Political Advertising Policy

The Kingston Springs Gazette does not endorse candidates for political office. We do accept political advertising, as a business transaction, from all candidates for any public office that represents our coverage area, and from all registered political committees and organizations supporting or opposing such candidates or ballot measures related to our coverage area. Additionally, we accept public issue advertising related to issues that affect our coverage area.

We accept these not to express the views of the Kingston Springs Gazette or to back any candidate or stance on any measure or issue, but simply to help underwrite the costs of reporting and publishing our journalism.

Political advertising and public issue advertising must be paid in advance, at the customary and usual rates established by the Kingston Springs Gazette. Discounts do not apply.

Political and public issue advertising on KSGazette.com is available to all candidates and committees in the same election on an equal basis, with no advertising available that differs from the opportunities made available to the general public.

The Kingston Springs Gazette recognizes that political advertising can and does inform voters, and our publication is committed to fairness and freedom of expression. We follow generally accepted journalistic policies, and all candidates have equal opportunities to advertise. As a neutral platform, we welcome political advertisements regardless of the political views they represent.

Like all quality publishers of original journalism, the Kingston Springs Gazette maintains a clear separation between news and advertising content. Advertising that attempts to blur this distinction in a manner that, in the Kingston Springs Gazette's sole judgment, confuses readers will be rejected.

Any advertisement will be considered political if it involves a political figure, party or government issue, regardless of whether an election is taking place.

Advertisers are solely responsible for complying with all applicable local, state and federal campaign finance and advertising laws and regulations, including ensuring required "paid for by" notices appear within banners.

The Kingston Springs Gazette reserves the right to accept or decline any messages. The Kingston Springs Gazette will decline advertisements that it knows or believes to be misleading, inaccurate, factually unsupported, fraudulent or illegal, or that fail to comply, at our sole discretion, with our standards of decency, taste or dignity. The Kingston Springs Gazette reserves the right to remove or decline to run any messages that we deem are inflammatory, libelous or in bad taste.

We will not accept advertisements that, in our assessment and at our sole discretion, include accusations or attacks related to an individual's personal life which are not relevant to political positions or public policy. Stating disagreement with or campaigning against a candidate for public office, a political party, leader of a political organization or public administration is generally permissible. The Kingston Springs Gazette reserves the right to ask for verification of any claims made in political advertising.

We will generally not add new political advertisements within five days of an election.

If the advertisement solicits political donations, the text must clearly state that donations are not tax-deductible, and the full legal name of the organization for which they are solicited.