• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, April 11, 2024

Newspaper publishers, including the mighty Gannett, have turned to the U.S. Postal Service to deliver their newspapers. 

It may be a mistake. Automated flats (meaning that you are doing part of the work for the USPS) are getting a 23% hike, while non-automated pieces are going up by 19.01%. 

Of course, the prices are lower for automated flats: the new basic rate is $0.492, versus $0.574 for non-automated – not that bad. 

In general, the “proposed adjustments, approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would raise mailing services product prices approximately 7.8%. Due to the underwater surcharge, the average rate increase for Outside County is 9.758% and 9.701% for In-County,” writes Holly Lubart of the News Media Alliance. The Postal Rate Commission still has to give its approval. 

But there’s another problem: the USPS itself. Sunday editions now arrive on Saturday – if you’re lucky. And that’s the least of it, according to Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Alabama).  

“As bulk mail rates keep increasing, so do the delivery times, Aderholt writes in The Moulton Advertiser. “Therefore, newspapers are not getting to homes and businesses in a timely manner. How do I know this? Well, I’ve heard from the editors of local papers who have told me about the delays in delivery. I’ve also witnessed it in my own district offices."

He continues, “Here is a recent example: the Feb. 21 edition of The Blount Countian newspaper was delivered to my Cullman office on March 19. That’s just two days short of a month. This has happened with the other papers my office subscribes to as well. They arrive weeks after they were published and delivered to USPS."

Aderholt concludes, “The local postal carriers are fine people who are dedicated to their jobs. The issue lies in the overall distribution system. When rates are increasing at a steady pace, but service is going down at the same time, something is wrong.”

These anecdotes do not quite spell a disaster. But publishers should consider them when deciding if the USPS should deliver their papers, especially in this election year. At any rate, they'll need a postal expert on staff.