Who We Are
The Independent Herald (“IH,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a local news organization based in Oneida, Tennessee, serving Scott County and the Big South Fork region. Our website is indherald.com. Questions about this policy can be directed to our newsroom at newsroom@ihoneida.com.
Information We Collect
We collect information in the following ways:
- Account & subscription information — When you subscribe to the Independent Herald (including through our Substack-powered platform), we collect your name, email address, and payment information (processed securely by our payment provider).
- Information you provide voluntarily — Comments, letters to the editor, tips, and messages you send us through our contact channels.
- Usage data — Pages you visit, articles you read, time spent on the site, referring URLs, and device or browser type. This is collected automatically through cookies and analytics tools.
- Email engagement data — Whether you open our newsletters and which links you click, used to improve our email editions.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted information to us, please contact us so we can remove it.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Deliver the news, newsletters, and content you have subscribed to
- Process and manage your subscription and billing
- Respond to your questions, tips, and correspondence
- Improve our website, editorial coverage, and reader experience
- Send service-related notices (receipts, policy updates, security alerts)
- Understand which stories and topics matter most to Scott County readers
- Comply with legal obligations
We do not sell your personal information to advertisers or data brokers. Local journalism depends on reader trust — not on monetizing your data.
Cookies & Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — and similar technologies for the following purposes:
- Essential cookies: Required for the site to function (e.g., keeping you logged in to your subscriber account).
- Analytics cookies: Help us understand how readers navigate the site so we can improve it. We use privacy-respecting analytics tools and configure them to minimize data collection.
- Third-party embeds: Some articles embed content from third parties (e.g., YouTube videos, social media posts). Those providers may set their own cookies, subject to their own privacy policies.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some site features, such as staying logged in to your subscription.
Information Sharing
We share your information only in these limited circumstances:
- Service providers: Companies that help us operate our platform (email delivery, payment processing, analytics, hosting). They are bound by confidentiality agreements and may only use your data to provide services to us.
- Substack: Our newsletters are hosted on Substack. When you subscribe, Substack’s privacy policy also applies to the data processed on their platform.
- Legal requirements: If required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of our staff or the public.
- Business transition: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of IH assets, subscriber data may be transferred. We would notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as your subscription is active, or as necessary to provide services and comply with our legal obligations. If you cancel your subscription or request deletion of your account, we will remove your personal data within a reasonable period, except where we are required by law to retain it (for example, transaction records for tax purposes).
Your Rights & Choices
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to:
- Access a copy of the personal information we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion of your personal data
- Opt out of marketing emails (every email we send includes an unsubscribe link)
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
To exercise any of these rights, email us at newsroom@ihoneida.com. We will respond within 30 days.
Security
We use industry-standard security measures — including encrypted connections (HTTPS) and access controls — to protect your information. No internet transmission is 100% secure, but we take reasonable precautions to guard against unauthorized access, disclosure, or loss.
Links to Other Websites
Our articles and newsletters may link to external websites — government agencies, other news organizations, community resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their policies independently.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the effective date at the top of this page. For significant changes, we will notify subscribers by email. Continued use of our services after a change takes effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
