The Terms of Service (“Terms”) governs the NewsBreak Creator Program (“Creator Services” or “NBCP”) provided by NewsBreak (“We” or “NewsBreak”). Through the Creator Services, your original content will be more visible and accessible to the users on NewsBreak’s platforms, including www.newsbreak.com, iOS and Android mobile applications “NewsBreak” and other products owned by NewsBreak (collectively, the “Platforms”), and you might be eligible to receive the revenue for qualifying original content that you grant us access to.
By clicking your consent below or by using our Creator Services, you agree to the Terms, and also agree to NewsBreak’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, Community Standards, NewsBreak Creator Content Requirements, Monetization Policy, and Monetization Terms (if provided to you in the Content Creator portal when you are accepted for monetization), and all other terms that generally apply to the Platforms or the Creator Services, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Please read the Terms carefully. If you don’t understand the Terms, or don’t accept any part of them, you may not participate in the Program. Your online acceptance of the Terms forms a binding agreement between you and NewsBreak, including, but not limited to, a waiver of class action and an arbitration clause, and your acceptance of such Terms evidences your intent to be bound by them. If you find these Terms unacceptable at any time in the future, you should either delete your account or not submit additional content to NewsBreak.
You’re responsible for any content you grant us access to. You represent that you either own or have the necessary permissions to use and authorize the use of the content.
You agree the content does not contain material that is false, spam, intentionally misleading, or defamatory; violate the intellectual property rights or proprietary rights of any person or entity; contain material that is unlawful, including illegal hate speech or pornography; exploit or otherwise harm minors; violate or advocate the violation of any law or regulation, or violate the NewsBreak Creator Content Policy.
You shall be responsible for obtaining and maintaining all licenses necessary to include the music in the videos.
You need to register for an account to access our Creator 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 or assign your agreement with us or transfer your account to another without our permission. Any such attempted assignment or transfer without prior written consent from us is void.
If you’re accepting the Terms and using the Creator Services on behalf of someone else (such as another person or entity), you represent that you’re authorized to do so, and in that case, the words “you” or “your” in the Terms include that other person or entity.
By using our Creator Services, you affirm that you are over 18.
You shall treat any oral or written information between you and us regarding our businesses, operations, Monetization Terms, business plans, prospective marketing and promotional activity or any information not publicly known as confidential and shall not discloseall information without our prior written consent.
You retain your rights to any content you grant the Platforms access to.
You hereby grant to us a royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, transferable, and sublicensable license to use, copy, reproduce, store, tag, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, publicly perform and display your content (including, without limitation, texts, photographs, images, videos, media, works on your content and any portion thereof) in connection with NewsBreak services and business, including for the purpose of promoting and distributing part or all of the service.
The license includes, but is not limited to, the right to
NewsBreak may determine, in our sole discretion, your content to be hosted on our Platforms, and reserve the right to remove some or all your content.
So long as you comply with these Terms, NewsBreak gives you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, and non-assignable license to access and use our Creator Services.
The Platforms are protected by copyright, trademark, and other U.S. laws. These Terms don’t grant you any right, title or interest in the Creator Services, other users’ content on the Creator Services, or our trademarks, logos, or other brand features.
Any feedback you provide to us shall be deemed to be non-confidential. NewsBreak shall be free to use such information on an unrestricted basis.
You hereby grant NewsBreak a royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, transferable, and sublicensable license to use your name, image, and likeness, your images, trademarks, service marks, trade name, design, or logo(s) in connection for the purpose of the Terms.
As explained in Monetization Policy, once you meet NewsBreak’s minimum eligibility requirements for monetization, you can apply for receiving the revenue for your qualifying content. After you complete the application and are accepted for monetization, you should agree to the Monetization Terms to receive any payment. If required by law, you are responsible for reporting and paying any applicable taxes in connection with your participation in the Program. Such taxes may include other taxes (other than income tax), along with any related penalties or interest.
You hereby warrant and represent that you
EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THE TERMS, NEWSBREAK DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND REGARDING, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, WARRANTIES AGAINST INFRINGEMENT, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold NewsBreak, its parents, related and affiliated entities, successors, and assigns from and against all claims, liabilities, demands, actions, causes of action, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs) arising out of your breach of the Term or any of its representations or warranties. You also agree that NewsBreak will have control of the defense or settlement, at NewsBreak’s sole option, of any third-party claims.
Under no circumstances will NewsBreak be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential orspecial damages (including lost profits) of any form incurred by any person, whether foreseeable and regardless of the form of the act in which such a claim may be brought, with respect to the Platforms under these Terms. The total liability of NewsBreak and for any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or our Platforms, regardless of the form of the action, is limited to $1,000USD.
THE TERMS SHALL BE CONSTRUED, INTERPRETED, AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE LAWS OF CHOICE THEREOF.
ANY DISPUTE, CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TERM OR THE BREACH, TERMINATION, ENFORCEMENT, INTERPRETATION OR VALIDITY THEREOF, INCLUDING THE DETERMINATION OF THE SCOPE OR APPLICABILITY OF THE TERMS 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 REMEDIES IN AID OF ARBITRATION FROM A COURT OF APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION.
Your relationship with NewsBreak will be that of an independent contractor and not that of an employee. You are not permitted to perform your obligations under these Terms at any of NewsBreak’s business locations.
The Terms supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements, and understandings, written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof, except to the extent these Terms are incorporated by reference into any other agreement.
The Terms, including but not limited to NewsBreak NewsBreak Creator Content Policy, NewsBreak Creator Content Requirements, Monetization Policy and Monetization Terms, may be amended, modified, or supplemented by NewsBreak from time to time.
NewsBreak has the right to terminate your participation in the Program at any time, and may change, terminate, or restrict access to any aspect of the Creator Services, at any time, without notice.
No waiver of any portion of these Terms shall be construed as a waiver of any other, nor shall any waiver of any default under these Terms be construed as a waiver of any other default.
If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision or portion of these Terms to be unenforceable, that provision of the Terms shall be enforced to the maximum extent permissible so as to effectuate the intent of the Parties, and the remainder of these Terms will continue in full force and effect.
For avoidance of doubt, nothing in the Terms shall restrict or limit our right to make any use of your content or mark 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 hold ourselves and our partners to high editorial standards to ensure our community can trust and rely on what they see on NewsBreak. 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. Our internal editorial team may remove stories that do not appear to be properly fact-checked.
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.
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.
In addition to NewsBreak's Content Policy, contributors must also follow these requirements:
Each article must include at least 250 words.
All articles must include at least one image that is relevant to the content. All multimedia must be owned by you or you must have obtained permission to use the media if the multimedia is not free for everyone to use without any restrictions. Every image, including images taken by the contributor, must include a credit to the source. Images on our platform, at a minimum, need to be 201 x 201 pixels.
Every article needs a factually-correct headline that is directly related to the content in the article (no clickbait). The article should be free from grammatical and spelling errors and cannot include links. Please do not use ALL CAPS.
Formatting choices should be made with the user in mind. Formatting choices should help guide the reader and not distract or hinder the user’s experience. Contributors should avoid overuse of stylized text features and content should mainly be in regular text.
Videos published on our platform should be at least 30 seconds long, but no more than 30 minutes. Best practice for video duration on NewsBreak is one to six minutes.
Note: if videos are too long they may fail to upload.
Headlines and descriptions help users discover and better understand your videos. Therefore, we ask you to include a relevant headline as well as a description for every video. Headlines and descriptions should be free of spelling and grammatical errors. Headlines should be under 100 characters. Please see our Promotional and sponsored guidelines for including links in your description. You should avoid using exaggerated language such as ALL CAPS and/or irrelevant punctuation.
Only the following file formats are supported: mov, mp4, webm, mkv, avi, mpeg, m2ts. The file size of a video should be no more than 4 GB.
Each video must include a thumbnail image. You can upload your own thumbnail that is relevant to the video topic (recommended) or choose to have an auto-generated thumbnail from the video. Thumbnail images must be at least 240 x 240 pixels.
Each video should include relevant video sounds. BGM/music/voice over/natural sound/voice are all considered acceptable sounds. All sounds must be owned by you or you must have obtained permission to use the sounds if the sounds are not free for everyone to use without any restrictions. This especially includes music.
All videos should have a minimum resolution of 360p. Best practice is 720p or 1080p.
Whether engaging with contributors, the audience, or members of the NewsBreak team, we lead from a place of kindness, helpfulness, and good intent with each interaction. Bullying of any kind isn’t allowed.
We treat the Contributor Network and its entities as professional spaces and expect all actions to align with sensible business conduct. You should have a solid understanding of our policies, including the NewsBreak Contributor Network Terms of Service, NewsBreak’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, Contributor Monetization Terms, etc, and abide by these at all times.
NewsBreak believes contributors are central to our mission and that we all succeed together. We empower one another as individuals and champion our wins. We are committed to learning, growing, and sharing together with the goal of helping everyone everywhere live safer, more vibrant, more truly connected lives.
All contributors approved for monetization are invited to join a dedicated community space that we host on a platform called Circle. All contributors are expected to uphold our Community Values and Guidelines across all spaces of this forum. If you believe a post/comment is not in compliance, please report it to the NewsBreak Community team by using the “Report comment” option available within Circle.
We regularly host virtual events for our contributors. Each gathering is thoughtfully designed to help contributors learn, grow, and connect, as well as share feedback respectfully with our team. When you RSVP to an event, you are agreeing to abide by the rules and participation guidelines laid out in the event description including confidentiality terms and encouraged topics of conversation (as well as those we wish to avoid).
It is natural for contributor content published on NewsBreak to receive comments and feedback from our audience. You should lead by example and engage thoughtfully, while also utilizing the resources available to you within your contributor portal to moderate in the manner you see fit.
Whether emailing our support team, participating in user research surveys, or having individual chats with members of the NewsBreak team, you are expected to engage both professionally and kindly and we will do the same in return. We welcome feedback and criticism with the intent of helping us all improve, but will not tolerate cruel or derogatory language, nor harassment of team members whether on- and/or off-platform. Please be mindful that humans are on the other end of each piece of feedback we receive. Although we don’t always get it right, we operate in good faith and are eager to make improvements for our community.
We ask that all contributors take these guidelines seriously. NewsBreak commits to upholding them fairly and transparently and will take swift action to remedy behaviors or actions that do not align with what has been set forth. As such, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts or remove content for any reason at any time, including if a contributor’s on- and/or off-platform behavior harms our users, community, employees, or ecosystem. If you attempt to evade suspension or termination by creating new accounts, we will terminate your new accounts.
If you believe a contributor is in violation of these guidelines or have any other concerns, please contact us at contributors@newsbreak.com.