Privacy Policy

Geauga County Maple Leaf | Karlovec Media Group LLC

Effective / Last Updated: September 25, 2026

1. Scope of This Policy

The Geauga County Maple Leaf and Karlovec Media Group LLC (collectively, “we,” “us” or “our”) respect the privacy of our readers, subscribers, advertisers, customers and website visitors. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose and protect information through geaugamapleleaf.com, our print and digital subscription services, email communications, advertising services, contests and promotions, payment transactions and other interactions with us.

This policy primarily addresses information collected through our business and website operations. Our journalistic and editorial activities are addressed separately below.

2. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

• Contact information, such as name, mailing address, billing address, email address and telephone number.
• Subscription and account information, including username, subscription status, delivery information and account preferences.
• Transaction information relating to subscriptions, advertising, purchases, renewals, refunds and other payments.
• Information you voluntarily submit through contact forms, emails, surveys, contests, promotions, news tips or other communications.
• Technical and usage information, such as IP address, browser type, device information, referring pages, pages viewed, approximate location derived from an IP address and interactions with our website or emails.
• Cookie, pixel and similar technology data collected by us or by third-party services used on our website.

3. How We Use Information

• Process, maintain, deliver and renew print and digital subscriptions.
• Create and administer website accounts and subscriber access.
• Process payments, purchases, advertising transactions and refunds.
• Deliver newspapers, electronic editions, newsletters and other requested services.
• Communicate about accounts, subscriptions, transactions and customer-service matters.
• Respond to questions, comments, news tips and other inquiries.
• Administer contests, promotions and surveys.
• Measure website traffic, audience engagement and the effectiveness of our services and advertising.
• Maintain, troubleshoot, secure and improve our website, publications and services.
• Detect and prevent fraud, misuse and security incidents.
• Comply with applicable laws, legal process and legitimate business recordkeeping requirements.

4. We Do Not Sell Subscriber or Customer Lists

We do not sell or rent our subscriber lists, customer lists, mailing lists or newsletter email lists. We do not provide personally identifiable subscriber or customer information to outside marketing firms or unrelated businesses for their own independent direct-marketing or solicitation purposes.

We do use third-party service providers to operate our business and website. Those providers may receive or collect information necessary to perform services for us, as described below. Some privacy laws may use specialized definitions of terms such as “sale,” “sharing” or “targeted advertising” that can include certain advertising-technology data transfers even when no money is exchanged. This policy therefore distinguishes our commitment not to sell customer lists from the limited use of third-party technology needed to operate, analyze and support our website and advertising.

5. Service Providers and Third-Party Technology

We use third-party companies and technology providers to support our operations. Depending on the services in use at a particular time, these may include:

• Website hosting, content delivery, security and website-development providers.
• Subscription, account-management and newspaper-delivery providers.
• Email and newsletter distribution providers.
• Website analytics and measurement providers, including Google services such as Google Tag Manager and related analytics technologies.
• Advertising, ad-measurement and social-media technology providers, which may include Google, Meta and similar platforms.
• PayPal and other credit-card and payment-processing providers.
• CAPTCHA, fraud-prevention and website-security services.
• Embedded-content providers, such as video, social-media, document or other third-party content services.

These providers may process information on our behalf or, in some circumstances, under their own privacy policies and terms. We encourage users to review the privacy notices of third-party services with which they interact.

6. Payments, PayPal and Credit-Card Processing

We use PayPal and other third-party payment and credit-card processors for subscription payments, advertising payments and other transactions. When you make a payment, information necessary to complete the transaction may be provided directly to the payment processor. Payment providers may collect, use, retain and disclose information under their own privacy statements and legal obligations.

We do not sell payment or transaction information to outside marketing firms. We rely on payment processors to handle sensitive payment-card information to the extent supported by the applicable transaction and do not use full payment-card information for unrelated marketing purposes.

7. Cookies, Google Tag Manager, Analytics and Similar Technologies

Our website uses cookies, tags, pixels and similar technologies. The site currently loads Google Tag Manager, and we may use Google and other analytics or measurement services to understand website traffic, audience behavior, device and browser information, referrals, page interactions and similar usage information.

These technologies may place or read cookies or other identifiers and may transmit information to third-party providers. Some providers may combine information collected through our website with information from other websites or services according to their own privacy policies.

Most browsers allow users to block or delete cookies. Limiting cookies or similar technologies may affect some website features, subscriber login functions or other services.

8. Advertising and Social-Media Technology

The Geauga County Maple Leaf accepts advertising in its publications and on its website. We may use third-party advertising, measurement or social-media technologies to display, manage, measure or understand advertising and audience engagement.

Third-party advertising or social-media providers may use cookies, pixels or similar technologies and may receive technical or usage information when their technology is present on our website. Their use of information is governed by their own privacy policies and applicable law.

We do not give advertisers our subscriber or customer lists for the advertisers’ independent direct-marketing or solicitation purposes.

9. Email Newsletters and Communications

If you provide an email address for a newsletter, subscription, account or other service, we may use it to provide the requested communications and to communicate about our publications and services. We may use a third-party email provider to distribute those messages and measure delivery or engagement.

You may unsubscribe from promotional or newsletter emails by using the unsubscribe mechanism provided in the message. We may continue to send transactional, subscription, account, billing or service communications when necessary.

10. When We May Disclose Information

We may disclose information in limited circumstances, including:

• To service providers and vendors that perform services for us or support our operations.
• To payment processors and financial-service providers as necessary to complete or administer transactions.
• To comply with applicable law, subpoenas, court orders or other valid legal process.
• When reasonably necessary to protect our rights, property, systems, customers, users, employees or the public, or to investigate fraud, abuse or security incidents.
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, sale of assets or other business transaction, subject to applicable law.
• With your direction or consent.

11. News Gathering, Public Records and Published Material

As a newspaper and news organization, the Geauga County Maple Leaf gathers, receives, maintains and publishes information for journalistic and editorial purposes. This Privacy Policy is not intended to restrict lawful news gathering, reporting, editorial activities, publication of public records, archival activities or the exercise of rights protected by the First Amendment and other applicable law.

Information submitted for publication – including letters to the editor, news releases, photographs, announcements, comments, public records and other editorial material – may be published in print, online, in electronic editions, in archives or through our social-media and other news platforms. Requests concerning commercial account information do not necessarily apply to lawfully published news or archival material.

12. Links and Embedded Third-Party Content

Our website may link to or embed content from websites and services that we do not operate. When you visit, view or interact with third-party content, that provider may collect information about the interaction. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or security of third-party websites or services, and their own policies apply.

13. Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information appropriate to the nature of the information and our operations. We also rely on service providers to maintain safeguards for information processed through their systems. No website, transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

14. Data Retention

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide services, administer subscriptions and transactions, maintain business and financial records, meet legal obligations, resolve disputes, protect legitimate business interests and maintain appropriate journalistic or historical archives. Retention periods may vary according to the type of information and the purpose for which it is maintained.

15. Security Incidents

If we discover a security incident involving personal information, we will investigate and respond as appropriate and provide notifications when required by applicable law. Ohio law includes notification requirements for certain breaches involving computerized personal information.

16. Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are intended for a general audience and are not directed specifically to children under 13. We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information online from children under 13 in a manner requiring parental consent without obtaining the consent required by applicable law.

17. Your Choices and Requests

You may contact us to request correction or updating of personal information associated with your subscription, account or direct commercial relationship with us. You may also unsubscribe from eligible email communications using the unsubscribe link provided in those messages.

Requests concerning personal information do not necessarily apply to information contained in published news reports, public records, editorial content, electronic editions or historical archives maintained for legitimate journalistic, legal or historical purposes.

18. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our services, technology, vendors, business practices or legal requirements. The current version will be posted on our website with an updated effective or “Last Updated” date. If we make material changes to how we use previously collected personal information, we will provide notice or obtain consent when required by applicable law.

19. Contact Us

Questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal information may be directed to:

Geauga County Maple Leaf
Karlovec Media Group LLC
8389 Mayfield Road, Suite B-5
Chesterland, Ohio 44026
Phone: (440) 729-7667
Email: editor@karlovecmedia.com
Website: geaugamapleleaf.com