Youth Communication Privacy Statement

(Revised 05/06/2005)

Youth Communication helps teenagers develop their skills in reading, writing, thinking, and reflection, so they can acquire the information they need to make thoughtful choices about their lives. Providing the public with true stories written by teens through our Web site is an essential part of Youth Communication's efforts to carry out its mission.

We respect the privacy of visitors to our Web site. Please take a moment to read this policy so that you understand how we handle your personal information to carry out our mission. By using our site, you agree to respect and abide by the provisions listed below.

About the Information We Collect

All of the data and information we collect through our Web site is used only to help us achieve our mission. It is our policy to collect and store only personal information that our site's users knowingly provide.

—From Casual Web Site Visitors and General Users: We do not collect any personal information from users downloading a file (such as our stories or Teacher Resources) or browsing our Web site. When you use the public areas of our Web site you are doing so anonymously. We do collect aggregate use information, such as the number of hits (visits) per page. We use aggregate data for internal and marketing purposes, but we don't collect any personally identifying information.

—From Our Readers and Customers: If while visiting our Web site, you order a publication, fill out a survey, write a response to one of our stories, send an e-mail or request information, you may be asked to provide certain personal information. In all cases this information is submitted voluntarily. In most cases, we ask users to provide their name, title, organization name, address, telephone, and e-mail. If you're making a purchase, you may be asked for credit card information in order to complete your purchase.

If we reprint your contest entry, letter or response to a story, we will publish your name, school and city unless you request anonymity.

Credit Card Account Information

Youth Communication utilizes secure transaction methods (SSL) when collecting credit card information over the Internet. We do not disclose credit card account information provided by our users.

Opt-out procedure

Youth Communication provides you with the opportunity to opt-out of receiving communications from us at any time. To refuse any future communications send an e-mail to lchan@youthcomm.org with the word "remove" in the subject line.

How We Use Cookies

Cookies are small bits of code that are sent to your computer when you logon to a Web site that allows us to identify you when you return to the site. We use cookies only to support the operations of our online store. We do not use cookies to track your usage or any other personal information about you.

Privacy and the Links on Our Web Site

—Links IN to our Web site: We welcome links to any part of our Webs site from youth media, youth organizations and others who wish to help extend our mission. We ask that you contact us to notify us of your intentions to link to our site, and indicate the purpose of the link. No link may present or display a product or activity in a way that states or implies our endorsement without our permission.

—Links OUT from our Web site: Youth Communication's Web site may feature links to other youth organizations, media and sponsors of Youth Communication. We do not routinely "out-link" to private, commercial or other similar Web sites, other than current sponsors of Youth Communication's programs and services. However, on a case-by-case basis, we will consider requests from such groups or persons to out-link to their Web sites. We will grant such requests only where it is determined that such links will support our mission, and where we have concluded that such links will not in any way jeopardize our reputation, independence, objectivity, mission or ability to serve the youth sector. Such links may be short or long-term, at the discretion of the organization.

Copyright rules

Everything you see or read on this Web Site is owned by Youth Communication or used with the author's permission.

Please refer to our Reprint Policy page for information about how to use our material.

Appropriate Online Conduct and Content

You, the user, are entirely responsible and liable for all of your activities while using the Web site. Listed below are some, but not all, violations that may result in termination of your access to the Web Site. By using this Web Site, you agree not to:

1. Post, transmit, promote or distribute content that is illegal.
2. Transmit or facilitate distribution of content that is libelous, harmful, threatening, harassing, abusive, racially or ethnically offensive, vulgar, sexually explicit, obscene, defamatory or objectionable in a reasonable person's view
3. Pretend to be anyone whom you are not.
4. Post any unsolicited advertising, promotional materials or any other forms of solicitation.

We reserve the right to remove content at any time, including any content that violates these terms of use. We are not responsible for any objectionable material you may encounter while using the Web site.

Liability and Warranty

Under no circumstances are we or anyone who created, produced, delivered, or maintained the site liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages or attorneys' fees arising from your access to, or use of, the site including, but not limited to, challenges or actions for infringement, libel, and slander whether such damages are based on contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise.

Your use of this site is at your own risk. Everything on the site is provided to you "as is," without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, warranties of fitness for a particular purpose, title or infringement. Because some states do not permit the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you. You agree to indemnify and hold Youth Communication harmless from all liabilities, claims and expenses, including attorneys' fees that arise from any breach of these terms of service for which you are responsible, or from the use of this Service or the transmission of any content through this Service.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

It may be necessary for us to review and revise our Privacy Policy from time to time. An amended version will be posted on our Web site.

Complaint Procedure

If you suspect that we have handled your personal information in a manner that doesn't comply with this privacy statement, please contact us by e-mailing an explanation to Loretta Chan at lchan@youthcomm.org or calling 212-279-0708 x115