Introduction
West Wood Blvd (“we”, “our”, “us”) operates https://westwoodblvd.com/, a news‑media platform that delivers timely, accurate, and impartial journalism to an English‑speaking audience worldwide. This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how we use them, the legal basis for processing, and how you can manage or disable them. It is designed to meet the requirements of Google News (E‑E‑A‑T), Bing News Publisher standards, Google AdSense policies, and globally recognised digital‑media guidelines such as those published by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).
What Are Cookies?
A cookie is a small text file that a website stores on a visitor’s device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) when the visitor accesses the site. Cookies enable the site to remember information about the user’s interaction, such as language preference, login status, or items viewed. They are a core technology for delivering a personalised, secure, and efficient user experience.
Types of Cookies We Use
We categorise the cookies we deploy into four broad groups:
- Strictly necessary cookies: Essential for the operation of the site (e.g., session identifiers, security tokens).
- Performance & analytics cookies: Collect aggregated data on how visitors use the site, helping us improve content, navigation, and load times.
- Functional cookies: Remember choices you make (e.g., language, region) to enhance usability.
- Targeting and advertising cookies: Used by third‑party advertising networks to deliver relevant ads based on your browsing behaviour.
How We Use Cookies
Below is a detailed description of each purpose:
1. Authentication and Security
When you log in to West Wood Blvd, we set a session cookie that keeps you authenticated as you navigate between articles. Security cookies help detect suspicious activity and protect against fraud.
2. Personalisation
Functional cookies store your preferred language, region, or display settings so that the site automatically presents content that matches your preferences.
3. Analytics and Performance
We use Google Analytics (Google Analytics documentation) and similar tools to collect anonymised data such as page views, bounce rate, and average time on page. This data is crucial for maintaining the high editorial standards expected by Google News and Bing News publishers.
4. Advertising and Revenue Generation
Our site participates in Google AdSense and other programmatic advertising networks. Advertising cookies enable the delivery of ads that are relevant to you, measure ad performance, and prevent fraudulent clicks. This practice complies with the Google AdSense policies and the Bing Webmaster guidelines.
5. Social Media Integration
Buttons for sharing articles on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn may set their own cookies. These third‑party cookies are governed by the respective platform’s privacy policies.
Third‑Party Cookies
In addition to our own cookies, we embed content from reputable third‑party providers (e.g., YouTube videos, Twitter timelines). Those providers may place cookies on your device. We do not control the data they collect, but we only partner with vendors that adhere to recognised privacy standards. For a full list of third‑party services, see the table below:
| Provider | Purpose | Link to Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | Site analytics | Google Privacy & Terms |
| Google AdSense | Advertising | AdSense Program Policies |
| YouTube | Embedded video playback | YouTube Privacy |
| Social sharing | Twitter Privacy |
Managing Your Cookies
We respect your right to control the data stored on your device. You can manage cookies in two ways:
- Through our Cookie Consent Banner: When you first visit West Wood Blvd, a banner will appear asking you to accept or customise your cookie preferences. You can revisit your choices at any time by clicking the “Cookie Settings” link located in the website footer.
- Via Your Browser Settings: All major browsers allow you to view, delete, or block cookies. The steps differ slightly between browsers; the most common methods are outlined below.
How to Disable Cookies via Browser Settings
Below are quick instructions for the most widely used browsers. For the latest instructions, consult the browser’s official help centre.
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data → “Block third‑party cookies” or “See all cookies and site data” to delete specific entries.
- Mozilla Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → “Block cookies and site data” or “Manage Data…” to remove individual cookies.
- Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data → “Block third‑party cookies” or “See all cookies and site data”.
- Apple Safari: Preferences → Privacy → “Block all cookies” or “Manage Website Data…” to remove specific items.
- Opera: Settings → Advanced → Privacy & security → Cookies → “Block third‑party cookies” or “See all cookies and site data”.
Disabling strictly necessary cookies may prevent the site from functioning correctly (e.g., you may be unable to log in or view personalised content). We recommend only disabling non‑essential cookies if you wish to retain full site functionality.
Legal Basis for Processing Cookies
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and comparable privacy frameworks, we rely on the following lawful bases:
- Legitimate interests – for performance analytics, security, and fraud prevention.
- Consent – for non‑essential cookies such as advertising and social‑media integration, obtained via the consent banner.
We retain cookie‑related data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy, typically no longer than 24 months for analytics and 12 months for advertising identifiers, unless a longer retention period is required by law.
Changes to This Cookie Policy
We review this Cookie Policy regularly and may update it to reflect changes in technology, legal requirements, or our business practices. Any revisions will be posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Information
If you have questions about this Cookie Policy, your privacy rights, or how we handle your data, please contact our Data Protection Officer at:
Email: privacy@westwoodblvd.com
Mailing address: West Wood Blvd, 123 Media Lane, New York, NY 10001, USA
References & Further Reading
For additional guidance on best practices for news publishers, you may consult the following resources: