Privacy Policy

SUBMISSIONS

Writing for HaRDstories

HaRDstories welcomes and encourages contributions by locally based journalists and photographers. Before pitching, please review the content on our website and make sure that it is relevant to us. Our stories focus exclusively on issues related to human rights and the vital work of human rights defenders and community groups. The stories have to focus on individuals or groups who strive to make change and will improve our readers’ understanding of human rights issues in Southeast Asia.

Our website focuses on land rights, natural resources, labour rights, empowerment, rights suppression, gender equality, minority rights and environmental pollution.

We typically publish articles over 1,200 words in length, accompany them with the highest quality photography and publish in Thai and English. We publish feature-length stories, profiles and photo-stories.

Committed to being an inclusive platform, we look for contributors from underrepresented groups and journalists focusing on subjects who have been neglected in the mainstream media coverage.

How to Pitch to Us

On a rolling basis, we review brief pitches (no more than 400 words for text with an additional ten photographs for photo stories). Please email us at editor[at]hardstories[dot]org. Please do not submit complete drafts before pitching us. However, completed photo stories are welcome. In addition, work samples and website links are most welcome and encouraged. If it’s been more than a week since you submitted, please follow up. Pitches can be in Thai and English.

HaRDstories is editorially independent, and all editorial decisions rest solely with the editors. We thoroughly edit submissions for clarity of language and conformity to our in-house style. Contributors assume responsibility for confirming the factual content and originality of their pieces.

COPYRIGHT & REPRODUCTION

U.S. and international copyright laws protect all contents on the HaRDstories website. The photography is credited to the photographer who retains copyright. It is strictly prohibited to republish or reproduce any text, photograph, visual or graphic materials on the HaRDstories website without prior permission from the HaRDstories editorial team.

In compliance with information technology guidelines, we respect the privacy of all users of HaRDstories. User data, such as IP addresses and page requests, are collected but used only internally in summary format. We do not collect individual biographical information from users without their consent. Personal data (such as email addresses) that the users put into this site is used only for announcements related to HaRDstories activities. We will not release any individual user information to third parties. HaRDstories is dedicated to safeguarding and preserving your privacy when you visit our site or communicating electronically with us.

This privacy policy explains what happens to any personal data you provide to us or that we collect from you on this site. You have the right to control the use of your personal information, and we will respect your privacy. We strictly limit the processing of your personal information and work only with other organisations that do the same.

Personal information that you provide to us will be used only for the service you have requested. HaRDstories does not sell, rent or lease personal data.

Information we collect

In operating our website, we may collect and process the following data about you:

Details of your visits to our website and the resources that you access, including, but not limited to, traffic data, location data, weblogs, and other communication data;
Information that you provide by filling in forms on our website, such as signing up for our newsletter;
Information that you provide to us when you communicate with us for any reason.

Use of cookies

We may, on occasion, gather information regarding your computer while you are on our website to improve our services and provide statistical information regarding the use of our website. Such information will not identify you personally. It is statistical data about our visitors and their use of our site. This statistical data does not identify any personal details whatsoever.

Similarly to the above, we may gather information about your general internet use by using a cookie file. Where used, these cookies are downloaded to your computer automatically. This cookie file is stored on your computer’s hard drive as cookies containing information transferred to your computer’s hard drive. They help us to improve our website and the service that we provide to you.

All computers have the ability to decline cookies. You can activate the settings on your browser, which enable you to decline the cookies. Please note that you may be unable to access particular parts of our website if you choose to decline cookies.

Use of your information

The information we collect and store relating to you is primarily used to provide our services. In addition, we may use the information for the following purposes:

To provide you with the information requested from us relating to our services.
To meet our contractual commitments to you.

We will only contact you or allow third parties to contact you when you have provided consent and only by those means for which you provided consent.

Storing your data

Some of the personal data you submit to us may be kept. By submitting your personal data, you agree to this transfer, storing, or processing.

Please be assured that we take data security extremely seriously and only use servers and data storage facilities that are secure and located in countries with high levels of legal protection for personal data.

However, the transmission of information via the internet is not entirely secure. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the security of data sent to us electronically, and transmission of such data is therefore entirely at your own risk. Where we have given you (or where you have chosen) a password so that you can access certain parts of our site, you are responsible for keeping this password confidential.

Disclosing your information

We will not disclose your personal data to any outside parties other than by explicit consent with you or when required by law.