NewsWK Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 20, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how NewsWK (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and protects information across two products:
- Our websites, including
https://newswk.com/and affiliated city sites (for examplepensacola.newswk.comandbennington.newswk.com); and - The NewsWK mobile app for iOS and Android (the “app”).
The website and the app handle data differently. Part A covers the websites. Part B covers the mobile app and is the section that governs the App Store and Google Play listings. If you use only the app, Part B applies to you.
Part A — NewsWK Websites
Information we collect
Information you provide: If you email us or submit a form, we receive the information you choose to share (such as your name and email address).
Automatically collected data: Like most websites, our servers and analytics tools automatically log standard technical information such as IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and referring URLs.
Cookies and similar technologies: We and our service providers use cookies to operate the site, remember preferences, measure traffic, and serve advertising.
Advertising and analytics (websites only)
We use third-party services on our websites that may set cookies or collect usage data, including Google AdSense and Google Analytics / Site Kit.
Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user’s prior visits to this and other websites. Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to our site and/or other sites on the Internet.
You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. You can also opt out of some third-party vendors’ use of cookies for personalized advertising at aboutads.info/choices. For more information about how Google uses data, see “How Google uses information from sites that use its services.”
These advertising and analytics practices apply to our websites only. The NewsWK mobile app does not display third-party advertising, does not use advertising cookies or advertising identifiers, and does not embed third-party advertising or analytics SDKs. See Part B.
How we use information
We use the information we collect to operate and improve the site, respond to your inquiries, understand how our content performs, display advertising, and protect against fraud or abuse.
Sharing of information
We do not sell your personal information. We share information only with service providers that help us operate the site (such as hosting, analytics, and advertising partners), or when required by law.
Your choices
You can set your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, or delete your personal information. To make a request, contact us at news@newswk.com.
Part B — NewsWK Mobile App
This section describes how the NewsWK mobile app for iOS and Android handles your information. The app is a reader for the NewsWK network of local news websites.
Reading is anonymous
You do not need an account to read the news. When you browse, the app requests published articles from the news site you selected using standard, encrypted (HTTPS) WordPress REST API calls. We do not require or collect personal information to let you read, and we do not build advertising or cross-app tracking profiles.
No advertising, no tracking
The app does not:
- display third-party advertising;
- use advertising identifiers (IDFA / Google Advertising ID);
- track you across other companies’ apps or websites; or
- embed third-party advertising or analytics SDKs.
Opening an external link (for example “View on site”) loads that page in an in-app browser, where the website’s own privacy practices — including the website advertising and analytics described in Part A — apply.
Information stored on your device
The following are stored locally on your device and are not sent to us:
- the site you selected and your app preferences (such as theme and reader text size);
- cached articles and images for offline/faster reading;
- your reading history and “continue reading” position;
- topics/authors you follow; and
- your on-device saved stories (bookmarks) when you are not signed in.
You can clear cached content anytime in Settings. If you sign in, your Application Password is stored in the device’s secure store (iOS Keychain / Android Keystore) and is never stored in plain text.
Information collected if you sign in (optional)
Signing in is only needed for member and newsroom features (such as syncing your saved stories, or, for authorized staff, composing and editing posts). When you sign in to a NewsWK site:
- You can sign in on the website (browser connect) or, on supported iOS devices, with Sign in with Apple. Website connect uses an Application Password. Your normal website password is never entered into or stored by the app. Your Apple ID password is never shared with NewsWK.
- Sign in with Apple: Apple may provide the selected NewsWK site with an opaque Apple user identifier, your name (typically the first time you authorize), and an email address (which may be your real address or an Apple Hide My Email private relay address such as
@privaterelay.appleid.com). The site verifies Apple’s identity token, creates or links a WordPress member account on that site, stores the Apple identifier with the account, and issues an Application Password claim for the app—the same secure pattern as website connect. Apple’s handling of Sign in with Apple is described in Apple’s Privacy Policy. - Your account identifier (WordPress user) and your saved-story list are stored on that NewsWK site, associated with your account, solely to provide those features. This is used for app functionality only — never for advertising or tracking.
Your member account lives on the NewsWK website you signed into; the app does not create a separate cloud account.
Information you choose to submit
Some optional features send information to the newsroom of the site you selected:
- Send a news tip: your message and any optional name, contact detail, or photo you attach are sent to that site’s newsroom and are not published publicly by the app. Photos are only accessed when you choose one; the app requests photo-library permission in-context at that moment.
- Ask a question (CivicAdvice): your question, chosen alias/display name, and selected city are sent to that site so an answer can be prepared.
- Newsroom tools (authorized staff only): signed-in staff with the necessary permissions can create/edit posts and upload images; images you select are uploaded to that site’s media library.
We use this information only to operate the relevant feature and to respond to you. If you submitted a news tip or question without an account, you can ask us to delete it anytime by emailing news@newswk.com.
Push notifications (optional, opt-in)
If you turn on notifications (breaking-news and/or severe-weather alerts), the app registers a device push token with the site(s) you enabled, so that alerts can be delivered to your device. The token is used solely to deliver notifications and is not used for advertising or tracking. For guests it is not linked to your identity; if you are signed in, it may be associated with your account on that site so alerts can reflect your membership. Delivery relies on Apple Push Notification service (iOS) and Firebase Cloud Messaging (Android) via the Expo push service. You can turn notifications off anytime in the app’s Settings or in your device settings.
Device permissions
The app requests the following permissions only in context, when you use the related feature, and works without them otherwise:
- Photos — to attach a photo to a news tip or, for staff, to add an image to a story.
- Notifications — to deliver breaking-news / severe-weather alerts if you opt in.
The app does not request location, camera, contacts, calendar, or microphone access.
Delete your account (in-app)
If you created a member account by signing in, you can permanently delete it from inside the app: Settings → Delete my account. This revokes the app’s access, removes your synced saved stories, and deletes your account on that NewsWK site. This action cannot be undone. (Signing out only removes the app’s stored credential and is not the same as deletion.) You may also request deletion without the app by emailing news@newswk.com.
Data retention
We keep information only as long as needed for the purpose it was provided. News tips, questions, and other submissions are retained only long enough to respond to you and operate the feature, then deleted. Push tokens are removed when you disable notifications or uninstall the app. Member account data is retained until you delete your account.
Service providers (app)
We share information only with service providers that help operate the app and its features, or when required by law:
- Website hosting for the NewsWK site(s) you use (which store your account, saved stories, submissions, and push tokens);
- Apple Push Notification service, Firebase Cloud Messaging, and the Expo push service for delivering optional notifications;
- Apple, when you choose Sign in with Apple (Apple authenticates you under Apple’s privacy practices before sharing limited account details with the selected NewsWK site).
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for third-party advertising.
Data security
All network requests use HTTPS/TLS. Credentials are stored in the platform secure store. See “Device permissions” above for the limited access the app requests.
General
Children’s privacy
Our websites and app are general-audience local-news services and are not directed to children under 13. 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.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict the use of your personal information, and to opt out of certain processing. To make a request, contact us at news@newswk.com. App members can also delete their account directly in the app (see “Delete your account”).
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes are effective when posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date.
Contact
Questions about this policy? Email news@newswk.com or write to:
NewsWK, c/o Land Tech Web Designs, Corp.Attn: Randy Breland
859 Valley Ridge Dr
Pensacola, FL 32514
