Eastern Area Focus Group Meeting – Philadelphia PA October 23, 2014

Class DistinctionsThe State of Today’s Periodicals

Costs Keep Rising – A Little Good News

Pricing – No January Increase

CPI monthly index remains moderate (1.58%)

Exigent (higher) increase still in place

Two-year limitation (strong for permanence)

Legislation stalled Again

Postal Finances still failing

New Launch Process For New Mail

Let’s you file for Periodicals with first issue

Can be prepared as Periodicals right away

You mail while you build subs and get records ready

Still pending until approval but more flexible

30-day updates on progress to pass review

You have 15 months to get approved.

Supplements Made Easier Than Ever

Almost all supplements can be 100% advertising

Do not have to say “Supplement To …”

Same for magazines as newspapers

Separately mailed supplements still need to meet old rules

Only a few prohibited items left

Still Cumbersome Recordkeeping But Improving

Subscription and requester records still needed

Still need 50 percent plus one to qualify

Still need to publish four times a year at specific times

Still can’t be a book

Still Need to identify disposition of all copies

Enter The Electronic Age

Up to 10% of copies can be digital if you can’t get above 40% to qualify for issue with application

Once approved, digital copies can be included on Statement of Ownership

On line orders can qualify

CSR-54 has the language you need

Requesters Have More Options

Can be nonprofit and get In-County rates

Can have some issues with more than 75% advertising

Can’t be penalized for all copies for too many ads in one edition

Can expand multiple copies to companies without restrictions formerly in place

Items Still Prohibited – Just Not As Many As Before

Can’t be called a catalog

Can’t have different ISSN or ISBN

Can’t be real products

Can’t have permit indicia of another class

Can’t be another complete publication

New Things You Can Do

Can have product samples

Fragrance and cosmetic ads can use real product

New material such as the “web key” allowed

Ads now OK in envelopes in publications

More electronic access allowed

More New Stuff!

Digitally imbedded ads can be used – called augmented reality

QR Code references can be in publications at ad rates

Video images allowed (higher postage but worth it!)

References to social media expanded

Future Improvements Are Coming

The Need To Submit A Marked Copy May Be Gone By The End Of The Year!

The Ten Percent Nonsubscriber, Nonrequester Rule Is Being Studied For Potential Modification.

The Periodicals Advisory Group Remains A Driving Force In The Industry And With USPS

Discussion and Questions