Terms Of Service
Terms of Service
Effective Date: August 25th, 2025
Welcome to the News Media Association (“NMA,” “we,” “our,” “us”). By accessing or using our website (https://newsmediaassociation.org) or any of our resources, membership services, credentialing programs, or training programs (collectively, the “Services”), you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). Please read them carefully.
If you do not agree to these Terms, you should not access or use our Services.
1. Purpose of Our Services
News Media Association is a professional organization dedicated to empowering journalists to thrive in the digital age through education, advocacy, community, resources, and credentialing. Our Services are intended for media professionals, students, and individuals interested in journalism, ethics, and media innovation.
2. Eligibility
By using our Services, you represent that you are at least 18 years old or accessing under the supervision of a parent/guardian. Membership benefits and credentialing may be subject to verification of professional status as a journalist, editor, writer, or media professional.
3. Membership & Accounts
● Certain Services require registration or membership.
● You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.
● You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information when registering.
● Memberships may be suspended or terminated if you violate these Terms.
4. Acceptable Use
When using our Services, you agree not to:
● Violate any applicable law, regulation, or ethical standard.
● Misuse our training, resources, or credential programs for fraudulent or misleading purposes
● Infringe intellectual property rights or distribute unauthorized content.
● Engage in harassment, hate speech, or abusive conduct in community spaces.
5. Press Credentials
As part of our Services, News Media Association (“NMA”) may issue press credentials to members who successfully complete designated training programs, submit articles or work samples for review, and otherwise meet credentialing requirements established by NMA.
5.1 Eligibility and Process
● Credentials are granted at the sole discretion of NMA after review of coursework, submissions, and compliance with our ethical standards.
● Credentials are for individual use only and may not be transferred, sold, or misrepresented.
● NMA reserves the right to revoke or suspend press credentials at any time if we believe they are being misused or if the credentialed member fails to uphold our ethical standards.
5.2 Use of Credentials
● Press credentials issued by NMA are intended solely to recognize professional development and journalistic commitment.
● Possession of NMA press credentials does not guarantee access to events, venues, or organizations; access remains subject to the discretion of third parties.
● Members are solely responsible for how they use their press credentials in professional contexts.
● NMA press credentials do not create, confer, or imply any legal rights, law enforcement privileges, or official authorization to access restricted areas, bypass security measures, or enter private property.
● Credentials are not official government identification and do not provide immunity from applicable laws, regulations, or security protocols.
● Members assume full personal and legal liability for any representations made, actions taken, or access attempted while using or displaying NMA press credentials.
● NMA expressly disclaims any responsibility if law enforcement, security personnel, venue operators, or other third parties rely on NMA credentials for access decisions, security clearances, or other determinations.
5.3 Limitation of Liability
● NMA does not supervise or monitor the day-to-day use of press credentials by members.
● NMA shall not be responsible or liable for any actions, conduct, or representations made by a member using press credentials.
● Members agree to indemnify and hold harmless NMA, its officers, directors, employees, and affiliates from any claims, damages, liabilities, or losses arising from their use or misuse of press credentials.
5.4 Content Authenticity and AI-Generated Materials
- ○ Misrepresentation of AI-generated content as original human-created work during the credentialing process is grounds for immediate credential revocation.
- ○ NMA is not responsible for verifying whether submitted content was human-created, AI-assisted, or AI-generated. Members are solely responsible for accurate representation of their work and compliance with journalistic standards.
- ○ NMA does not guarantee the factual accuracy, authenticity, or verification of content submitted for credentialing purposes. All content evaluation is based on submitted materials as presented.
6. Intellectual Property
● All materials on this site, including text, graphics, logos, resources, training materials, and credentialing content, are the intellectual property of News Media Association unless otherwise noted.
● You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our written permission, except for personal and educational use consistent with fair use principles.
7. Disclaimers
● Our resources, training, and credentialing materials are provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal or professional advice.
● While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that all content is error-free or up-to-date.
● We are not responsible for third-party links, partner content, or external resources accessed through our site.
8. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, News Media Association shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of your use of our Services.
9. Termination
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to our Services at our discretion, without notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms or acted contrary to our mission of ethical journalism.
10. Changes to Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the Services after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
11. Dispute Resolution
11.1 Informal Resolution
Before initiating formal dispute resolution proceedings, you agree to first contact us at info@NewsMediaAssociation.org to attempt to resolve any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or our Services ("Dispute") informally. We will attempt to resolve the Dispute through good faith negotiations for a period of sixty (60) days.
11.2 Binding Arbitration
If we cannot resolve a Dispute through informal negotiations, you and NMA agree that any Dispute will be resolved through binding individual arbitration rather than in court, except as set forth below. You and NMA agree that the U.S. Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this provision, and that you and NMA are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action.
11.3 Arbitration Rules and Procedures
Any arbitration will be conducted by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Commercial Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures. The AAA's rules are available at www.adr.org or by calling 1-800-778-7879. The arbitration will be conducted by a single arbitrator. The arbitration will take place in the state where you reside, or another location mutually agreed upon by the parties.
11.4 Arbitration Costs
Payment of all filing, administration, and arbitrator fees will be governed by the AAA's Commercial Arbitration Rules. If the value of the Dispute is $10,000 or less, NMA will pay all filing, administration, and arbitrator fees associated with the arbitration. For Disputes valued over $10,000, fees will be allocated according to AAA rules.
11.5 Class Action Waiver
You and NMA agree that each may bring claims against the other only in your or our individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding. Unless both you and NMA agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims or otherwise preside over any form of representative or class proceeding.
11.6 Exceptions to Arbitration
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following disputes will not be subject to arbitration: (a) disputes seeking to enforce or protect, or concerning the validity of, any intellectual property rights; (b) disputes related to, or arising from, allegations of theft, piracy, or unauthorized use; and (c) claims that may be properly brought in small claims court. Either party may also seek injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property rights.
11.7 Survival
This dispute resolution provision will survive any termination of these Terms and your relationship with NMA.
12. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law principles. For disputes subject to arbitration under Section 11, the arbitration location shall be governed by Section 11.3. Any legal action or proceeding that is not subject to arbitration pursuant to Section 11.6 (including intellectual property disputes, theft or unauthorized use claims, and small claims court matters) will be brought exclusively in the federal or state courts located in Florida, and the parties hereby consent to personal jurisdiction and venue therein for such non-arbitrable disputes.
13. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable. The failure of either party to exercise in any respect any right provided for herein shall not be deemed a waiver of any further rights hereunder.
14. User-Generated Content
14.1 Content Submission
Our Services may allow you to submit, post, or share content including but not limited to articles, work samples, comments, reviews, images, videos, and other materials ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you represent and warrant that:
You own or have the necessary rights to use and authorize the use of your User Content.
Your User Content does not infringe any intellectual property, privacy, or other rights of any third party.
Your User Content complies with these Terms and all applicable laws.
14.2 License Grant
By submitting User Content, you grant NMA a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform your User Content in connection with our Services, including for credentialing evaluation, training materials, promotional purposes, and community features. This license continues even if you stop using our Services, but only for User Content that was submitted as part of credentialing applications or training programs. This license is limited to the following purposes: (a) credential evaluation and verification; (b) internal training and educational materials; (c) community publication and member showcases; and (d) promotional display of member work and achievements. This license does not grant NMA rights to resell, syndicate, or commercially license your User Content to third parties for revenue generation without separate written agreement.
14.3 Content Standards
All User Content must comply with the following standards. User Content must not:
Contain false, misleading, or inaccurate information.
Violate any law, regulation, or third-party rights.
Contain hate speech, harassment, threats, or abusive language.
Include spam, commercial solicitations, or unauthorized advertising.
Contain malicious code, viruses, or other harmful technical elements.
Violate journalistic ethics or professional standards.
Include private or confidential information without authorization.
14.4 Content Monitoring and Removal
NMA reserves the right, but has no obligation, to monitor, review, and remove User Content at our sole discretion. We may remove User Content that violates these Terms, is reported by other users, or that we believe is inappropriate for our professional community. We are not responsible for monitoring all User Content and make no representations about the accuracy or reliability of any User Content.
14.5 Takedown Requests
If you believe that User Content infringes your rights, please contact us at info@NewsMediaAssociation.org with detailed information including: (a) identification of the copyrighted work or other right you claim is infringed; (b) identification of the infringing material and its location on our Services; (c) your contact information; (d) a statement of good faith belief that use is not authorized; and (e) a statement of accuracy and authority to act on behalf of the rights owner.
14.6 DMCA Copyright Compliance
NMA respects intellectual property rights and complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). If you believe that content on our Services infringes your copyright, you may submit a written notice containing the following information:
● All materials on this site, including text, graphics, logos, resources, training materials, and credentialing content, are the intellectual property of News Media Association unless otherwise noted.
● You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our written permission, except for personal and educational use consistent with fair use principles.
7. Disclaimers
● Our resources, training, and credentialing materials are provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal or professional advice.
● While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that all content is error-free or up-to-date.
● We are not responsible for third-party links, partner content, or external resources accessed through our site.
8. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, News Media Association shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of your use of our Services.
9. Termination
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to our Services at our discretion, without notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms or acted contrary to our mission of ethical journalism.
10. Changes to Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of the Services after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
11. Dispute Resolution
11.1 Informal Resolution
Before initiating formal dispute resolution proceedings, you agree to first contact us at info@NewsMediaAssociation.org to attempt to resolve any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or our Services ("Dispute") informally. We will attempt to resolve the Dispute through good faith negotiations for a period of sixty (60) days.
11.2 Binding Arbitration
If we cannot resolve a Dispute through informal negotiations, you and NMA agree that any Dispute will be resolved through binding individual arbitration rather than in court, except as set forth below. You and NMA agree that the U.S. Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this provision, and that you and NMA are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action.
11.3 Arbitration Rules and Procedures
Any arbitration will be conducted by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Commercial Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures. The AAA's rules are available at www.adr.org or by calling 1-800-778-7879. The arbitration will be conducted by a single arbitrator. The arbitration will take place in the state where you reside, or another location mutually agreed upon by the parties.
11.4 Arbitration Costs
Payment of all filing, administration, and arbitrator fees will be governed by the AAA's Commercial Arbitration Rules. If the value of the Dispute is $10,000 or less, NMA will pay all filing, administration, and arbitrator fees associated with the arbitration. For Disputes valued over $10,000, fees will be allocated according to AAA rules.
11.5 Class Action Waiver
You and NMA agree that each may bring claims against the other only in your or our individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding. Unless both you and NMA agree otherwise, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims or otherwise preside over any form of representative or class proceeding.
11.6 Exceptions to Arbitration
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following disputes will not be subject to arbitration: (a) disputes seeking to enforce or protect, or concerning the validity of, any intellectual property rights; (b) disputes related to, or arising from, allegations of theft, piracy, or unauthorized use; and (c) claims that may be properly brought in small claims court. Either party may also seek injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property rights.
11.7 Survival
This dispute resolution provision will survive any termination of these Terms and your relationship with NMA.
12. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law principles. For disputes subject to arbitration under Section 11, the arbitration location shall be governed by Section 11.3. Any legal action or proceeding that is not subject to arbitration pursuant to Section 11.6 (including intellectual property disputes, theft or unauthorized use claims, and small claims court matters) will be brought exclusively in the federal or state courts located in Florida, and the parties hereby consent to personal jurisdiction and venue therein for such non-arbitrable disputes.
13. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable. The failure of either party to exercise in any respect any right provided for herein shall not be deemed a waiver of any further rights hereunder.
14. User-Generated Content
14.1 Content Submission
Our Services may allow you to submit, post, or share content including but not limited to articles, work samples, comments, reviews, images, videos, and other materials ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you represent and warrant that:
You own or have the necessary rights to use and authorize the use of your User Content.
Your User Content does not infringe any intellectual property, privacy, or other rights of any third party.
Your User Content complies with these Terms and all applicable laws.
14.2 License Grant
By submitting User Content, you grant NMA a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform your User Content in connection with our Services, including for credentialing evaluation, training materials, promotional purposes, and community features. This license continues even if you stop using our Services, but only for User Content that was submitted as part of credentialing applications or training programs. This license is limited to the following purposes: (a) credential evaluation and verification; (b) internal training and educational materials; (c) community publication and member showcases; and (d) promotional display of member work and achievements. This license does not grant NMA rights to resell, syndicate, or commercially license your User Content to third parties for revenue generation without separate written agreement.
14.3 Content Standards
All User Content must comply with the following standards. User Content must not:
Contain false, misleading, or inaccurate information.
Violate any law, regulation, or third-party rights.
Contain hate speech, harassment, threats, or abusive language.
Include spam, commercial solicitations, or unauthorized advertising.
Contain malicious code, viruses, or other harmful technical elements.
Violate journalistic ethics or professional standards.
Include private or confidential information without authorization.
14.4 Content Monitoring and Removal
NMA reserves the right, but has no obligation, to monitor, review, and remove User Content at our sole discretion. We may remove User Content that violates these Terms, is reported by other users, or that we believe is inappropriate for our professional community. We are not responsible for monitoring all User Content and make no representations about the accuracy or reliability of any User Content.
14.5 Takedown Requests
If you believe that User Content infringes your rights, please contact us at info@NewsMediaAssociation.org with detailed information including: (a) identification of the copyrighted work or other right you claim is infringed; (b) identification of the infringing material and its location on our Services; (c) your contact information; (d) a statement of good faith belief that use is not authorized; and (e) a statement of accuracy and authority to act on behalf of the rights owner.
14.6 DMCA Copyright Compliance
NMA respects intellectual property rights and complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). If you believe that content on our Services infringes your copyright, you may submit a written notice containing the following information:
- Physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or authorized representative.
- Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed, or if multiple works, a representative list.
- Identification of the allegedly infringing material and information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate it (such as URL or specific page location).
- Your contact information including name, address, telephone number, and email address.
- A statement of good faith belief that use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
- A statement of accuracy that the information is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.
- Send DMCA notices to us: Email: info@NewsMediaAssociation.org
- Counter-Notification: If you believe your content was wrongfully removed, you may submit a counter-notification containing: (a) your physical or electronic signature; (b) identification of the removed material and its former location; (c) a statement under penalty of perjury that removal resulted from mistake or misidentification; and (d) your contact information and consent to jurisdiction.
- Repeat Infringer Policy: NMA will terminate accounts of users who are determined to be repeat infringers under appropriate circumstances.
14.7 User Responsibility and Indemnification
You are solely responsible for your User Content and any consequences of submitting it. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless NMA, its officers, directors, employees, and affiliates from any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or relating to your User Content or your violation of these content provisions.
14.8 No Endorsement
NMA does not endorse any User Content or any opinion, recommendation, or advice expressed in User Content. User Content reflects the views of the individual users and not necessarily those of NMA.
15. Force Majeure
NMA shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under these Terms if such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, labor disputes, government actions, pandemic or health emergencies, cyber attacks, internet service provider failures, or other force majeure events ("Force Majeure Events"). During any Force Majeure Event, NMA's performance obligations will be suspended for the duration of such event. We will use reasonable efforts to notify affected users and resume normal operations as soon as reasonably practicable.
16. Service Modifications and Discontinuation
16.1 Right to Modify Services
NMA reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of our Services at any time, with or without notice. This includes but is not limited to changes to features, functionality, training programs, credentialing requirements, membership benefits, pricing, or availability of Services.
16.2 Impact on Users
You acknowledge and agree that NMA shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of Services. If we discontinue Services for which you have paid fees, we will provide reasonable notice where practicable and may, at our discretion, provide pro-rata refunds for prepaid unused services.
16.3 Continued Access
Your continued use of Services after any modification constitutes your acceptance of such changes. If you do not agree to any modification, your sole remedy is to discontinue use of the affected Services.
17. Contact
For questions, please contact us at:
Email: info@MediaNewsAssociation.org
Phone: (332) 241-7261
You are solely responsible for your User Content and any consequences of submitting it. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless NMA, its officers, directors, employees, and affiliates from any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or relating to your User Content or your violation of these content provisions.
14.8 No Endorsement
NMA does not endorse any User Content or any opinion, recommendation, or advice expressed in User Content. User Content reflects the views of the individual users and not necessarily those of NMA.
15. Force Majeure
NMA shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under these Terms if such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, labor disputes, government actions, pandemic or health emergencies, cyber attacks, internet service provider failures, or other force majeure events ("Force Majeure Events"). During any Force Majeure Event, NMA's performance obligations will be suspended for the duration of such event. We will use reasonable efforts to notify affected users and resume normal operations as soon as reasonably practicable.
16. Service Modifications and Discontinuation
16.1 Right to Modify Services
NMA reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of our Services at any time, with or without notice. This includes but is not limited to changes to features, functionality, training programs, credentialing requirements, membership benefits, pricing, or availability of Services.
16.2 Impact on Users
You acknowledge and agree that NMA shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of Services. If we discontinue Services for which you have paid fees, we will provide reasonable notice where practicable and may, at our discretion, provide pro-rata refunds for prepaid unused services.
16.3 Continued Access
Your continued use of Services after any modification constitutes your acceptance of such changes. If you do not agree to any modification, your sole remedy is to discontinue use of the affected Services.
17. Contact
For questions, please contact us at:
Email: info@MediaNewsAssociation.org
Phone: (332) 241-7261
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Effective Date: November 3rd, 2025
At News Media Association (“NMA,” “we,” “our,” “us”), we value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our website, membership services, training programs, and credentialing programs (collectively, the “Services”).
1. Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information:
● Personal Information: Name, email address, contact details, and professional information when registering for membership, training, or credentials.
● Credentialing Data: Course completions, submitted articles or work samples, credential application status, and credential issuance records.
● Usage Data: Information about how you use our website, including IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and referral links.
● Payment Information: If you purchase membership or event access, we collect billing details via secure third-party payment processors.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
● Provide access to membership benefits, training, and credentialing.
● Verify and issue press credentials to qualified members.
● Display credential verification details (e.g., member’s name, credential type, status, and validity) on public or restricted pages, when required for authenticity.
● Communicate with you regarding events, updates, community opportunities, and credential status.
● Improve our website, training programs, and services.
● Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
2.1 Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)
For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions subject to data protection laws similar to GDPR, we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:
Effective Date: November 3rd, 2025
At News Media Association (“NMA,” “we,” “our,” “us”), we value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you use our website, membership services, training programs, and credentialing programs (collectively, the “Services”).
1. Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information:
● Personal Information: Name, email address, contact details, and professional information when registering for membership, training, or credentials.
● Credentialing Data: Course completions, submitted articles or work samples, credential application status, and credential issuance records.
● Usage Data: Information about how you use our website, including IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and referral links.
● Payment Information: If you purchase membership or event access, we collect billing details via secure third-party payment processors.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
● Provide access to membership benefits, training, and credentialing.
● Verify and issue press credentials to qualified members.
● Display credential verification details (e.g., member’s name, credential type, status, and validity) on public or restricted pages, when required for authenticity.
● Communicate with you regarding events, updates, community opportunities, and credential status.
● Improve our website, training programs, and services.
● Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
2.1 Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)
For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions subject to data protection laws similar to GDPR, we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:
- Contract Performance: Processing necessary to provide membership services, training programs, credentialing, and other services you have requested.
- Legitimate Interests: Processing for business operations, fraud prevention, security, service improvement, and credential verification, where our interests are not overridden by your privacy rights.
- Consent: Where you have provided specific consent for marketing communications, optional data collection, or specific uses of your information. You may withdraw consent at any time.
- Legal Obligation: Processing required to comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, or regulatory requirements.
- Vital Interests: Processing necessary to protect your vital interests or those of another person in emergency situations.
- Public Interest: Processing necessary for tasks carried out in the public interest, including journalism education and media professional development.
- You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests. Contact us at info@NewsMediaAssociation.org to exercise this right.
3. Press Credentials and Data Handling
As part of our credentialing process:
● Verification Records: We may display limited information (e.g., your name, credential status, and credential number or issue date) on credential verification pages.
● Transparency: This allows third parties (such as event organizers, editors, or institutions) to confirm the authenticity of issued press credentials.
● Member Responsibility: You are solely responsible for how your credential information is used or shared.
● Revocation: If a credential is revoked or suspended, this status may also be displayed on verification pages.
We will not disclose sensitive personal data (such as home address, phone number, or financial information) as part of credential verification.
4. Sharing of Information
We do not sell or rent personal data. We may share information only with:
● Service Providers who assist with hosting, payment, communication, or credential management services.
● Event & Training Partners when co-hosting programs, with notice to participants.
● Legal Authorities if required by law or to protect our rights.
5. Cookies & Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to:
● Enhance user experience.
● Analyze site performance.
● Personalize content and communications.
You may disable cookies in your browser, but some features may not function properly.
6. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information. However, no system is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection.
7. Data Retention
We retain personal and credentialing information according to the following schedule: Active Membership Data: Personal information, contact details, and membership records are retained for the duration of active membership plus seven (7) years after membership termination or account closure. Credentialing Records: Training completion records, submitted work samples, credential applications, and issued credentials are retained permanently to maintain the integrity and verifiability of our credentialing programs. Revoked credentials and their associated records are also retained permanently. Financial and Payment Data: Billing information, payment records, and transaction history are retained for seven (7) years from the date of the last transaction to comply with tax, accounting, and audit requirements. Payment card data is not stored by NMA and is handled by third-party processors. Communication Records: Email communications, support tickets, and correspondence are retained for three (3) years from the date of last communication. Usage and Technical Data: Website analytics, log files, IP addresses, and technical usage data are retained for two (2) years from collection date. Marketing and Consent Records: Marketing preferences, consent records, and opt-out requests are retained for the duration of active membership plus three (3) years to demonstrate compliance with privacy regulations. Inactive Account Data: Accounts inactive for more than two (2) years may be deleted at our discretion after reasonable notice to the member, except for credentialing records which are retained permanently. Legal Hold: Data subject to legal proceedings, investigations, or regulatory inquiries will be retained until the matter is fully resolved, regardless of the above schedule. User-Generated Content: Content submitted for credentialing evaluation is retained permanently. Other user content may be retained for three (3) years or until account deletion, whichever is longer. You may request earlier deletion of certain personal data by contacting us, though we may need to retain some information to comply with legal obligations or maintain credential integrity.
8. Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:
● Access, update, or request deletion of your personal information.
● Request restriction of certain processing activities.
● Opt out of promotional communications at any time.
To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@NewsMediaAssociation.org
9. International Users
As a global organization, your data may be stored and processed in countries outside your own. We will take appropriate steps to ensure adequate protection of your information.
10. Third-Party Links
Our Services may include links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those external sites.
11. Updates to Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Changes will be posted on this page with a new effective date.
12. Contact
For questions, please contact us at:
Email: info@MediaNewsAssociation.org
Phone: (332) 241-7261
