Blog and Independent Journalism Partnership Agreement

What a good one includes

• A clear mechanism for editorial decision-making and tie-breaking votes on sensitive content or controversial articles.
• Specific terms detailing who owns the published content, intellectual property, and subscriber lists if the partnership dissolves.
• A defined revenue-sharing model that accounts for subscription fees, ad revenue, sponsorships, and the division of operational costs.
• Detailed descriptions of each partner's day-to-day contributions, including writing frequency, editing duties, and social media management.
• A structured buyout clause outlining how a departing partner’s share of the media asset is valued and transferred.
• Clarification on the ownership of pre-existing work or personal brands brought into the partnership by individual founders.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Failing to specify who owns the subscriber database or email list, which is often a newsletter's most valuable asset.
• Leaving editorial control undefined, which can lead to paralyzing creative stalemates over sensitive topics or brand direction.
• Omitting an exit strategy or wind-down clause, leaving co-founders trapped in legal limbo if one partner wants to stop writing.
• Assuming that equal revenue splits automatically mean equal ownership of individual articles or creative IP.

Frequently asked questions