Privacy Policy

Who we are

Northline Storyworks is a Northern Michigan documentary studio. This policy covers northlinestoryworks.com, Community Spotlight nominations and votes, studio inquiries, and text messages we send about those programs.

Information we collect

When you nominate someone, vote, or send an inquiry, we collect the information you type: your name, mobile number, optional email, your relationship to the nominee, and the reason for the nomination. We also store a device cookie used only to prevent duplicate votes, and a one-way hash of the network address used to submit the form so staff can review unusual voting patterns. We do not store raw IP addresses for Spotlight.

If you create a studio account, we also store your email, password hash, and any mobile number you verify to sign in.

How we use it

We use your mobile number to confirm you are a real person, to enforce one vote per phone number per nominee, and — only if you opt in — to text you a few updates about that Community Spotlight round. We may also use the number you leave on an inquiry so the studio can call or text you back about a film.

We do not sell, rent, or share your phone number or vote with advertisers or data brokers. Studio staff can see voter details to moderate the round and remove invalid votes. Vote totals stay private until a round closes.

Text messages

Campaign texts are sent only after you give consent on our form by checking the updates box and submitting. Typical messages include a confirmation that we received your vote or nomination, a reminder that voting is closing, and a notice when a story is selected. Message frequency is low, usually a few texts per round.

You can cancel at any time by replying STOP. Reply HELP for help. Message and data rates may apply. Consent to texts is not required to vote, nominate, or inquire.

Cookies and similar technology

The Community Spotlight page sets a signed voter cookie so the same device cannot cast the same vote twice. Signed-in studio users have a session cookie. We do not use advertising cookies or sell browsing data.

How long we keep it

Nominations, votes, and related phone numbers are kept for the life of the Community Spotlight program so we can audit past rounds and honor removals. You may ask us to delete or correct your information by contacting the studio. We will keep a record that a vote was removed so the same number cannot recast it.

Contact

Questions about this policy or your information: use the contact form at /about-contact or write to the studio through the details published on that page.