Local reporting. Public records. Rhode Island accountability.
These terms govern access to Ocean State Chronicle’s website, reporting, forms, and other public-facing services.
By accessing or using oceanstatechronicle.com, you agree to these Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the site or submit information through its forms.
Ocean State Chronicle is an independent journalism outlet. It is not a government agency, court, law-enforcement agency, emergency service, law firm, or public-records custodian for any government body.
These terms protect OSC’s reporting, contributors, readers, and ability to operate a responsible newsroom.
OSC reporting is provided for general informational and journalistic purposes. Stories may address developing events and may be updated, clarified, or corrected as additional verified information becomes available.
Content is not legal, medical, financial, tax, safety, or other professional advice. You remain responsible for decisions made in reliance on information found on the site.
Unless otherwise identified, OSC’s original articles, graphics, photographs, videos, page designs, logos, and other content are protected by copyright, trademark, and other applicable law.
Ocean State Chronicle™ and associated branding may not be used in a way that suggests sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement without permission.
You may access the site for lawful personal, educational, and noncommercial use. You may share links and brief attributed excerpts consistent with fair use and other rights provided by law.
Full republication, systematic copying, commercial reuse, removal of attribution, or creation of a substitute archive requires prior written permission unless the law clearly allows the use.
OSC may review, verify, investigate, edit, decline, retain, or follow up on material submitted through the site. OSC is not obligated to publish, remove, respond to, return, or pay for unsolicited material. Editorial decisions remain with the newsroom.
A tip may contain allegations. Submission alone does not establish that an allegation is true, and OSC may contact relevant people or agencies for verification and a response.
You represent that you have the right to submit the material and that you are not knowingly using the site to defame, threaten, defraud, harass, or unlawfully invade another person’s privacy. If you submit a press release or copyrighted work, you represent that you are authorized to permit OSC’s newsroom use of it.
A form, email, direct message, or file submission does not by itself create a confidential-source agreement, fiduciary duty, attorney-client relationship, or guarantee of anonymity. Do not send highly sensitive material through ordinary channels without first reviewing the Tip Desk guidance.
Requests for correction or clarification are reviewed under OSC’s published corrections policy. A request does not automatically prove the original reporting was inaccurate or require OSC to adopt the requester’s proposed language.
Do not use OSC forms to report an emergency, request police or medical assistance, satisfy a court or agency filing deadline, or submit a public-records request to a government body. Contact the appropriate emergency service, attorney, court, or agency directly.
The site and its content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. OSC works to report accurately but does not warrant uninterrupted access, error-free operation, or that all information will always be complete, current, or suitable for a particular purpose.
The site may link to or embed services, records, videos, forms, social posts, or websites operated by others. Those services control their own content, availability, security, privacy practices, and terms. A link does not necessarily constitute endorsement.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, OSC and its owners, contributors, contractors, and service providers will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from use of, inability to use, or reliance on the site. Nothing in these terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
OSC may restrict access, block abusive traffic, reject submissions, preserve evidence, or take other reasonable measures when it believes these terms, site security, legal rights, or the safety of another person are at risk.
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Rhode Island, without regard to conflict-of-law rules, to the extent permitted by law. Any dispute that may lawfully be restricted to a forum will be heard in a court of competent jurisdiction in Rhode Island.
If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect. Failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. These terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any page-specific notice, constitute the agreement governing use of the site.
OSC may revise these terms as the site, newsroom operations, or legal requirements change. The effective date at the top identifies the current version. Continued site use after an update means the revised terms apply to future use.
Questions about these terms, requests for permission to republish, and concerns about site use may be submitted through the General Inquiry Form.
For correction requests, use the dedicated Corrections & Clarifications page so the concern reaches the proper workflow.
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