Privacy Policy

The short version

Local Lantern is an independent local news outlet for Alabama, Alabama, run by a real person (hey, it’s Nate). We collect only what you choose to send us, we use it to do journalism and to reply to you, and we don’t sell it or share it for marketing. Ever.

What we collect

When you contact the Lantern (through the tip form on our website, by email, by text message, or by calling our tip line), we receive what you send: your message, any photos or attachments, and any contact details you include (such as your name, email address, or phone number). If you call and leave a voicemail, we keep the recording and an automatic transcript. If you subscribe to the Dispatch, we keep your email address. We also collect basic, anonymous usage statistics about our website (such as which pages are visited); these are not tied to your identity.

Accounts

You can create an account to claim a business, send us updates, and manage the email list. Accounts are for adults 18 and older. Local Lantern is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we learn that we have, we delete it. When you sign up we ask for your name, email, date of birth (to confirm you’re 18 or older), and your city and state. You can add a profile photo if you want one. You can view, change, or delete all of it any time from your account settings, and deleting your account removes it for good.

How we use it

We use what you send us to report and publish local news, to keep business listings and event calendars accurate, and to reply to you with confirmations or follow-up questions. Tips are treated with a journalist’s care: nothing you send is published without review by a human, and if you ask to remain anonymous, we honor it.

Text messaging (SMS/MMS)

Our tip line accepts calls and text messages at the number published on this site. You opt in by texting us first; we only send text messages in reply to messages you send us, things like a confirmation that your tip arrived or a follow-up question. Message and data rates may apply, and message frequency varies based on the conversation. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP, or reply HELP for help.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent are not shared with any third parties.

What we share

We don’t sell your information, and we don’t share it with anyone for their marketing. We use a small number of service providers to run the Lantern (website hosting, our database, and the services that deliver our email and text messages), and your information passes through them only so those services can work. We may disclose information if the law requires it. If something you sent runs in the paper, only what you agreed to appears.

Your choices

Unsubscribe from the digest with the link in any issue. Stop text messages by replying STOP. Want something you sent us deleted, or have a question about any of this? Email nate@locallantern.com and a human will take care of it.