NewsBeat

16 NewsBeat December 2016 Alternate process proposed to relieve newspapers from having to file a 'marked copy' for advertising percentage with each edition's postal report. R eaders of this column might recall that we thought that the National Newspaper Association had gotten relief some months ago from the requirement to submit a marked copy with each issue of the Periodical newspaper, only to find that change slip from our grasp. Now, a firm proposal is in the hands of the NNA Postal Committee, and if tests of the procedure work as well as expected, we stand to see, finally, the relief of the burdensome and time-consuming process of this submission. The new "Alternate Marked Copy" process would follow the annual Statement of Ownership filing by Oct. 1 each year. Advertising Percentage Must Still be Computed Each Issue I want to remind all publishers and circulation managers that this change will not affect the need to accurately report the actual advertising percentage of each issue, including editions with various weights and percentages, of Run-Of-Press and preprinted advertising inserts on PS Form 3541, the Periodicals Postage Statement. Many newspapers are now able to compute their ROP advertising from electronic advertising makeup systems and keep records of regular supplements' linage and weight according to samples of those page counts most commonly run by their different advertisers. This allows a quick computation of the advertising percentage for entering on the 3541. What would be eliminated is the requirement to physically mark the printed copy after the press run and show the calculations on the front page of the issue, and then get it to the post office with the mailing. Printing at distant plants during the night and delivery to post offices early in the morning or at other times of the day or week when the newspaper office is closed has created a great deal of frustration for community newspapers across our land. The advertising percentage affects only the outside-county pound prices paid, either advertising or non-advertising, with advertising pound prices zoned per distance sent, and non-advertising by entry point. With many papers losing distant subscribers because of a combination of poor mail delivery and shift to electronic alternatives, the work is much ado about less and less, frankly. That said, it is an integral part of the postage computation process, and must be honestly reported. Enrollment Required for Alternate Process The latest proposal to eliminate most marked copies comes with a requirement to enroll in order to take advantage of the alternative to per- issue reporting. It is not mandatory, and publishers of newspapers or magazines who wish to continue the submission of per-issue marked copies are free to do that. To enroll in the "Alternate Marked Copy" process, publishers must email the PostalOne! Help Desk at postalone@usps.gov. Required info will include the publisher, the publication, USPS Publication Number, and the city/state/ZIP where the marked copies are currently submitted. The Help Desk will send an acknowledgement email to the mailer's contact with a copy to the District Manager BME (Business Mail Entry) and also notify the post office where your mail is entered that you have enrolled. The Help Desk will maintain a list of publications enrolled in the alternative process on the BMA webpage. From that point forward, the BME clerks at your origin post office will not request a marked copy with every issue and will use the alternative verification process. The new Alternate Process won't kick in fully in time to help publishers during this year's SOO Review, but it should help going forward into 2017 and beyond. Relief from weekly filing of 'marked copy' may be on horizon By MAX HEATH Postal Tips Max Heath NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION (Continued on next page)

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