Why have a privacy policy?

Technology makes it possible for you to consume my time and attention and/or use my resources for the purpose of your enrichment, without ever having asked me about it.

That’s not fair. I’d rather you didn’t do it and left me in peace to enjoy my privacy.

There are laws in place that every business is required to follow about privacy. This policy explains how I apply them and how I expect they will be applied to me.

Am I a nut? I don’t think so. Read the Australian Direct Marketing Association’s Consumer Do Not Contact Opt Out Services web page and you’ll probably realise I’m not alone in my objections.

Privacy and my copywriting practise

I uphold the national privacy principles.

I only collect personal information directly related to my business, namely:

·        Contact details for I have an ongoing business relationship with, like clients and suppliers;

·        Contact details for people I have a lapsed and/or transient business relationship with, like PR people, suppliers (again) and people who have consented to be interviewed by me;

The data is stored in password-protected systems and is used only as reference material for my work: it is never shared with any third parties, used for marketing or for any secondary purpose.

If you have any queries about my privacy practices please email simon@jargonmaster.com.

Privacy and my journalism practise

In the course of my freelance journalism practice, I make my contact details generally available, through public fora like IT Journo and in my .sig file.

Australia's new Spam laws let you send me unsolicited mail if it has something to do with my work. I would rather you did not, as I only make my details available in public so you can:

·        Help me with a specific query I have initiated;

·        Invite me to an event;

·        Send personal greetings.

I do not make my contact details available so that you can:

·        Send me unsolicited press releases;

·        Send me unsolicited direct marketing material.

Why these restrictions?

There are a few reasons:

·        Australia’s privacy principles, which I think are sound, require any company to do many things when they gather data about an individual.
One of those things is seeking permission before using information like contact details for any “secondary purpose” without getting permission. I define sending me unsolicited press releases and marketing material as a secondary purpose. Can I do that unilaterally? Well, yes, because you’ve never asked me if you can send them, have you?
The principles also require that companies offer a chance to opt out of receiving further material with every unsolicited communication. Do you do so?
I’m keeping up my side of the bargain by making it plain that for me, I consider the sending of any unsolicited press releases or marketing material to be a secondary purpose;

·        To discourage lazy PR:

§         I’m a freelance, so I’ll never be able to sell a story about your press release, assuming the near-inevitable distribution to fulltime journalists;

§         You can’t build a relationship or educate me with a press release. But you can alienate me and reduce my interest in your company or client by assuming and pretending familiarity. If you think I am someone your company or client wants to educate or communicate with, treating me as a real person, not an Inbox, is a good place to start.
Note: this is not a tactic to get free lunches. I work from home and can't afford the time they take. It’s a way of saving time and hassle for all of us;

§         You can’t impress me with a press release. I’ve written a few dozen of them and know they are always shiny, happy, best-foot-forward documents;

§         I use e-mail to communicate with my clients, editors and contacts. When I see an e-mail I assume it is something important from a client, editor or contact. When it is a press release instead, you have wasted my time and my bandwidth, cost me money, filled up my hard drive with things I don’t want and interrupted my concentration.

• To make it clear that while Spam laws allow you to send me unsolicited mail, I would rather you did not.

How do I apply this policy?

The first time I receive unsolicited press releases from your company or client, I will ask not to receive any future press releases and direct you to this policy.

What if you ignore this policy?

If you ignore the policy and continue to send me unsolicited press releases, I will:

·        Ask to speak with your Privacy Officer to ensure that you comply with my wishes;

·        Charge a $55 handling fee for each subsequent e-mail I receive from you;

·        Make formal complaints to the Privacy Commissioner, the ADMA, the PRIA or other appropriate industry body if you persist in sending me unsolicited material.