Privacy Policy for World Media Outlets

1. Who We Are

World Media Outlets is a news website directory that helps users find news outlets by country, region, language, category, and outlet type. We link to external news websites and may display public RSS headlines where available.

For privacy questions, contact us at thenewsatlas@gmail.com.

2. Information We Collect

We try to collect only what is useful to operate and improve the directory.

• Anonymous analytics: page path, country page slug, category slug, clicked outlet ID, clicked outlet name, destination URL, referrer, browser user agent, anonymous session ID, and timestamps.
• Submissions and corrections: information you enter into submit or correction forms, such as outlet name, website URL, country, language, category, description, your name, and your reply email.
• Approximate location: country-level location may be inferred from hosting or edge-network headers to show nearby news. We do not intentionally store exact IP addresses for analytics.
• Server logs: hosting providers may process technical logs such as IP address, user agent, request URL, date/time, and error data for security, debugging, and service operation.

3. How We Use Information

• Operate the website and directory.
• Understand which pages, countries, categories, and outlets are useful.
• Prioritize corrections, new country pages, and directory improvements.
• Review submitted outlets and suggested corrections.
• Prevent abuse, debug errors, and protect the site.
• Prepare aggregate reports, such as popular country pages or popular outlet clicks.

4. Analytics and Session IDs

World Media Outlets uses privacy-conscious internal analytics instead of Google Analytics for now. The site may create an anonymous session ID in localStorage, such as a random value beginning with anon_. This helps us understand repeat browsing patterns without requiring accounts or names.

We do not use analytics to identify you personally, build advertising profiles, or sell personal information. You can clear localStorage in your browser to reset the anonymous session ID.

5. Cookies, LocalStorage, and Advertising

The site currently uses localStorage for anonymous session tracking and may use browser storage for normal site functionality. If we add Google AdSense or other advertising services, those providers may use cookies, identifiers, or similar technologies according to their own policies.

If advertising cookies, personalized ads, or other non-essential tracking are enabled, we should add a cookie consent or privacy-choice tool where required by law before public launch.

6. Submitted Content

When you submit a news outlet or suggest a correction, the details are sent to our server for review. We use this information to evaluate, update, and improve the directory. Please do not submit sensitive personal information.

Submission forms are not public comments. We may use the factual outlet information you provide to update listings, but we will not intentionally publish your email address as part of a listing.

7. External Links and RSS Feeds

World Media Outlets links to external news websites and may display headlines from public RSS feeds. We do not control external websites, their privacy practices, cookies, paywalls, content, advertising, or security. When you click an external outlet link, the destination website may collect information under its own privacy policy.

8. Sharing and Service Providers

We may use trusted providers for hosting, database storage, analytics storage, security, email delivery, form processing, advertising, and deployment. These providers may process information only as needed to provide their services to us.

We do not sell personal information. We may disclose information if required by law, to protect the site, to investigate abuse, or as part of a business transfer involving the website.

9. Reader Palette and Peace Context Colors

The homepage may let you choose a reader palette, such as Soft Paper, Clear Sky, or Quiet Lavender. This preference is stored in your browser localStorage so the site can remember the pane color you selected. It is not used to identify you personally.

Country panes may also use a Global Peace Index-inspired color band. The color band is visual context only. It does not mean World Media Outlets has calculated an official peace score, and it is not used for automated decisions about users.

10. Retention

Analytics records and click records may be kept as long as they are useful for improving the directory. Submission and correction records may be kept while we review them and maintain an audit trail for listing quality. Server logs are generally retained according to hosting-provider settings.

We should periodically delete data that is no longer needed.

11. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the site, such as server-side API routes, security headers, limited analytics data, and server-side handling for sensitive service keys. No website can guarantee perfect security.

12. Children

World Media Outlets is a general-audience directory and is not designed for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal information, contact us and we will review the request.

13. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, or object to certain processing of your personal information. You may also have the right to complain to a privacy regulator.

To make a request, email thenewsatlas@gmail.com. We may need enough information to verify and respond to your request.

14. International Visitors

The website may be accessed globally. Information may be processed in Canada, the United States, or other countries where our hosting, database, email, analytics, or advertising providers operate. Privacy laws may differ from those in your location.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the site changes. The updated version will be posted on this page with a new “Last updated” date.

16. Terms

Our Terms of Use explain important rules for using the directory, including external links, accuracy limits, submissions, advertising, and liability. Read them here: Terms of Use.