Advertising Guidelines & Standards

Santanero Media Group, LLC. d.b.a. Santanero Media Group, LLC, The Santanero and KSNG-DB “Santanero Radio”

Effective July 1, 2026

1. Overview

Santanero Media Group, LLC ("Santanero Media Group," "we," "our," or "us"), including The Santanero, KSNG-DB "Santanero Radio," Santanero.org, newsletters, broadcasts, podcasts, social media accounts, and related media properties, maintains advertising standards intended to support community trust, editorial independence, transparency, legal compliance, and responsible business practices.

All advertisements, sponsorships, underwriting acknowledgments, promotional materials, and related commercial content are subject to review and approval prior to publication, distribution, broadcast, or placement.

Acceptance of advertising is a privilege, not a right.

2. Editorial Independence

Santanero Media Group maintains a strict separation between advertising and editorial operations.

Acceptance of advertising, sponsorships, underwriting, or promotional partnerships does not influence:

  • Editorial decisions;
  • News coverage;
  • Story selection;
  • Investigative reporting;
  • Corrections;
  • Publication priorities;
  • Opinion publication decisions; or
  • Editorial judgment.

Advertisers, sponsors, businesses, organizations, public officials, advocacy groups, campaigns, donors, or other outside interests may not condition advertising purchases on editorial treatment or coverage.

3. Advertising Review and Approval

All advertising submissions are subject to editorial and business review prior to acceptance.

Santanero Media Group reserves full discretion regarding:

  • Acceptance or rejection;
  • Placement;
  • Scheduling;
  • Publication timing;
  • Formatting;
  • Design requirements;
  • Distribution;
  • Suspension; and
  • Removal.

Submission of advertising materials does not guarantee approval, publication, distribution, or continued placement.

4. Sponsorship Disclosure

Sponsored content, sponsorship acknowledgments, underwriting messages, promotional partnerships, and similar commercial content may be identified through:

  • Labels;
  • Disclosures;
  • Sponsor acknowledgments;
  • Notices;
  • Captions; or
  • Other reasonable methods.

The form and placement of disclosures shall be determined by Santanero Media Group.

Advertising does not constitute endorsement by Santanero Media Group, LLC.

5. Restricted Advertising Content

Santanero Media Group generally does not accept advertisements, sponsorships, underwriting messages, or promotional content that directly or indirectly promotes, markets, depicts, or endorses:

  • Marijuana, cannabis, THC, CBD, or related products;
  • Tobacco products;
  • Nicotine products;
  • Cigarettes;
  • Cigars;
  • Vaping products;
  • Firearms;
  • Ammunition;
  • Weapons or weapon accessories;
  • Alcoholic beverages;
  • Adult-oriented products or services;
  • Pornographic content;
  • Illegal products or services;
  • Fraudulent or deceptive schemes;
  • Counterfeit goods;
  • Sponsored articles;
  • Native advertising;
  • Hate groups or extremist organizations;
  • Immigration enforcement;
  • Unlawful activities.

This restriction does not necessarily apply to legitimate news coverage, public-interest reporting, educational content, public health information, or lawful public discussion concerning such topics.

We reserve the right to determine whether submitted material is appropriate for publication and change this policy at any time.

6. Artificial Intelligence Advertising

As a matter of editorial policy, Santanero Media Group generally does not accept advertising, sponsorships, underwriting messages, promotional partnerships, or similar commercial content from companies whose primary business involves the development, marketing, licensing, sale, promotion, or distribution of artificial intelligence systems, generative artificial intelligence products, large language models, synthetic media technologies, or similar AI-powered services.

This restriction reflects our commitment to authentic journalism, human authorship, community participation, and editorial independence.

Limited exceptions may be considered for educational institutions, public-interest organizations, research initiatives, governmental entities, or community programs where the primary purpose is educational, informational, scientific, or public-service oriented rather than commercial promotion.

Acceptance of any exception remains solely at the discretion of Santanero Media Group.

7. Political Advertising, Advertiser Eligibility, and Editorial Independence

Santanero Media Group, LLC and its affiliated media properties are committed to maintaining editorial independence, impartiality, transparency, and public trust.

Advertising eligibility is determined by Santanero Media Group in accordance with these Guidelines. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of an advertiser, its owners, affiliates, activities, or positions.

Eligible Commercial Advertising

Santanero Media Group primarily accepts advertising from local businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, community organizations, licensed professionals, cultural organizations, and other lawful businesses serving Santa Ana and surrounding communities.

Employment and recruitment advertisements, including "Now Hiring" advertisements, may be accepted from local businesses, independently owned franchises, national companies, or international companies, provided the advertisement promotes legitimate employment opportunities and otherwise complies with these Guidelines.

Advertisements submitted by independently owned franchises, dealers, licensees, or affiliates shall be limited to promoting the specific participating business location purchasing the advertisement. Approval of one location does not constitute approval of its franchisor, parent company, corporate brand, affiliates, or other locations.

These standards are applied consistently regardless of advertiser size, franchise status, ownership structure, or affiliation.

Political Advertising

Santanero Media Group does not accept:

  • Paid political campaign advertisements;
  • Advertisements supporting or opposing political candidates or political parties;
  • Advertisements supporting or opposing ballot initiatives, propositions, referendums, recalls, constitutional amendments, bond measures, or similar electoral matters;
  • Political fundraising advertisements;
  • Campaign sponsorships;
  • Election-related promotional partnerships; or
  • Other advertisements intended to influence the outcome of an election.

Commercial advertisements may not be used to disguise political campaign messaging, electoral advocacy, or political fundraising.

These restrictions apply across all Santanero Media Group media properties and advertising platforms.

Nothing in this section restricts independent news reporting, election coverage, editorial commentary, opinion publication, or lawful public discussion of political matters.

Political Activity and Advertiser Eligibility

Individuals, businesses, and organizations are not automatically disqualified from purchasing commercial advertising solely because they, their owners, employees, officers, directors, or affiliates have engaged in lawful political activity, including personal political contributions, endorsements, civic participation, or advocacy.

However, Santanero Media Group reserves the right to decline or discontinue advertising when a particular financial, political, organizational, or other relationship presents an actual or reasonably perceived conflict with editorial independence, advertising standards, or public trust.

Advertising purchases may not be conditioned on favorable coverage, editorial consideration, or influence over news reporting, opinion publication, investigations, or other editorial decisions.

Private Detention and Prohibited Investments

Santanero Media Group does not accept advertising, sponsorships, underwriting messages, or promotional partnerships from individuals or entities that directly or indirectly own, control, operate, manage, finance, or knowingly maintain investments in businesses whose principal activities include the ownership, operation, management, or financing of private correctional facilities, private detention facilities, or immigration detention facilities.

This restriction includes, but is not limited to, CoreCivic, The GEO Group, their successors, subsidiaries, parent companies, controlled affiliates, and substantially similar organizations.

The restriction also applies to businesses substantially involved in the operation, management, or financing of such facilities through subsidiaries, affiliates, contractual arrangements, or other controlled entities, including relevant detention-related contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the United States Marshals Service, or comparable governmental agencies.

Santanero Media Group maintains a firm policy against accepting advertising revenue from businesses involved in private incarceration or immigration detention. No advertising purchase, sponsorship, or financial arrangement will create an exception to this standard.

Verification and Enforcement

Prospective advertisers may be required to provide accurate information concerning their business activities, ownership, affiliations, or other matters relevant to eligibility under these Guidelines.

Advertisers remain responsible for providing truthful and complete information.

Santanero Media Group reserves the right to reject, suspend, terminate, or discontinue advertising when an advertiser materially misrepresents relevant information, violates these Guidelines, or presents a conflict with our editorial independence or publication standards.

All advertising remains subject to review and approval at the discretion of Santanero Media Group.

8. Sponsored Articles and Native Advertising

Santanero Media Group does not accept sponsored articles, paid news stories, native advertising, advertorials, sponsored editorials, paid guest articles, or similar arrangements that are designed to resemble independent journalism.

Editorial content, news reporting, opinion content, investigations, interviews, and community reporting are not available for purchase.

Organizations, businesses, campaigns, nonprofits, government agencies, advocacy groups, and other entities may not pay for favorable editorial treatment, publication of news articles, opinion placement, or coverage presented as independent journalism.

Nothing in this section prohibits clearly identified advertisements, sponsorship acknowledgments, underwriting messages, or other promotional content that is distinct from editorial content.

9. Community Announcements, Public Service Information, and Community Notices

Santanero Media Group supports the sharing of community information, public-service announcements, and significant life events that are relevant to Santa Ana and surrounding communities.

Complimentary Community Announcements

Santanero Media Group may provide complimentary promotion of community events, educational initiatives, public-service information, civic engagement opportunities, nonprofit activities, cultural events, and other activities that benefit the community.

Eligible announcements may be published through our CommunityCal, website, newsletters, broadcasts, social media platforms, or other media properties, as determined by Santanero Media Group.

Complimentary promotion is provided at our discretion and is subject to review, scheduling, placement, formatting, and publication availability.

We reserve the right to edit, decline, postpone, remove, or discontinue community announcements based on accuracy, clarity, relevance, length, legal compliance, or consistency with our editorial and publication standards.

Complimentary promotion does not guarantee future publicity, event coverage, editorial coverage, advertising, sponsorships, or continued placement.

Santanero Media Group may accept paid Community Notices recognizing personal milestones, family announcements, and significant life events, including births, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, quinceañeras, Sweet 15s, Sweet 16s, obituaries, memorials, and other appropriate occasions.

Community Notices are paid announcements and are distinct from independent journalism, editorial coverage, sponsored articles, and complimentary community announcements.

All Community Notices are subject to published rates, word limits, formatting requirements, submission procedures, and review and approval.

Individuals submitting Community Notices are responsible for ensuring that all information is accurate and that they have obtained any necessary permissions to publish photographs, personal information, or other submitted materials.

Community Notices may not be used to promote political candidates, political parties, electoral measures, commercial products or services, or content otherwise prohibited under these Advertising Guidelines.

Santanero Media Group reserves the right to edit notices for clarity, length, formatting, accuracy, legal compliance, and consistency with our publication standards.

Payment or submission does not guarantee publication, placement, or a particular publication date. Notices may be rejected, postponed, modified, or removed in accordance with these Guidelines.

Editorial Independence and Publication Discretion

Neither complimentary community promotion nor the purchase of a Community Notice entitles an individual, business, or organization to favorable editorial treatment, independent news coverage, or influence over editorial decisions.

Santanero Media Group retains discretion over the acceptance, presentation, scheduling, distribution, and continued publication of all community announcements and notices.

We reserve the right to modify or discontinue complimentary promotion programs and paid Community Notice offerings at any time.

10. Licensed Services Disclosure

Advertisements promoting services that require professional, occupational, governmental, or regulatory licensing must include licensing information where required by law.

Advertisers remain solely responsible for compliance with:

  • Licensing requirements;
  • Disclosure requirements;
  • Advertising regulations;
  • Industry standards; and
  • Applicable laws.

We reserve the right to request documentation supporting licensing claims.

11. Advertiser Responsibility

Advertisers are responsible for ensuring that submitted materials:

  • Are truthful and accurate;
  • Comply with applicable law;
  • Do not infringe intellectual property rights;
  • Do not contain false or misleading claims;
  • Do not defame individuals or organizations;
  • Was not made with or contain artificial intelligence
  • Do not deceive consumers.

Advertisers may be required to provide documentation supporting claims contained in advertisements.

Acceptance of advertising does not constitute verification or endorsement by Santanero Media Group.

10. Digital, Newsletter, Broadcast, and Social Media Advertising

These standards apply across all Santanero Media Group media properties, including websites, newsletters, podcasts, radio broadcasts, streaming platforms, social media accounts, sponsored posts, digital publications, future media platforms.

Advertising standards remain applicable regardless of distribution method or platform.

12. Removal, Suspension, and Rejection

We reserve the right to reject, remove, suspend, modify, or discontinue advertising content at any time if we determine that the material:

  • Violates these Guidelines;
  • Violates applicable law;
  • Becomes misleading;
  • Conflicts with editorial standards;
  • Creates reputational concerns;
  • Presents public safety concerns; or
  • Is otherwise inconsistent with our mission and values.

Such decisions remain within our sole discretion.

13. Limitation of Advertising Liability

Santanero Media Group does not guarantee advertising performance, audience engagement, sales results, website traffic, lead generation, broadcast reach, subscriber actions or business outcomes.

Advertising effectiveness may vary based on numerous factors beyond our control.

14. Changes to These Guidelines

We may update, revise, modify, replace, or discontinue these Advertising Guidelines from time to time.

When changes are made, we will revise the Effective Date above.

Continued advertising purchases, sponsorship agreements, or promotional participation following publication of updated Guidelines constitutes acceptance of the revised version.

Relationship to Other Policies

This policy should be read together with our other policies published by Santanero Media Group, LLC.

Contact

Questions regarding advertising, sponsorships, underwriting opportunities, media partnerships, promotional content, or these Guidelines may be directed to:

Daniel Diaz, Santanero Media Group, LLC.
Email: sales@santanero.org