The most common question about our guest article program is whether contributors pay for placement, given how common paid guest posting has become across the wider web.
Why this question is fair to ask
Paid guest posting is widespread enough in online publishing that readers reasonably want to know whether our guest content is editorially selected or commercially arranged.
Our actual policy
We do not accept payment for guest article placement. Guest pieces are selected on editorial merit - the strength of the argument and the quality of the underlying expertise - not on any commercial arrangement with the contributor or their organization.
Why we distinguish this clearly from sponsored content
We do run clearly labeled sponsored and advertorial content separately, and we think keeping that distinct from editorially-selected guest articles is essential to maintaining any real meaning behind the "guest article" label.
Why this distinction matters to us
We'd rather have a smaller volume of genuinely editorially-selected guest content than blur the line between guest articles and paid placement, even though the latter would be easier to sustain financially.