Effective Date: 4/16/2026
The A-State Media Network ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of our visitors while providing a robust storytelling platform for Arkansas State University’s academic, athletic, and community programs. This policy explains our approach to data and analytics across our digital ecosystem.
1. Our Privacy-First Approach
We believe in a "privacy-first" experience. We do not collect, store, or request any personal visitor information for any reason.
- We do not use tracking pixels or "cookies" that follow you across the internet.
- We do not collect names, email addresses, or phone numbers unless you explicitly contact us through external university channels for specific inquiries such as partnership meetings, academic applications, or NIL investments.
2. Website Analytics (Plausible)
To understand how our content—such as our Academics, Athletics, and Community pillars—is performing, we use Plausible Analytics.
- Privacy-Friendly Tracking: Plausible is a privacy-focused web analytics tool that does not use cookies and does not collect any personal data.
- Aggregated Data: We only see high-level, aggregated information (such as which podcast episodes or articles are most popular) to measure our reach and the "Return on Investment" for our university and industry partners.
- No Individual Tracking: We cannot identify individual visitors, and your data is never sold to third parties or used for targeted advertising.
3. Third-Party Distribution Channels
The A-State Media Network distributes content through several third-party platforms to reach a mass audience. When you engage with our content on these platforms, you are subject to their specific privacy policies:
- Audio Platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.
- Video Platforms: YouTube.
- Social Channels: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Shorts.
- Partner Links: Our site may contain links to official Arkansas State University (A-State) or NYIT domains for program applications or foundation memberships.
4. How We Use Aggregated Insights
While we do not track individuals, we use the anonymous insights from Plausible to:
- Validate the success of content franchises like The Innovation Exchange or Path to Physician.
- Improve the SEO of our episode titles and descriptions to better serve prospective students and fans.
- Report on general audience engagement trends to our "Catalyst Sponsors" and university stakeholders.
5. Contact Us
For questions regarding this policy or the A-State Media Network's digital operations, please visit arkansasstatemedianetwork.com.