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Privacy & Cookie Policy

Last updated: November 10, 2025

Introduction

Civic News Company (“we,” “our,” or “us”)— the nonprofit news publisher of Chalkbeat, Votebeat, and Healthbeat — is committed to keeping your personal information private and secure. We do not require you to create an account, pay for a subscription, or sign in to use our sites. In other words, there are no paywalls or user accounts on our services, and we collect personal information only as described in this policy. We do use certain cookies and analytics tools to improve our websites and understand our readership. This policy explains what personal information we may collect, how we use and protect it, and how we share it, including our use of third-party services (such as analytics and donation processing tools). By using our websites or interacting with us, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Information We May Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information as described below:
  1. Information You Provide Directly: This includes information you choose to give us (such as name, zip code, country, address, email address, or other similar identifiers), for example, by signing up for one of our email newsletters or making a donation. If you subscribe to a newsletter, you may need to provide your email address, and if you donate, you might provide your name, contact information and payment information to a third-party service for payment processing; we may receive certain information from that third-party (see Donations below).
  2. Donations: When you donate to us, your payment is processed securely by a service provider we have engaged to process payments on our behalf, currently News Revenue Hub. You may access information about News Revenue Hub, including their personal information practices, here: https://fundjournalism.org/. We do not collect or store your payment card details. We only receive basic donor information needed for our records (including your name and contact information and the amount and purpose of your donation). The payment service provider handles the payment data on our behalf as described in this policy.
  3. Automatically Collected Data (Cookies & Analytics): Like most websites, we and our service providers may use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to collect information about you or your browsing actions and usage patterns on our sites. For example, we may log data such as your IP address, browser type, device information, the pages you visit on our sites, and the time you spend on each page. We may gather this data to enhance your experience, to remember your preferences, and to analyze how our content is used. This helps us see which stories are popular, which features are useful, and improve our services overall. (See Cookies and Tracking Technologies below for more details.)
  4. General Location Information: We may derive a rough estimate of your location from your IP address or browser settings when you visit our sites. This helps us provide regionally relevant content (for example, showing you news from your city or state). The location information we get from your Internet service provider is general (e.g. city, state, country), and not precise GPS data. We do not request or collect your exact geographic location from your device.
  5. No Collection of Sensitive Personal Information: We do not collect any sensitive personal information through our websites, nor do we knowingly collect any personal information from children under 13 (see Children’s Privacy below) through our websites.
  6. Other Personal Information: We may also collect personal information you provide us if you communicate with us, including interactions with us online, in-person, via email, or on the phone.

How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect for purposes that support our nonprofit journalism mission and your interaction with us, including:
  1. Providing and Improving Services: To deliver our content and services to you, ensure our websites function properly, and make improvements. For example, understanding which articles are most read helps us plan future coverage.
  2. Personalization: To remember your preferences (like region or newsletter interests) and customize your experience on our sites.
  3. Communications: To communicate with you, such as sending you our email newsletters that you signed up for, responding to your inquiries, or notifying you about important updates or changes.
  4. Donations Processing: To process any donations or contributions you make and maintain proper records of donations. (Payment account details are handled securely by a service provider as explained in this policy.)
  5. Analytics and Reporting: To conduct analytics on how our services are used in order to understand our audience and what content is effective. This includes measuring traffic, reading patterns, and performing our outreach or fundraising campaigns.
  6. Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable legal obligations, such as financial reporting requirements for donations or honoring privacy rights requests.
We use this data in aggregate form whenever reasonably possible. In other words, we look at trends and statistics across many users to improve our service.

How We Disclose Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We only disclose your information in a few limited ways including:
  1. Service Providers: We may disclose your information to third-party service providers who help us operate our websites and services. This may include companies that process donations, deliver our email newsletters, provide website hosting, or perform analytics on our behalf. These service providers are only given the information necessary to perform their specific services. For example, if you sign up for a newsletter, our email service will have your email address to send you the emails; or if you donate, our donation processor will handle your payment details. All such sharing is conducted in line with this policy and applicable laws. We also encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third-party services (we list the key ones below) to understand how they handle your information.
  2. Aggregated Information with Sponsors and Donors: We may disclose aggregated information about our audience to our sponsors, advertisers, or funders/donors to demonstrate the impact and reach of our work. For example, we might inform a sponsor or donor about the total number of readers who visited a particular article or how many people saw or clicked on their sponsored message. This data is statistical information (such as “10,000 people read our education series this month”). Sharing these aggregate statistics helps us secure funding and support for our nonprofit mission.
  3. Legal Requirements and Protection: If we are required by law to disclose information (for instance, in response to a valid subpoena, court order, or government investigation), or if we need to disclose information in an emergency to protect someone’s safety, we may do so. We will only disclose the information that is necessary and will follow applicable legal procedures.
  4. Organizational Transitions: In the unlikely event that Civic News Company undergoes a major business change, such as a merger, acquisition, restructuring, reorganization, or transfer of assets, users’ personal information might be among the assets transferred.
Aside from the above, we do not disclose your personal information to any third parties. We never sell or disclose your personal information.

How We Protect Your Information

We protect your personal information with reasonable organizational, technological, and physical safeguards — but we cannot guarantee its absolute security. If you have reason to believe your interaction with us is no longer secure, notify us immediately.

Third-Party Services We Use (Service Providers)

To run our websites and provide certain features, we rely on third-party services. We list the key services below, along with a brief description of what they do for us. We strive to choose service providers that are reputable and committed to data security, but please note that your use of those services (for example, if you interact with one of our email newsletters or if you come to our site via a social media ad) may also be subject to their privacy practices.

Google (Advertising and Analytics Services)

We use a suite of services from Google to manage advertising on our sites and to understand our web traffic. This includes tools such as Google AdWords, Google Tag Manager, Google Ad Manager, and Google Analytics. These tools help us, for example, to display any ads or sponsored content efficiently and to see aggregate information about how users find and use our sites. Google may collect data about you, your device, and your browsing (e.g., pages you visited, links you clicked, and your IP address) through these services, and may use this data to personalize the ads you see on our sites or elsewhere on the internet. For more details on how Google collects and uses data through its ad and analytics services, please refer to Google’s Privacy Policy.

Mailchimp (Email Newsletters)

Mailchimp is the platform we use to manage and send our email newsletters and other email updates. If you sign up for one of our newsletters, the email address (and name, if provided) you give us is stored in Mailchimp. We use Mailchimp to create and distribute newsletter emails to subscribers and to track the performance of those emails (for example, to see how many people opened an email or clicked a link inside). Mailchimp may collect information about email recipients for analytics, such as who opens emails or clicks on links, to help us optimize our communications. To learn more, you can review Mailchimp’s Privacy Policy.

Arc XP (Website Hosting & Platform)

We host our websites on Arc XP, which is a digital publishing platform. Arc XP provides the content management system that delivers our articles, and it helps ensure our sites run reliably and securely. In providing these hosting and content services, Arc XP may collect certain information about site visitors by default – for instance, as part of managing web traffic and security, or enabling features on the site. This might include log information (like IP addresses and browser types) and usage data that helps with performance optimization and personalization of content. Arc XP collects and uses this data to keep the site running smoothly and to offer features like article recommendations or site analytics. For more details on Arc XP’s data practices, please see the Arc XP Privacy Policy.

News Revenue Hub (Donations Processing)

We engage News Revenue Hub to handle our online donations and membership contributions. News Revenue Hub specializes in helping nonprofit news organizations with fundraising. When you choose to donate through our website, you will likely be interacting with a form or portal powered by News Revenue Hub (often branded for our site). Payment information (like your credit card number) that you submit is securely processed by News Revenue Hub and/or its payment processor; that sensitive data does not pass through our servers. News Revenue Hub provides us with the basic information we need about your donation – such as your name, contact information, and the donation amount – so that we can record the contribution, send you a receipt, and acknowledge your support. To understand their practices in more detail (for example, how they store your data and your rights as a donor), please refer to the News Revenue Hub Privacy Policy.

Parse.ly (Analytics)

We use Parse.ly (an analytics platform now part of Automattic) to gain insights into how our content is being read and shared. Parse.ly provides us with real-time and aggregate analytics about things like which articles are most popular, how readers navigate through our site, and what topics are trending. The data we get from Parse.ly helps us make editorial decisions (for example, to understand which stories resonate most with readers) and improve our website’s usability. For more information on what data Parse.ly collects and how it is handled (including the use of cookies or similar trackers in this process), you can review the Parse.ly Analytics Privacy Policy.

Meta Pixel (Facebook/Instagram Analytics and Advertising)

We use the Meta Pixel (formerly known as the Facebook Pixel) on some of our pages. The Meta Pixel is a piece of code from Meta (the company that owns Facebook and Instagram) that helps us understand the effectiveness of our outreach on those social media platforms. For example, if we run a campaign on Facebook or Instagram to promote a story or encourage donations, the Meta Pixel on our site tells us if people who saw our ads later visited our site or took an action (like subscribing to a newsletter or making a donation). This tool essentially lets us measure conversions and interest from our social media efforts and helps us reach people who are likely to be interested in our content. It’s important for you to know that the Meta Pixel may collect data about your visit to our site and send it to Meta. This can include information like: the URL of the page you visited on our site, the fact that you came to our site (for instance, after clicking on one of our Facebook ads), and technical details about your browser or device. Meta can potentially combine this information with your user profile on Facebook/Instagram (if you have one) to track and personalize advertising. For example, if you have a Facebook account, you might later see a post or ad from Chalkbeat or our other brands, because the Meta Pixel indicated that you visited our site. Meta uses the data collected via Pixel for its own purposes in accordance with its policies – for instance, to improve its advertising system. We do not receive personal data like your Facebook profile information from the Meta Pixel reports; we only see aggregated data (such as “X number of people who visited our donation page came from Facebook”). Meta’s handling of data collected through the Pixel is governed by Meta’s own privacy policies. To learn more about how Meta (Facebook) uses information from sites that use its Pixel and other tools, please see Facebook’s Data Policy. Your Choices for Meta Pixel: If you prefer not to have the Meta Pixel data used for targeting ads to you, you may manage Meta Pixel data on your Meta or Facebook account settings.

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have certain legal rights regarding your personal information. Under applicable state privacy laws, you may have the right:
  •   To know and request disclosure of personal information we have collected about you,
  •   To request that we delete personal information (subject to some exceptions allowed by law),
  •   To request corrections of any inaccurate information,
  •   To not be retaliated or discriminated against by us because you exercised any rights under applicable laws,
  •   To opt-out of any “sale” of your personal information.
  •   To opt-out from targeted advertising or profiling.
Our websites, content, and services are intended exclusively for individuals and entities located within the United States. We do not market, offer, or provide services to individuals or organizations located outside the United States, including but not limited to those in the European Union, European Economic Area, or the United Kingdom. We provide mechanisms for you to exercise your rights, described in the next section. We will never unlawfully discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

Exercising Your Rights

If you would like to exercise any of your privacy rights or have questions about your personal information, you can contact us with your request. Specifically, you can:
  1. Access or Know: Request a copy of the personal information we have about you, and an explanation of how we use it and who we share it with.
  2. Deletion: Request that we delete the personal information we have collected from you. (Do note that there are some situations where we may retain personal information as permitted by law – for example, records of donations for financial reporting – but we will honor deletion requests to the fullest extent required by applicable law.)
  3. Correction: Inform us if any personal information we have is incorrect, and request that we correct it.
  4. Opt-Out of Sale: As noted, we do not sell personal information. However, if you wish to formally record an opt-out request (for example, under CCPA’s definition of “sale”), we will note and honor that.
  5. Opt-Out of Profiling/Targeted Advertising: Opt-out of the processing of your personal information for purposes of profiling that produces legal or significant effects on you or targeted advertising.
To submit any of the above requests, please contact us by either of the following methods:
  1. Email: privacy@civicnews.org
  2. Postal Mail: Privacy Officer – Civic News Company, 450 Seventh Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10123, USA
Please include your name and a description of your request. For your protection, we may take steps to verify your identity before fulfilling any request (for example, we might ask you to confirm control of the email address associated with the data). We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law. There is no charge for making a privacy request, but please be aware that certain rights (like access or deletion) may be limited in some cases (for instance, if fulfilling the request would conflict with other laws or rights). In some jurisdictions, you may appeal to us if we refuse to take action on your exercise of certain choices described above. In order to appeal such a refusal, please contact us at privacy@civicnews.org using the subject line “Appeal of Refusal to Take Action on Privacy Request” and provide the relevant information in the email.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

As mentioned above, we may use cookies and similar tracking technologies on our websites to improve your experience and gather analytics about our traffic. Here is a bit more detail about what these technologies are and how we use them: What Are Cookies? Cookies are small text files that websites save on your device (computer, phone, tablet) when you visit. Cookies serve various functions – they can make the site work properly, remember your preferences, and collect information about how you interact with the site. We categorize the cookies on our site into a few types:
  1. Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for our website to function and for you to use certain features. For example, they may be used to load the core elements of the site or to remember actions you’ve taken (like items in a hypothetical donation cart) as you navigate between pages. Without these, some services you ask for (like accessing a restricted resource or using a functionality on the site) might not work. Because they are essential, disabling or removing these cookies through your browser settings could cause some parts of the site to break or not display correctly.
  2. Functional Cookies: These cookies allow us to remember choices you make and provide enhanced, more personal features. For instance, if our site offers a region selection or text-size preference, functional cookies would remember your selections so that when you return, we can customize your experience. They might also enable certain non-essential but useful features on the site. While not strictly necessary, they improve usability and personalization. If you disable these, some of our site’s convenience features may not remember your preferences.
  3. Performance & Analytics Cookies: These cookies help us understand how visitors use our website and to improve the website’s performance. All information collected by these cookies is anonymous and is used for statistical purposes. Performance cookies also help us measure the outcomes of our content and marketing efforts. For example, they can help us gauge the effectiveness of a fundraising campaign or a Facebook ad by telling us how many people who clicked an ad eventually read an article or donated. This insight allows us to refine our strategies and content to better serve our readers.
  4. Advertising and Targeting Cookies: We have very limited advertising on our sites (as a nonprofit, we don’t host traditional ads extensively, but we may have sponsored content or promotions for our own fundraising). In cases where we do engage advertising or promotional networks, cookies might be used to tailor advertising to your interests. For example, if we ever display a banner from a sponsor, these cookies might ensure you don’t see the same banner repeatedly and (in concert with services like the Meta Pixel or Google Ads mentioned above) help show you messages that are more relevant. These cookies might track your browsing habits on our site and other sites in order to serve you relevant ads on third-party websites. Important: Civic News Company does not collect additional personal information for advertising, but some of our third-party tools (like Google Ads or Meta Pixel) use cookies for targeting as described in their sections. If you prefer to opt out of targeted advertising cookies, you can do so via browser-based tools as described below.
Your Cookie Choices: Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you may have the option to change your browser’s settings to refuse some or all cookies, or to prompt you before accepting each cookie. Check your browser’s help documentation for how to do this. You may also delete cookies that have already been set. Keep in mind, if you disable all cookies, our website (like most sites) may not function perfectly for you – for example, you may not be able to use certain features or your preferences may not be saved when you return. If you delete cookies, and then later visit us again, your browser may not remember any preferences or settings from your last visit, so you might have to re-enter certain choices. We currently do not employ a separate pop-up cookie consent on our U.S. site, but we aim to use cookies responsibly and only as needed for the purposes described.

Do Not Track Signals

“Do Not Track” (DNT) is a setting available in some web browsers that requests that a web application disable its tracking of an individual user. While we respect the intent of DNT, our site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals from browsers. This is a common practice across many websites because there is not yet a consistent industry standard for how to interpret DNT signals. We recommend using the opt-out options provided above (for cookies or advertising) if you want to limit tracking, as those will be more effective.

Children’s Privacy

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. Our content and services are aimed at general audiences and are not directed at children. In accordance with the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), if we learn that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13 without verifiable parental consent, we will delete that personal information promptly. If you are a parent or guardian and you believe we have collected information from your child under 13 in a manner not permitted by law, please contact us at privacy@civicnews.org, and we will work with you to remove any such personal information to the extent required by applicable laws. For teens between 13 and 18, we recommend they seek permission from a parent or guardian before subscribing to newsletters or engaging with us. Ultimately, protecting children’s privacy is important to us, and we encourage parents to be aware of their children’s online activities.

Updates to This Policy

We may update or change this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or to ensure compliance with new laws and regulations. If we make changes, we will promptly post the updated policy on this page with a new “Last updated” date, and we may notify our community by email or through a notice on our website. We encourage you to periodically review this page for the latest information on our privacy practices. Any updates will reflect our ongoing commitment to transparency and privacy.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this policy or any aspect of your privacy when using our services, please reach out to us. We are here to help and take your privacy seriously. You can contact us by email or mail:
  1. Email: privacy@civicnews.org
  2. Postal Address: Privacy Officer – Civic News Company, 450 Seventh Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10123, USA
We will do our best to respond promptly and address your inquiry. If you email us, please do not include sensitive personal information in the email (like credit card numbers or passwords). If your question or concern is about a particular service (e.g., a specific newsletter or donation), it helps to mention that in your message. Thank you for reading our policy. Your trust is important to us, and we are dedicated to keeping your information secure and using it responsibly.