Privacy Policy — State News Journal
Effective date: 10 October 2026. Publisher: 24World Media, 1411 N Sterling Ave, Palatine, IL 60067, United States ("we", "us"). This policy explains what information State News Journal (statenewsjournal.com) collects, why, how it is used, and the choices available to readers.
1. Who this policy covers
This policy applies to visitors to statenewsjournal.com and to people who contact us through the site. It does not apply to other 24World Media properties with their own policies, or to third-party websites linked from our reporting.
2. Information you provide directly
Contact messages. When you use our contact form or email us, we receive your name, email address and the contents of your message. We use this to respond, to route tips and correction requests to the right desk, and to keep a record of the correspondence. Do not send passwords or payment details; we never ask for them.
Newsletter sign-ups. If you subscribe to a newsletter, we store the email address you provide and your subscription preferences so we can send what you asked for. Every newsletter email carries an unsubscribe link, and unsubscribing stops future sends.
3. Information collected automatically
Server logs. Our hosting infrastructure records standard technical data, including IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, referring pages and timestamps. Logs are used for security, performance, abuse prevention and aggregate audience measurement.
Cookies and similar technologies. We and our service providers use cookies and similar technologies for essential site functions, security, analytics and, where advertising is served, advertising delivery and measurement. You can control cookies through your browser settings; blocking some cookies may affect site features. Where a cookie preference tool is provided on the site, your choices there control non-essential cookies.
Analytics. We use privacy-respecting analytics to understand which sections and stories readers use, in aggregate. We do not build individual reader profiles for sale, and we do not sell personal information.
4. How we use information
We use the information described above to operate and secure the site; respond to messages, tips and correction requests; send newsletters you requested; measure and improve our coverage; display and measure advertising in aggregate; comply with legal obligations; and enforce our terms of service.
5. What we never do
We do not sell personal information. We do not share reader-level data with advertisers. We do not publish the identity of confidential news sources except where required by law. We do not use contact-form submissions for unrelated marketing.
6. Sharing with service providers
We share limited data with processors that help us run the site, such as hosting, security, email delivery and analytics providers, under contracts requiring them to use the data only to provide their services. If we are required by law, court order or lawful government request to disclose information, we will disclose only what is required and, where lawful, will notify affected users.
7. Advertising choices
Advertising partners may use cookies to deliver and measure ads. You can learn about industry opt-out options at aboutads.info and youradchoices.com. Using those tools does not remove advertising; it changes how it is selected.
8. Data retention
Contact correspondence is retained as long as needed to handle the matter and maintain an editorial record, then deleted or archived. Server logs are retained for a limited period for security and operations. Newsletter data is deleted after unsubscription, subject to suppression-list requirements so we do not email you again.
9. Security
We use transport encryption, access controls and reputable hosting security tooling. No system is perfectly secure; if you believe your interaction with us has been compromised, contact us immediately.
10. Your rights
Depending on your state of residence, including under the California Consumer Privacy Act and similar state laws, you may have rights to know, access, correct or delete personal information we hold about you, and to opt out of certain sharing. To exercise a right, contact us through the contact page or at [email protected] with "Privacy" in the subject line. We will verify the request and respond within the period the applicable law requires. We will not discriminate against you for exercising a right.
11. Children
This site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
12. International visitors
The site is operated from the United States. If you visit from another country, your information will be processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from your own.
13. Changes to this policy
If this policy changes materially, we will update this page and the effective date above. Continued use of the site after a change takes effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
14. Contact
Privacy questions: 24World Media, 1411 N Sterling Ave, Palatine, IL 60067, United States; [email protected]; or the contact page on this site.
15. Cookies in detail
Essential cookies keep the site working and secure, including load balancing, security tokens and remembering that you dismissed a notice. Analytics cookies, where used, count visits and page performance in aggregate. Advertising cookies, where advertising is served, help deliver ads and measure campaigns in aggregate. You may refuse non-essential cookies in your browser or via any preference tool offered on the site; essential cookies cannot be disabled because the site will not function securely without them. Browser "do not track" signals are respected where our analytics tooling supports them.
16. Email and newsletters
If you join a mailing list, we process your address to send the requested emails, measure aggregate opens and clicks to improve content, and maintain suppression lists. You may unsubscribe at any time from any email, and unsubscribing from one list does not affect a separate request you have made, such as a correction enquiry.
17. Tips and source material
Information sent as a news tip, including documents, is used for editorial assessment and reporting. We treat confidential tips as confidential. Metadata in files you send can sometimes reveal more than the visible content; if that concerns you, contact us first, before sending files, and we will agree a safer method.
18. Contests, surveys and events
If we run a survey, poll or event registration, the purpose and retention of the information will be stated at the point of collection, and the data is used only for that stated purpose.
19. Data breaches
If a breach affecting personal information occurs, we will assess it promptly, contain it, and notify affected individuals and regulators where the law requires, describing what happened, what data was involved and what steps we are taking.
20. Third-party content and embeds
Pages may embed third-party content, such as videos from official YouTube channels. Interacting with an embed is governed by that provider's privacy policy once loaded. Where a privacy-enhanced embed mode is available, we prefer it.
21. Sale of the business
If 24World Media sells or transfers the outlet, reader information may transfer with the business, subject to this policy remaining in force or notice being given of any change.
22. Questions and complaints
If you believe we have mishandled your information, contact us and we will investigate. You may also complain to your state attorney general or the applicable data protection authority. We would always rather resolve a concern directly and promptly.
23. State privacy rights — detail
California residents: you may request the categories and specific pieces of personal information we hold, request deletion subject to legal exceptions (including editorial records), and will never be discriminated against for exercising these rights. We do not "sell" or "share" personal information as those terms are defined in California law, so no opt-out of sale is offered because no sale occurs. Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and other state residents with comprehensive privacy laws hold equivalent know, access, correct, delete and portability rights; contact us as above and we will apply the standard your state's law requires. Requests must come from the individual or an authorised agent we can verify. Because our archive is an editorial record, some information in published journalism is retained under recognised journalism and free-expression exceptions, and we will explain where such an exception is the reason a deletion request cannot be applied to a specific item.
24. Automated decision-making
We do not use automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects about individual readers. Aggregate analytics and advertising measurement do not profile individuals.
Nothing in this policy limits rights that cannot lawfully be limited in your jurisdiction of residence.
