Who this policy covers
This policy explains how States Herald (statesherald.com), published by States Herald Media LLC, handles personal data of people who visit the site or contact the newsroom.
What we collect
If you write to us at [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or any other listed address, we hold what you choose to send: typically your name, your email address and the message itself. Our hosting stack logs basic technical data such as IP addresses and request times, solely to keep the site secure and running. That is routine server logging, not visitor tracking. States Herald uses no cookies for analytics, advertising or tracking, and builds no visitor profiles. No cookie banner appears because no non-essential cookies exist. If that ever changes, this page and a banner will be updated before any such cookie is set.
How we use it
To answer your messages, evaluate tips, process corrections and operate the site. Nothing else. We do not use personal data for advertising, profiling or analytics, because we run none of those systems.
The legal basis
Where the law requires a stated basis, we rely on legitimate interest in keeping the site secure and on fulfilling a request you sent us. We rely on no consent-based tracking because we deploy no tracking technologies.
Who we share it with
No advertisers. No data brokers. No sale of personal data. Limited data may pass to service providers that keep the site running, such as hosting and email providers, under confidentiality obligations, or to authorities where the law compels it.
How long we keep it
Only as long as the purpose requires: generally the time needed to handle and close your enquiry, after which messages are deleted or anonymized.
Your rights
The United States has no single federal privacy statute; depending on your state, laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, or similar statutes in states like Virginia and Colorado may give you the right to access, correct or delete your personal data, to opt out of its sale or sharing, and to complain to your state attorney general or, in California, to the California Privacy Protection Agency. To exercise any right, write to [email protected]. If you read us from the EEA or the UK, the GDPR additionally grants you access, rectification, erasure, portability and the right to lodge a complaint with your national supervisory authority.
Protecting sources
If you contact us as a confidential source, we take reasonable measures to shield your identity in line with standard journalistic practice. Tell us the material is sensitive before sending anything, so we can agree on a secure channel first.
Changes to this policy
Any change in our practices will appear on this page, with the revision date noted below.
Last updated: August 11, 2026
Questions: [email protected].