Periodical Class Info

Posted in Local Editor Resources on August 21, 2002

I’ve been organizing all the information I have on mailing newsletters. I recently found my September 2001 EditorialisM issue, which includes articles on “Statement of Ownership for Periodicals” and “More Periodical Reminders.” It also includes links to the Post Office website for downloading postal forms, and the Domestic Mail Manual for answering postal questions. Finally, an article titled “Advertising - Is It Really Worth It” discusses the pros and cons of advertising as it relates to postal regulations. Unfortunately, I’ve just found that EditorialisM isn’t posted on American Mensa website with the other monthly distribution items, so click ‘Read More’ below to read the highlights from these articles.


UPDATE: The 2002 September Interloc has just been posted online, and it features an article on Periodicals Mailings by Gordon Andersen.

Statement of Ownership for Periodicals:

- A Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation form (USPS form #3526) must be posted for newsletters mailing with periodical mail class.

- Must be published every year in October issue; may be published in next available issue if a letter is sent to postmaster explaining reason for late publishing.


More Periodical Reminders:

- Newsletters mailed periodical class must be published at the frequency stated in periodical class application (info can be found in USPS #3526).

- To change publication schedule, fill out postal form #3510. There will be a fee.

- Periodical permits save the group money. To see if the group’s newsletter meets the periodical mailing requiremetns, see the Domestic Mail Manual or call 1-800-ASK-USPS.


Advertising - Is It Really Worth It

- Newsletters using periodical postal permit receive a discount for the space in the newsletter that is non-advertising content, and are charged a higher rate for the percentage of advertising space used. All paid or unpaid advertising counts toward the advertising percentage.

- Interpretations of exactly what constitutes advertising may vary from post office to post office. A general rule: if a product is mentioned along with where the reader can purchase it, it’s considered advertising whether or not a price is mentioned.