Advertising Policy

The Minnesota Star Tribune does not accept advertisements for adult clubs, adult entertainment, retail establishments that provide adult products and/or services, adult services (e.g., massage, phone (e.g., chat line), and escort services). The Star Tribune will accept sexual enhancement advertisements in the Sports section only. All “adult” ads must be reviewed by the Policy Team prior to publication for adherence to standards of good taste and are subject to photo, content, and content-adjacency control standards, which include not accepting advertising with nudity, implied nudity, implied or actual sexual acts, or use of the word “erection” in bold or headline.

Advertisers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations for alcohol product advertising. Minnesota statute 7515.0700; and applicable Minnesota Administrative Rules.

The Minnesota Star Tribune does not accept ads for animals defined by Minnesota Statute 346.155 as “Regulated Animals”. These include, but are not limited to, bears, non-human primates, and felines (excluding domestic cats).

Advertisers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations for Betting/Gambling advertising. Minnesota provides links to applicable statutes and rules find links here. All online betting/gambling ads must be reviewed for compliance with Minnesota Star Tribune policies.  Advertising for lotteries, except for the official state lotteries in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota, is prohibited by Minnesota law and will not be accepted. Ads for horse and dog racing are acceptable, provided the gambling establishment is licensed in its home state. Ads for raffles are permitted from non-profit organizations that hold a current license from the city in which the event will be held.

The Minnesota Star Tribune does not accept ads from competing media companies or advertising agencies that promote their own advertising products or services, directly or indirectly. All other ads from competing media companies or advertising agencies must be reviewed prior to publication.

Advertisers are responsible for compliance with all applicable laws, including Minnesota Statute 325F.755. Advertisers must complete an Advertising Contest application form. The Minnesota Star Tribune may require the submission of a letter of opinion from the advertiser’s legal counsel or agent as to the lawfulness of a contest or sweepstakes.

The Minnesota Star Tribune accepts advertising for long guns and hunting rifles, if accompanied by a Federal Firearms License (FFL) number in the ad’s Comments field, (or when placed by an established retailer such as Mills Fleet Farm or Dick’s Sporting Goods). More general phrases like “Firearms” and “Gun show” do not require proof of licensure. The Star Tribune accepts advertising for handguns, hunting pistols, collector pistols, stun guns, and semi-automatic weapons. The Star Tribune does not accept advertising for items restricted under Minnesota statute 609.67 (e.g., machine guns, short-barreled shotguns, trigger activators, or machine gun conversion kits): Minnesota Statute 609.67, ammunition via mail-order, clubs, switchblades, brass knuckles, slingshots, tear-gas pens, mace, or other items that could be considered “weapons.”

The Minnesota Star Tribune is an English-language publication.  Ads containing foreign-language text must include an English translation within the same ad.

Foundry North advertising purchases are subject to the advertising policies of our Foundry North Partners.

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Advertisers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations for Housing/Rental/Real Estate advertising. HUD – Fair Housing Advertising; Minnesota Statutes Section 363A.09 UNFAIR DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY.

All ads depicting the American flag and other national symbols must be reviewed prior to publication to determine whether they are being treated in a respectful manner.

All ads that contains the reuse of The Minnesota Star Tribune’s News or Editorial content, including text, illustrations and photographs, audio, and video content,  must be reviewed by the Star Tribune Policy Team for compliance with the Ownership of The Site and Its Content Policy. An Advertiser may need to submit their request to the Copyright Clearance Center to license the rights. More information can be found on Permission to License Star Tribune Content.

A non-profit organization with a 501(c)(3) status may be required to provide documentation of their tax-exempt status prior to receiving the applicable discount. The Minnesota Star Tribune reserves the right to request documentation of an organization’s non-profit status.

• An Obituary or Memoriam will not be accepted or will require revision if:
  • The death cannot be verified by a certified authority: a funeral home, crematorium, bequest program or by a legal death certificate, including for a person who is missing and presumed dead.
  • It is for a pet. (Although they may be mentioned as survivors.)
  • The content includes abusive, hateful, accusatory, shaming language or malicious attacks on any person (whether named or unnamed).
  • It is placed against the wishes of the executor, or if no executor, the wishes of the next of kin or the people working with the certified authority on the obituary.
  • It includes artwork or graphics representing the deceased, instead of photos.

• • It references or links to:  
    • A website whose sole purpose is to publish obituaries or to obituaries in other newspapers.

• A Personal website or a social media site which include obituary, service, or biographical information, unless it was created prior to their death.

• Website links for memorial donations, live streaming, or signing a guestbook may be included in an obituary if:

• • The website-related information does not exceed 10% of the ad space. (90/10 Rule)
  • The obituary is at least 10 lines.

• Funeral Home business name and website address may be included in an obituary.
• Requested Obituary changes from family members, friends, or third parties, before or after publication, require authorization from the executor or, if no executor, the next of kin or person who has the authority to do the funeral arrangements or to place the obituary.
  • If a survivor listed in the obituary wants their name removed, The Minnesota Star Tribune reserves the right to do so, after consulting with the executor, next of kin, or funeral home.
  • If a survivor listed in the obits wants their name changed, the Star Tribune will consult with the executor, next of kin, or funeral home to get authorization to do so.
  • The Star Tribune will not take on the role of arbitrator of family disputes over the content or timing of an obituary. If it is not clear to the Star Tribune who has the authority to place or approve an obituary, or if the obituary has a substantial error of a public or prominent fact, the Star Tribune reserves the right to not accept it.
  • Obituary photos must show the face of the deceased person while still living, and not turned away from the camera or with anything blocking their face.

In the Sunday Obituary Print Section, all non-obituary ads must be appropriate for an audience that includes grieving families and friends. The Star Tribune does not accept non-obituary ads that are unrelated to death and dying (preparation and planning, memorializing, and remembering, grieving and support).

• All advertiser industry categories and podcast ad scripts must be reviewed for content sensitivity and policy compliance.
• The News Hosts when reading the podcast advertising scripts:
  • Will only give details about the brand and include a call to action for listeners to purchase and use the brand.
  • Will not make personal endorsements or share personal experiences in their ad script reads.

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Advertisers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations for Recruitment advertising.

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Advertisers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations for tobacco and e-cigarette product advertising, including labeling and age verification.  Minnesota Statutes Section 325F.7821 PROHIBITION ON DECEPTIVE VAPOR PRODUCTS.

Ads that refer to or use third-party trademarks, logos, names, photos, and content must comply with applicable legal requirements. For example, sports teams and leagues prohibit the use of their registered trademarks, logos, or names (such as Super Bowl, World Series, Minnesota Wild, Final Four). An advertiser may be required to complete an Authorization for Use of Third-Party Names and Photos form for an ad that contains any quote, testimonial, trademark, logo, name, or photo of an identified third party. In some cases, an advertiser may be required to provide additional written confirmation from the trademark holder or a named individual, or an opinion from the advertiser’s legal counsel.

References in this document to applicable laws or regulations are for reference only. They should not be relied on as authoritative or complete. Each advertiser is responsible for the content and legality of any advertising it places in Minnesota Star Tribune publications, wherever the advertising appears. Please refer to the Star Tribune’s Standard Advertising Terms and Conditions for additional information.