Effective: November 6, 2026
Ads help keep Understanding The Assignment free to read. Here is how they work, in plain language.
Ads never shape our stories
Advertisers do not choose, review, pay for or change what we write. Our stories are chosen and written the same way whether or not ads run beside them, as explained in How We Report. We do not publish sponsored stories or paid placements, and we do not use affiliate links. If that ever changes, we will label it clearly.
How to spot an ad
Every ad space on the site is labelled "Advertisement" in small letters above it. Ads appear near the top of pages, between stories on the home page and section pages, inside and after articles, beside articles on larger screens, and in a bar you can close at the bottom of phone screens.
Our own ads
Every ad on the site is our own house ad: invitations to our newsletter, the Assignment Tracker, our Explainers and What's Next. They link only to our own pages, and they do not track you.
If an ad network is added
If an advertising network, such as Google AdSense, Raptive or Mediavine, is ever added, the network chooses which ads appear, usually automatically. We would not pick individual ads, and showing an ad would not mean we endorse the product or the advertiser. This page and our Cookie Policy would explain the network's cookies and how to opt out, as described on Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, before its ads appear.
Reporting an ad
If you see an ad on the site that you find misleading or inappropriate, tell us through the Contact page with the page address and a short description, and we will look into it.
Questions
Send us a message through the Contact page.