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Weekly Wildcat is the official student newspaper of Ninety Six High School. This Privacy Policy and Terms of Service explain how information is collected, used, and protected when individuals interact with Weekly Wildcat through its website, print publication, social media platforms, or other official outlets.

By accessing or using Weekly Wildcat content or services, you agree to the terms outlined below.

1. About Weekly Wildcat

Weekly Wildcat is produced by student journalists of Ninety Six High School under the guidance of a faculty advisor and in accordance with school and district policies. It functions as an educational, student-run publication.

2. Scope of This Policy

This policy applies to:

• The Weekly Wildcat website

• Official Weekly Wildcat social media accounts

• Print and digital publications

• Content submissions and communication with staff

This policy does not replace or override Ninety Six High School or district policies, including student records, media release, or acceptable use policies.

3. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

Weekly Wildcat may collect information you voluntarily provide, including:

• Your name, grade level, and school email address when contacting staff or submitting content

• Articles, photographs, videos, artwork, or comments submitted for publication

• Contact information used for interviews, fact-checking, or follow-up communication

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Weekly Wildcat website, limited technical information is collected automatically, including:

• Browser and device type

• Pages visited and time spent on the site

• Referring website or link

• IP address (which may be anonymized where supported)

This information is collected through standard server logs as well as third-party tools, including WordPress Jetpack and Google Analytics, and is used only in aggregate form to understand site performance and usage.

4. Cookies, Analytics, and Third-Party Services

Weekly Wildcat uses cookies and analytics services to operate and improve the website.

WordPress Jetpack

The website uses WordPress Jetpack, a service provided by Automattic, to support site functionality, performance monitoring, security features, and basic site statistics. Jetpack may collect technical data such as page views, referrer information, and browser details, and may place cookies on your device to enable these features. Data collected through Jetpack is processed according to Automattic’s privacy practices.

Google Analytics

Weekly Wildcat also uses Google Analytics to better understand how visitors use the site. Google Analytics collects aggregated data such as pages visited, session duration, and general geographic information derived from IP addresses. Where available, IP anonymization is enabled. Google processes this information in accordance with its own privacy policies and may store data on servers outside the United States.

Weekly Wildcat does not sell personal information, does not knowingly collect data for advertising purposes, and does not use analytics tools to target minors.

You may disable cookies through your browser settings. Doing so may limit certain site features. Google also offers a browser add-on that allows users to opt out of Google Analytics tracking.

5. How Information Is Used

Information collected by Weekly Wildcat is used to:

• Publish and manage newspaper content

• Communicate with contributors and interviewees

• Improve website performance and usability

• Maintain site security and prevent misuse

• Comply with school policies and legal requirements

6. Student and Minor Privacy

Weekly Wildcat serves a school community that includes minors. The newspaper follows Ninety Six High School and district policies regarding student privacy, parental consent, and media releases.

Students under the age of 13 should not submit personal information without permission from a parent or guardian. Publication of student names, images, or work is subject to applicable school media-release and opt-out policies.

7. Content Submissions and Editorial Rights

By submitting content to Weekly Wildcat, contributors confirm that the content is original or that they have permission to submit it, and that it does not violate copyright, privacy, or school rules.

Contributors grant Weekly Wildcat and Ninety Six High School a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publish, display, and archive submitted content in print, online, and on official social media platforms for educational and journalistic purposes.

Weekly Wildcat retains editorial control over all content and reserves the right to edit, decline, or remove material for accuracy, clarity, length, or policy compliance.

8. Photographs and Media

Photographs and video taken at school events may be published in accordance with school media-release policies. If a student has opted out of media publication, Weekly Wildcat will honor that request when notified.

9. Comments and Community Standards

Readers are expected to engage respectfully. Comments or submissions containing harassment, hate speech, threats, spam, or private personal information may be removed at the discretion of the editorial staff.

10. Copyright Concerns

If you believe copyrighted material has been published without permission, please contact the Weekly Wildcat editorial advisor through Ninety Six High School with sufficient information to identify the content in question. Appropriate action will be taken after review.

11. Data Retention and Security

Weekly Wildcat retains information only as long as necessary for publication, archival, or legal purposes. Reasonable safeguards are used to protect stored information, though no online system can guarantee complete security.

12. Policy Updates

This policy may be updated periodically. Any changes will be reflected with a revised effective date. Continued use of Weekly Wildcat after changes are posted indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Governing Law

This policy is governed by applicable state and federal law, as well as Ninety Six High School and district policies.

14. Contact Information

Questions or concerns regarding privacy, corrections, content removal, or this policy should be directed to the Weekly Wildcat editorial staff through Ninety Six High School’s main office or official website.