The history
Every version, in order.
v1.0
May 18, 2026
Initial publication
The standard, in writing.
First public version of the HicksNewMedia editorial standard for brand partnerships, sponsorships, and affiliate relationships. Establishes the Five Rules as the headline commitments and expands them into ten operational sections covering everything from product vetting to AI use to corrections policy. Companion pages (Disclosures, Privacy, this changelog) shipped alongside.
What was added
- The Five Rules. TL;DR section establishing the headline commitments: only recommend what I've used; brand approves brief, I write script; everything disclosed; audience wins the tiebreaker; public corrections.
- Section 01 — The Standard. Opening manifesto on audience trust as the only renewable resource in the creator-economy business model.
- Section 02 — The "Would I Use It" Test. Operational filter every partnership has to clear: 30-day production-scale trial, real workflow integration, honest opinion before commercial conversation continues.
- Section 03 — What I Won't Promote. No-go list covering speculative finance, predatory AI, products with active security/privacy issues, MLM structures, audience-exploitative products, and bad-faith brands.
- Section 04 — Editorial Independence. Wall between sponsorship and editorial: brand approves brief, not script. Sponsored content can include constructive criticism. No retroactive edits. No veto on competitor coverage.
- Section 05 — Disclosure Standards. On-screen disclosure in first 30 seconds. Written disclosure in every description and cross-post. Affiliate links labeled at point of recommendation. Gifts disclosed even without money. Ongoing relationships disclosed everywhere.
- Section 06 — Conflicts of Interest. Over-disclose rule. Equity, advisory, board positions made public. Personal relationships acknowledged. Gifts above $100 disclosed. Family relationships matter.
- Section 07 — AI & Content Production. AI as tool not stand-in. No synthetic me, no AI-generated endorsements, no likeness use in AI marketing. AI-assisted research fact-checked. AI elements in sponsored content labeled.
- Section 08 — Corrections Policy. Public corrections only. Significant errors trigger full follow-up. Viewer corrections welcomed. Sponsored-content corrections issued at HNM's cost. Source disclosure on corrections.
- Section 09 — Audience First. The tiebreaker rule: when brand and audience conflict, audience wins. Bad updates from partners covered honestly. Tone pressure ends partnerships. Standing recommendations reviewed when products change. Representation matters in partnership evaluation.
- Section 10 — What This Page Doesn't Cover. Scope statement directing readers to Privacy, terms of service for paid products, and editorial standards for non-sponsored content.
- Contact line.
ethics@hicksnewmedia.comopened for concerns. 5 business day response window. Anonymous reports accepted. - Companion pages. Disclosures page (
/disclosures) and Privacy page (/privacy) shipped concurrently.