ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP POLICY
Effective Date: 8.22.2025
Blackdoctor.org’s (“BDO”) mission is to be the most trusted source for health and wellness information that celebrates and serves the Black community. We are committed to delivering accurate, culturally relevant, and actionable content that empowers our audience to make informed health decisions for themselves and their families.
All content and experiences on the BDO Network (which includes all BDO-owned or BDO-controlled platforms and channels where content and advertising may appear, such as websites, mobile applications, email newsletters, social media channels, and partner publications) are created under strict editorial and medical guidelines to ensure accuracy, currency, and clarity.
BDO is funded in part through the sale of advertising that appears on our properties, which include our website, mobile applications, email newsletters, social media channels, and partner publications.
Our editorial independence is non-negotiable. Advertisers and sponsors may suggest broad topic areas, but they never influence our editorial content, tone, or conclusions. We maintain a robust advertising policy to ensure that our sponsors and business partners understand and respect these boundaries.
In some cases, BDO may offer co-created or branded content in partnership with sponsors, or present content created entirely by sponsors. All such content is clearly labeled and disclosed in accordance with Sections 7 and 8 of this Policy.
If you are interested in advertising with BDO, please contact us at The following sections set out the specific guidelines we follow regarding the types of advertising we accept and how it is displayed on the BDO Network.
1. Our Mission and Where This Policy Applies
BDO accepts advertising and sponsorship on the BDO Network from third parties (“Advertisers”), which may include third-party banners, badges, contextual advertising, sponsored articles, and content created or provided by an Advertiser (collectively referred to as “Advertisements” or “Advertising”). In addition, as used in this Policy, the terms “Advertising” and “Advertisements” include third-party modules, links, microsites, native advertisements, and other content provided by or on behalf of Advertisers. The Advertiser is solely responsible for the accuracy, legality, and objectivity of its Advertising.
The following guidelines have been established by BDO to govern the acceptance, display, labeling, and removal of Advertising on properties within the BDO Network (each a “BDO Property”), which include websites, mobile applications, email newsletters, and other platforms directed to consumers (“BDO Consumer Properties”), as well as properties directed to healthcare professionals (“BDO Professional Properties”).
These guidelines address:
- Acceptance criteria for Advertisements on the BDO Network
- How and where Advertising is displayed
- Required labeling of Advertising and Sponsored Content
- The removal of Advertising that violates this Policy
BDO retains sole and absolute discretion with respect to the interpretation and enforcement of this Policy and all other issues associated with Advertising on the BDO Network. BDO may change this Policy at any time in its sole discretion by posting a revised version on the applicable BDO Property.
2. How We Accept and Display Ads
- All Advertisements must be clearly distinguishable from BDO’s editorial and educational content. BDO maintains complete editorial independence. Advertisers and sponsors do not influence our editorial content or decisions.
- Advertisements must be factually accurate, not misleading, and presented in good taste.
- Acceptance of an Advertisement does not imply BDO’s endorsement of the advertiser, its products, or its services.
- Advertisers are solely responsible for the accuracy, legality, and objectivity of their Advertisements.
- BDO determines how and where Advertisements are displayed on the BDO Network, including size, placement, frequency, and rotation.
- in Advertisements may only lead the user to:
- The advertiser’s own website; or
- A clearly marked sponsored section on the BDO Network.
- BDO reserves the right to review, reject, cancel, or remove any Advertisement at any time that:
- Violates this Policy;
- Is inconsistent with BDO’s mission;
- Fails to meet applicable legal or regulatory requirements; or
- Is otherwise inappropriate for our audience.
- All Advertisements are subject to review for compliance with applicable laws and BDO’s editorial standards, but advertisers remain solely responsible for ensuring compliance.
3. We Do Not Accept These Types of Ads
BDO will not knowingly accept Advertising that:
- Is factually inaccurate, deceptive, fraudulent, or misleading.
- Promotes products, services, or practices deemed illegal, objectionable, ineffective, or dangerous (as determined by BDO).
- Contains content that discriminates, ridicules, or attacks an individual or group based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or any other protected status.
- Promotes:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco or vaping products
- Weapons, firearms, ammunition, or fireworks
- Gambling or betting services
- Pornography or sexually explicit material
- “M” rated or adult video games/content
- Makes unsubstantiated or extraordinary claims (e.g., “miracle” cures, exaggerated weight loss results).
- Targets or is intended to attract children under 13 years of age.
- Mimics computer functions or misleads users into clicking.
- Contains strobe, flashing imagery, or other potentially harmful visual effects.
- Simulates news or emergency alerts without basis in fact.
4. We Have the Right to Approve or Remove Any Ad
- BDO has sole discretion to determine the types of Advertising accepted and displayed.
- Acceptance of an Advertisement does not constitute an endorsement of the advertised products, services, or company.
- BDO may reject, cancel, or remove any Advertisement at any time for any reason, including but not limited to violation of this policy, concerns about accuracy, taste, or user safety.
- BDO cannot guarantee that Advertisements will display without error across all platforms.
5. Advertisers Must Follow the Law
- It is the Advertiser’s responsibility to comply with all applicable domestic and foreign laws, regulations, and industry guidelines in connection with Advertising on the BDO Network. This includes, without limitation, compliance with current U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and Direct-to-Physician (DTP) health-related advertising.
- All legally required legends, disclosures, and statements must be included in the Advertisement.
- BDO does not monitor ongoing compliance with such laws and regulations; however, BDO reserves the right to review Advertising for compliance at any time. If BDO becomes aware of any breach or potential breach of any applicable law, regulation, or of this Policy, BDO may remove the Advertisement from the BDO Network without notice.
- Advertisers remain solely responsible for ensuring that their Advertising complies with all applicable requirements at all times.
6. Our Rules on Tracking and User Privacy
BDO does not share personally identifiable information (“PII”) with advertisers unless users have given explicit consent. Advertisers may use cookies or tracking technologies only in compliance with our Privacy Policy and with BDO’s prior written approval.
No Advertising on the BDO Network may include any pixels, tags, flash containers, or any other type of information collection software code (any such pixel, tag, code, or device, a “Pixel”) or place any beacons, cookies, or other information collection devices on the browsers of users of the BDO Network unless expressly approved in writing by BDO.
If BDO approves the inclusion of a Pixel in an Advertisement, then unless and only to the extent such approval contains an express exception:
- Advertiser may not use such Pixel to collect any PII with respect to any BDO user.
- No such Pixel can be flash-based or object-based.
- The Pixel can be blocked and any cookie placed can be deleted by user browser settings.
- Advertiser will not link any non-PII that it collects to any PII that it may have from any other source.
- Advertiser will not update any existing profile or create any profile in its database based on any data collected on the BDO Network, including the fact that someone is a BDO user or any information derived from the referring URL.
7. How We Handle Sponsored and Partner Content
- Sponsored content must meet BDO’s editorial standards for accuracy, relevance, and quality.
- BDO retains full control over final content approval.
- All sponsored content will be labeled and disclosed in a manner easily visible to users.
8. Search Results and Third-Party Ads
BDO retains the exclusive right to determine how any and all search results for specific information by keyword or topic are displayed on BDO Properties. Content listed in search results will display its source, such as “BDO News,” “Article,” or another designation. If Advertising appears in search results, it will be
BDO may also provide a designated area within the search results page that contains only Advertising.
Some Advertising on search results pages is provided by third-party ad networks, including Google Ads. These “Ads by Google” or similarly labeled placements are advertisements purchased by companies that want links to their websites to appear adjacent to search results in response to specific search terms. These ads are subject to Google’s advertising policies in addition to this Policy.
Clicking on an ad in the search results may direct the user to the advertiser’s website or to a sponsored section on the BDO Network. All such ads will be clearly labeled to distinguish them from BDO’s editorial content.
9. Affiliate Program (E-Commerce Links in BDO Content)
From time to time, BDO’s editorial content may include links to products or services (“Affiliate Links”) that our editorial team believes may be of interest or use to our audience. These links may lead to third-party retailer or service provider websites. While all products or services featured through Affiliate Links are selected independently by BDO’s editorial team in accordance with our editorial guidelines, BDO may receive compensation if you purchase a product or service through one of these links.
The presence of an Affiliate Link does not constitute an endorsement of the linked product, service, or company. BDO is not responsible for the quality, accuracy, or fulfillment of any products or services purchased through Affiliate Links, and any transaction is solely between the user and the third-party seller or service provider.
Affiliate Links are clearly identified where practicable, and any compensation received from affiliate partnerships does not influence the content, topics, or products featured. Users are encouraged to review the applicable terms, conditions, and privacy policies of the third-party site before making any purchase.
10.Our Commitment to Transparency
- BDO will disclose any financial relationships with sponsors in connection with related content.
- Disclosures will appear near the relevant content or within the content itself.
11.How to Report Ad Concerns
Users may report concerns about advertisements or sponsored content by contacting us at: [email protected]
12.How We Resolve Ad-Related Disputes
All disputes, claims, or controversies arising out of or relating to Advertising or Sponsorship on the BDO Network shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Agreement set forth in the BDO , unless prohibited by applicable law. The Arbitration Agreement in the Terms of Use is incorporated by reference into this Policy and shall govern the resolution of any such disputes, including the procedures, forum, and any applicable limitations on relief.
