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Cleveland 13 News: Contributions & Revenue Transparency Policy

​Last Updated: 3/20/2026

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1. Governance & Dual-Entity Structure

Cleveland 13 News operates through a strategic partnership between two distinct entities to ensure both commercial viability and non-profit integrity:

  • WCTU Cleveland 13 LLC (The Network): Manages all commercial advertising, technical infrastructure, brand partnerships, and daily news operations.

  • Thirteen Public Media Foundation (The Foundation): A non-profit fiduciary responsible for mission-aligned underwriting, educational programming, and community grants. All Foundation activities are governed by 501(c)(3) regulations and the Foundation’s internal bylaws.

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2. Revenue Classification & Sponsorship Tiers

All incoming funds are categorized to ensure proper tax treatment and operational allocation. Per the Network's established offerings, packages include:

  • Commercial Advertising (LLC-led):

    • Segment Sponsorship ($500): Includes logo placement and vocal attribution at the conclusion of a news segment.

    • Segment Giveaways ($200 + Prize): Interactive audience engagement through product or service giveaways.

    • Custom Digital Packages: Tailored website banners, social media mentions, and multi-platform visibility.

  • Foundation Underwriting (Foundation-led):

    • Programmatic Support: Tax-deductible contributions to support specific news beats or educational series.

    • Gala Sponsorships & In-Kind Gifts: Support for the Annual Black-Tie Gala, including silent auction contributions ($250+) and presenting sponsor opportunities.

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3. The Revenue Allocation Model (40/20/40)

To maintain a sustainable ecosystem for our journalists and the nonprofit mission, all Net Revenue (Gross minus third-party processing fees) is distributed as follows:

  • 40% Network Operations: Retained by WCTU Cleveland 13 LLC or the Foundation to fund infrastructure, server hosting, legal compliance, and foundation overhead.

  • 20% Sales & Development: Paid to the representative who secured the sponsorship contract.

  • 40% Content Production Fee: Paid to the Affiliate, Reporter, or Segment Producer as a professional service fee for content creation.

Special Provisions:

  • Self-Sourced Bonus: Affiliates who secure their own sponsors receive both the Sales and Production shares (60% total).

  • Network General Fund: For site-wide ads or non-segment-specific placements, the 40% "Production" share is reinvested into the Network’s general journalism fund.

  • Youth Protection: Revenue generated by reporters under the age of 18 is subject to a mandatory 15% sub-allocation of the "Production Fee" into a protected trust account (UTMA/Coogan).

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4. Editorial Independence & Standards

In accordance with the standard Cleveland 13 News Sponsorship Agreement:

  • The Firewall: Sponsorship does not grant the right to shape, mold, or influence news narratives. The Network maintains absolute editorial independence.

  • Review Process: All advertisements must undergo a formal review. We reserve the right to refuse any ad or sponsorship that does not align with our community standards or mission.

  • Right of Cancellation: The Network reserves the right to terminate any sponsorship for breach of contract or any reason deemed necessary to protect the Network's integrity.

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5. Youth Contributor Protections

Revenue generated by contributors under the age of 18 is governed by the Cleveland 13 Youth Media Policy. This includes mandatory sub-allocations into protected trust accounts to ensure the financial and legal protection of minor reporters.
 

6. Youth Contributor Protections
All sponsorship agreements and the identities of the parties involved are considered confidential. Disclosure to third parties is strictly prohibited without express written consent from both the Sponsor and WCTU Cleveland 13 LLC, except as required by law.

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