards and Guidelines can result in penalties and may lead to account suspension or removal from the platform.
Thank you for helping to make the NewsBreak community a safe and healthy environment!
NewsBreak permits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create content provided the contributor discloses the use of such tools. The disclosure must be made at the top of a written story and within the caption of a video. Proper disclosure means a clear and straight forward description, such as: This post includes content written by AI or This post was written entirely by AI.
As a NewsBreak contributor, you are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of any content you submit, including content created with the help of AI. We understand that AI can be a useful tool for creating content, but it is important to remember that it is not error-free.
NewsBreak connects and empowers local audiences, contributors and businesses with the goal of helping people everywhere live safer, more vibrant, more truly-connected lives. We provide communities access to accurate information so they can make important decisions about their lives. Professional editorial outlets, especially local outlets focused on original reporting and cultural coverage, are an essential part of the NewsBreak ecosystem. Publishers provide a multiplicity of voices, stories, and perspectives. NewsBreak places a premium on quality and seeks to feature reputable outlets of all sizes and from all communities in the markets in which we operate.
These Standards and Guidelines apply to all Publishers on NewsBreak. Failure to comply with these guidelines can lead to disciplinary action such as restricting distribution and/or up-to and including removal from the platform. Publisher’s content may be removed if they do not comply with these policies.
All of these policies and guidelines are non-exhaustive, and NewsBreak reserves the right to remove content or profiles at any time.
To be distributed on NewsBreak as a publisher, you must:
All publishers on NewsBreak must adhere to the Shared Community Guidelines, as well as the following, Publisher-specific guidelines:
NewsBreak believes in highlighting diverse voices, stories, opinions, and sources. We favor work that presents all relevant sides of a story and provides the necessary context. It is equally important that our partner publishers do not draw false moral equivalencies where none exist.
NewsBreak believes in facilitating healthy debate on the platform by showcasing opinion content. Such content is labeled as opinion when it appears and should always be grounded in fact. Where an entire outlet, publication, or channel is rooted in a subjective point of view, all content coming from that outlet is considered opinion.
Excessive bias that distorts or misrepresents is not allowed.
What is in violation of the policy?
NewsBreak prioritizes original reporting and prohibits plagiarism of any kind. When work comes from a third party, either open-source use or is licensed, it must be properly credited, and the origin must be clear to the user at all points.
Official announcements or press releases must be framed as such, with the originating organization clearly written. NewsBreak prioritizes original reporting over such aggregation in terms of how content is amplified and distributed.
We do not permit:
NewsBreak seeks to create a trustworthy ecosystem for its users by providing content from sources that are credible, that have proven expertise, and that are accountable for what they provide. Content designed to mislead is not permitted.
In order to establish credibility and accountability, all content on NewsBreak must have the contributor clearly stated, via byline or credits. Where content is created by an entity vs an individual, or is anonymous, there must be discoverable policies explaining this choice from the originating outlet.
We do not permit:
Sponsored, branded, promotional, and affiliated content (defined below) is allowed on NewsBreak only if the relationship is disclosed and it does not violate any other community guidelines, policies or terms of use. We do not allow content that conceals or misrepresents sponsored content as editorial content. Sponsorship, including, but not limited to, ownership or affiliate interests, payment, or material support, should be clearly disclosed to users. You must also comply with all applicable laws and regulations, which vary by jurisdiction.
Outlets that are entirely commercial in nature, such as the websites of brands, stores, or professional services are not allowed as publishers or contributors on NewsBreak even if they have an editorial feed. Publishers whose sole purpose is to sell a commercial service they provide (e.g. travel bookings, financial services, real estate) are not allowed. Marketplaces and listings may be acceptable under the Community Resources & Listings section of NewsBreak.
Sponsored, branded or promotional content is any content in which the content producer has a material connection with the brand. A material connection includes any personal, family, or employment relationship or a financial relationship – such as the brand paying you or giving you free or discounted products or services.
Use of Crowdfunding Links: NewsBreak permits the inclusion of crowdfunding links in published content, provided that the campaigns are credible and legitimate. Authors are responsible for thoroughly vetting the authenticity and validity of any crowdfunding link or other attributed sources they include in their content. Accounts found promoting fraudulent crowdfunding links will face immediate termination from NewsBreak. Authors must transparently disclose any personal or financial interests in promoted campaigns in their articles. NewsBreak may exercise discretion in evaluating the appropriateness of crowdfunding links to maintain the trust and integrity of our platform and audience.
Any promotional links should not be excessive or distracting for the user. It is recommended that even if your post is promotional, a majority of the content is not and the content should still provide value to the user. If video content is branded, it should be disclosed at the outset of the video.
This policy applies to any content on our Platform, including verbal statements, demonstrations, or depictions of a name, signature, or likeness.
We do not permit:
Contributors, Publishers, and Community Organizations should refrain from excessive use of obscene, profane, or vulgar language that may be inappropriate for audiences under 18 years old. This includes:
Exceptions are made for editorial coverage of newsworthy events, where the obscenity, profanity, or vulgarity is appropriately self-moderated.
Content on NewsBreak must be legible, understandable, and easily viewable by the majority of users. Content must also be in one of our supported languages.
For anyone posting as a contributor, publisher, or official organization, posts cannot have excessive grammatical or typographical errors that would make the reader question the validity of the published content. NewsBreak prefers publisher or contributor content that meets or exceeds the following guidelines.
All content on NewsBreak should be primarily focused on the subject indicated by the headline or title. Clickbait is discouraged, as is overly promotional content, or content that encourages inflated accidental clicks.
NewsBreak connects and empowers local audiences, contributors and businesses with the goal of helping people everywhere live safer, more vibrant, more truly-connected lives. We provide communities access to accurate information so they can make important decisions about their lives. To provide communities with as much information as possible, NewsBreak offers community resources, such as local listings and updates from government websites.
Such offerings are only accessible in clearly demarcated portions of the NewsBreak experience and are clearly labeled to differentiate from reporting by professional journalism outlets or the Contributor Network.
All sources of listings and community resources are expected to adhere to the NewsBreak tenets, and must meet the standards of their respective industries. If your site also contains a forum, or community-generated information, we expect you to be accountable for that material to meet NewsBreak’s standards as well.
Almost all of the above NewsBreak Policies are also applicable to all content covered by these Guidelines with some exceptions. If you have any questions, please contact your NewsBreak representative.
NewsBreak accepts these types of sites in this category:
Style Guidelines for Community Organizations
Content on NewsBreak must be legible, understandable, and easily viewable by most users. Content must also be in one of our supported languages.
For anyone posting as a Contributor, Publisher, or official organization, posts cannot have excessive grammatical or typographical errors that would make the reader question the validity of the published content.
All informative posts on NewsBreak should be primarily focused on the subject indicated by the post title. Clickbait is discouraged, as is overly promotional content, or content that encourages inflated accidental clicks.
