Annenberg TV News Privacy Policy
Annenberg TV News (ATVN) is committed to helping you make the most of your free time on the Internet within a trusted environment. This privacy policy discloses how we collect, protect, use and share information gathered about you on this website. We hope that this disclosure will help increase your confidence in our sites and enhance your experience on the Internet.

What types of information is ATVN collecting, and how is the site collecting it?
The majority of great products and services on this site are offered without our collecting any personally identifiable information from you. You can surf ATVN's website and view much of our terrific content anonymously. For instance, you can view on-demand video clips without giving out any personally identifiable information.

Information You Provide
There are a few activities on this site where the collection of personally identifiable information is necessary. Those activities include things like entering a contest or sweepstakes, or contacting us. When personally identifiable information is collected, you will know because you will have to fill out a form. For most activities, we collect only your name, employment status, e-mail address, birth date, gender, and zip code.

Information Collected from You with Technology
ATVN's website collects some information about you using technology, so it may not be readily apparent to you that it is being collected. For instance, when you come to our site your IP address is collected so that we know where to send information you are requesting. An IP address is often associated with the place from which you enter the Internet like your university, your ISP (Internet service provider), or your company. This information is not personally identifiable. ATVN's website uses information collected through technology to make our sites more interesting and useful to you. This includes featuring more stories that our visitors gravitate towards. We normally don't combine this type of information with personally identifiable information.
However, we will combine this information with personally identifiable information to identify a visitor in order to enforce compliance with our house rules or terms of service or to protect our service, site, Guests, or others.

What Are Cookies, and How Does ATVN Use Them?
Cookies are pieces of information that a Web site sends to your computer while you are viewing the Web site. These pieces of information allow the Web site to remember important information that will make your use of that site more useful. ATVN and other Internet sites use cookies for a variety of purposes. For instance, the ATVN Video Viewer uses cookies to remember and process your video clip selections. You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser (like Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer) settings. Each browser is a little different, so look at your browser's Help section to learn the correct way to modify your cookies. If you turn cookies off, you won't have access to some ATVN features -- like the ATVN Video Viewer.

How does ATVN use the personally identifiable information that has been collected?
ATVN uses personally identifiable information in a limited number of ways. We use the information to complete transactions. For instance, if you contact us for help we will use the information to contact you. We use information collected to notify you if you've won a game or contest. Information we collect is used to send you e-mail updates and newsletters about our website.

Does ATVN share information with companies or other organizations that are not part of the ATVN's site?
One of the most valuable assets of our program is you. We aren't in the business of selling information about our Guests. However, if there is a value for our Guests, we will share your information or send you messages on behalf of another company as described below. We will also share information for security reasons.

Content Partners
On some pages, we provide content that is created by a third-party partner Web site. For instance, the front pages provide updated headlines from third parties. In some instances the third-party sites will collect information in order to facilitate the transaction or to make the use of their content more productive and efficient. In these circumstances the information collected is shared between ATVN and our third-party sponsors.

Organizations That Help Protect the Security and Safety of Our Guests and Our Sites
We will give out personal information as required by law, for example, to comply with a court order or subpoena; to enforce our Terms of Service, or site rules; or to protect the safety and security of Guests and our site.

What choices do I have about ATVN collecting, using, and sharing my information?
It is possible for you to use much of our site without giving us any personally identifiable information. When you do give us personally identifiable information, you will have an opportunity at the time we collect your information -- to limit e-mail communications from ATVN. You can request at any time that ATVN not send future e-mail to you either by unsubscribing from the communication or by contacting us at atvn@usc.edu. Also, as mentioned above, there are ways to limit the information collected through technology -- though some of our features won't work if you decide to do this.

What type of security does ATVN provide?
The importance of security for all personally identifiable information associated with our Guests is of utmost concern to us. ATVN takes technical, administrative, and physical security steps to protect all visitors' information.

Whom do I contact with questions or concerns about this privacy policy?
If you need further assistance, please send an e-mail with your questions or comments to atvn@usc.edu or write us at:

Annenberg TV News
University of Southern California
ATTN: Faculty Advisor
3502 Watt Way
ASC G-24
Los Angeles, California 90089-0281
United States of America