Student Services Manual (SSM)

Effective: 8/30/1986

Revised: 7/1/2012

SSM 1401–02: Advertising

Purpose

To allow all Student Media outlets and publications to accept advertising within parameters established by student editors and managers

Source

Student Media

Policy

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Acceptable Advertising

Student Media reserves the right to reject or edit any advertising. Advertising will be refused if it is offensive, ambiguous, or deceptive, making the product or service unclear or open to misrepresentation; if it advertises illegal organizations or activities; if it maligns identifiable persons, races, religions, or professions; if it is not accurate or truthful; or if it is otherwise determined unacceptable by the Student Advertising Board in consultation with the advertising manager and department director.

Examples of advertising deemed objectionable include, but are not limited to:

1. employment that unlawfully discriminates based on race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status
2. business opportunities that require money in advance, including, but not limited to, work at home, envelope stuffing, or multilevel marketing
3. research preparation and writing of term papers, theses, dissertations, and other class assignments, including note-taking
4. massage parlor and/or escort service advertisements

   Note:

   Adult entertainment advertisements, including photographs, must be approved prior to acceptance.

5. 1-900 numbers or any similar service with a minimum-age requirement
6. cosmetic surgery or body enhancement advertisements, unless offered by board-licensed or certified professionals and presented tastefully and inoffensively
7. modeling advertisements, unless the modeling agency can provide a copy of a valid State of Arizona business license showing a direct and reasonable link to the advertisement in question
8. political advertising that is deceptive or inaccurate or that maligns identifiable persons, races, religions, or professions

   and

9. bar advertisements that are offensive or that encourage behavior or indulgence that is immoderate or excessive.

Financial advertisements (loans, scholarships, credit repair, etc.) will be investigated before being accepted. No advertisement will be accepted that requires money up-front, guarantees scholarship results, promises unrealistic returns, or charges for services that the university provides free of charge.

Mail order advertisements will not be accepted unless the advertising director or designee receives a sample of items or services in question in advance to determine acceptability. A mail order advertisement with a post office box address must also include the legal name under which business is transacted and the complete street address from which business is actually conducted.

Upside-down positioning of advertisements is not allowed.

Web addresses in advertisements may be checked for content.

Political advertisements must state the source of the funds for advertising.

All Student Media publications and outlets reserve the right to include the word “Advertisement” on any advertisement submitted for publication. Advertisements should not be made to look like editorial copy.

The Student Media advertising manager will refer questionable, borderline, or controversial advertisements to the Student Advertising Board, which includes the editor-in-chief of the State Press, the editor of State Press Magazine (SPM), the State Press multimedia editor, and the State Press executive editor, for review prior to publication or airing. Additionally, the ad manager will review all new advertisements and political advertisements prior to publication, as well as all advertisements relating to alcohol, tobacco, and gambling, to determine whether they meet acceptance guidelines.

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Off-Campus Advertisers

Advance Payment

Advance payment is required from:

1. entertainment-oriented businesses
2. event promoters that have out-of-state sponsorships
3. travel agencies

   and

4. advertisers who are currently or repeatedly delinquent in paying charges on credit accounts.

Approved Credit

All new advertisers will be required to pay in advance until credit is established. To apply for credit, an advertiser must submit a completed credit application to Student Media’s business manager, who reviews and approves or disapproves applications. Student Media usually requires new businesses to be in operation for one year before the department extends credit.

Payment for Display Ads

Payment for charged advertising space is due within 30 days of the billing date. If the advertiser does not pay the account within 30 days of the billing date, Student Media will consider the account past due and pursue collection procedures.

On-Campus Advertisers

On-campus advertisers may pay in advance with a check or credit card, submit a Purchase Order (PO) screen print with the order, or have a blanket PO on file.

Procedures

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Establishing Credit

The off-campus advertiser:

1. obtains a credit application from Student Media (Matthews Center, south basement, Tempe campus)
2. completes the credit application

   and

3. submits the credit application to Student Media one week before the desired advertisement publication deadline if:
   
   1. credit payment is preferred

      and

   2. requirements are met for credit consideration.

Student Media approves or disapproves the advertiser’s credit and notifies the advertiser in writing of credit approval or disapproval.

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Submitting and Paying for Advertising

The advertiser submits:

1. design and proof requests by 2:00 p.m. three business days prior to advertisement insertion

   or

2. camera-ready and e-mailed advertisements by 2:00 two business days prior to advertisement insertion.

Note: The deadline for space reservations and prepayment is 2:00 p.m. two business days prior to advertisement insertion.

The advertising manager reviews the advertisement for compliance with advertising policies.

Questionable advertisements will be referred to the Student Advertising Board for a decision on acceptability.

If the advertisement is rejected, the advertising manager returns the rejected advertisement copy to the advertiser.

If the advertisement is accepted or accepted with edits, the advertising manager notifies the advertiser of acceptance and any editing changes.

The advertiser pays for the advertisement in advance if the advertiser does not have approved credit or if the advertiser is an on-campus department using a check, credit card, or a PO screen print with the order.

The advertising manager arranges for publication of the advertisement in the appropriate edition of the State Press.

If the advertiser is an on-campus department with a blanket PO at Student Media, the business manager applies the advertisement charge to the blanket PO once the advertisement has been published.

If the advertiser is an off-campus entity with approved credit, the advertiser pays for the advertising space within 30 days of the billing date.

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