Accountability Journalism for California’s Central Valley & Beyond
The rules governing your use of our website and services.
Effective Date: March 1, 2026 | Last Updated: March 1, 2026
Welcome to the Dismal Freedom Press website. By accessing or using our website (dismalfreedompress.org), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use our website.
You may use our website for lawful purposes only. You agree not to:
All content published on the Dismal Freedom Press website — including articles, photographs, graphics, logos, page design, and other materials — is the property of Dismal Freedom Press or its content providers and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.
Certain articles may be made available for republishing under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. See our Republishing Guidelines for details on what may be republished and under what conditions.
The Dismal Freedom Press name, logo, and related marks are trademarks of Dismal Freedom Press. You may not use these marks without prior written permission.
When you submit content to Dismal Freedom Press — including tips, letters to the editor, opinion submissions, comments, or corrections — you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, publish, edit, and distribute that content in connection with our journalistic mission.
You represent that any content you submit is your own original work or that you have the right to submit it, and that it does not violate the rights of any third party.
We reserve the right to decline to publish, edit for length and clarity, or remove any user-submitted content at our sole discretion.
Tips submitted to Dismal Freedom Press are treated as confidential communications. We take source protection seriously and comply with California's journalist shield law (Cal. Evid. Code § 1070). For more information on how to submit tips securely, visit our Tips page.
Donations to Dismal Freedom Press are processed through Stripe. By making a donation, you agree to Stripe's terms of service. Donations are voluntary and, depending on our tax-exempt status, may be tax-deductible. Dismal Freedom Press does not guarantee any specific tax treatment of donations. Consult your tax advisor for guidance.
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. These links are provided for informational purposes only. Dismal Freedom Press does not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of third-party websites.
The content on the Dismal Freedom Press website is provided for general informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy in our reporting, we make no warranties or representations about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or suitability of the information contained on the website.
THE WEBSITE AND ITS CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.
Our journalism is not legal, medical, financial, or professional advice. You should consult qualified professionals before making decisions based on information found on our website.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, DISMAL FREEDOM PRESS, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM:
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Dismal Freedom Press and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of your use of the website or violation of these Terms.
We may revise these Terms of Use at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of the website following any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in San Joaquin County, California.
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
If you have questions about these Terms of Use, please contact us: