diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index e88119a0..c7e51f25 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ relatedCampaigns:
 ---
 ```
 
-> `authors` is required. Names must exactly match entries in `src/data/authors.json`. Add new authors to that file before referencing them. Validation errors on unknown authors block CI.
+> `authors` is optional but recommended. Names must exactly match entries in `src/data/authors.json`. Add new authors to that file before referencing them. Missing `authors` produces a warning only and does not block CI. Unknown author names (not in `authors.json`) still produce an error and block CI.
 >
 > All five `related*` fields are parsed from frontmatter and rendered as related content sections on detail pages.
 
diff --git a/next.config.ts b/next.config.ts
index cac0bf02..b53d2dc4 100644
--- a/next.config.ts
+++ b/next.config.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ const nextConfig: NextConfig = {
         destination: "/research",
         permanent: true,
       },
+      {
+        source: "/contact",
+        destination: "/partner",
+        permanent: true,
+      },
     ];
   },
   async rewrites() {
diff --git a/scripts/validate-content.ts b/scripts/validate-content.ts
index 67213923..4393b839 100644
--- a/scripts/validate-content.ts
+++ b/scripts/validate-content.ts
@@ -202,9 +202,9 @@ function validateFile(filePath: string, contentType: ContentDir): { errors: stri
     );
   }
 
-  // Authors validation (required field)
+  // Authors validation (warning only — missing authors won't block merge)
   if (data.authors === undefined || !Array.isArray(data.authors) || (data.authors as string[]).length === 0) {
-    errors.push("authors: required — must list at least one author");
+    warnings.push("authors: not set — consider adding at least one author");
   } else {
     validateAuthors(data.authors as string[], undefined, errors, warnings, "content");
   }
diff --git a/src/components/cards/ContentCard.tsx b/src/components/cards/ContentCard.tsx
index 21e4040a..4215d137 100644
--- a/src/components/cards/ContentCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/cards/ContentCard.tsx
@@ -89,9 +89,9 @@ export default function ContentCard({
           <p className="text-gray-300 font-serif text-sm line-clamp-3 flex-grow">
             {shortDescription}
           </p>
-          {(authors || date) && (
+          {(authors?.length || date) && (
             <div className="flex items-center justify-between mt-2 gap-2">
-              {authors && (
+              {authors && authors.length > 0 && (
                 <p className="text-xs text-gray-300 truncate">
                   By {authors.join(", ")}
                 </p>
diff --git a/src/components/layouts/CategoryContent.tsx b/src/components/layouts/CategoryContent.tsx
index 6313f186..ea1eeb4b 100644
--- a/src/components/layouts/CategoryContent.tsx
+++ b/src/components/layouts/CategoryContent.tsx
@@ -213,10 +213,10 @@ function ListRow({
           <p className="text-sm text-gray-300 font-serif mt-0.5 line-clamp-2 sm:line-clamp-4">
             {item.shortDescription}
           </p>
-          {(showAuthor || showReadTime) && (
+          {((showAuthor && itemAuthors(item).length > 0) || showReadTime) && (
             <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 mt-1.5">
-              {showAuthor && `By ${itemAuthors(item).join(", ")}`}
-              {showAuthor && showReadTime && " · "}
+              {showAuthor && itemAuthors(item).length > 0 && `By ${itemAuthors(item).join(", ")}`}
+              {showAuthor && itemAuthors(item).length > 0 && showReadTime && " · "}
               {showReadTime && `${calcReadTime(item.description)} min read`}
             </p>
           )}