Please Mr. Postman
Dear Reader,
It’s no secret that newspapers have been attacked on all sides: The tech giants (Facebook, Google) co-opted our local news content and related audiences, redistributing our content without reimbursing us for it. Amazon and other webbased firms usurped large retail store channels and devastated their revenues. And the pandemic has temporarily or permanently closed many small- and medium-sized businesses that relied heavily on newspapers to bring customers into their stores.
This retail smack-down has forced newspapers to adapt or die. Our adaptation effort has included asking key suppliers for a temporary rate cut to help us survive the pandemic. All of our suppliers have partnered with us in this effort, understanding that by helping us to survive, they insured their own future financial health.
Did I say all? No, it is all but one – the US Postal System did not give us a discount. A letter was sent to USPS Chairman Robert Duncan, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, and Senators Ron Johnson, Tammy Baldwin, and Tom Carper. In response, we heard crickets and nothing else. The letter was re-sent to the above and follow up phone calls were made, eliciting one email response stating, “No doubt you will receive a formal response soon.” – governmentspeak for “Don’t hold your breath.” US Mail is essential to millions of Americans, delivering medicines and other necessities. Since January 1 of this year, MMC has diverted a quarter of a million community publications each week to the US Mail. Our switch to the mail has resulted in many small-town post offices gaining an extra 10% of revenues. It’s an enormous expenditure for this small family-owned company.
Three issues are relevant to the symbiotic relationship between the US Post Office and newspapers: Access, Affordability, and Quality of Service.
1. Access. Many communities, especially the smaller, more rural ones with little access to digital marketing channels, rely heavily on the local paper to maintain awareness of their business. The US Mail is crucial to maintaining that access.
2. Affordability. Many newspapers are sent as Marketing Mail pieces and pay a markup or profit to the Postal Service. The Postal Service could offer distributors of marketing mail sent to all homes in a geographic area, including free papers, a discount and still make a profit.
Separately, many newspapers are sent as periodicals. Periodicals and newspapers provide educational, cultural, and public benefits that are part of the universal service obligation of the Postal Service. Current periodical rates do not produce a profit, but Congress should recognize the value and be willing to help support and reduce the rates for newspapers, particularly in county local newspapers where the local newspaper may be the only source of community news, with some federal funding and taxpayer support. Without this support, newspapers may be forced to cut zip codes, cut frequency, or close for good. This would be a devastating loss for communities relying on these key pillars of local economic life.
3. Quality of Service. Most Americans believe it reasonable to expect that the mail including their local newspapers arrives when it is supposed to arrive. In the absence of accountability, the post office is free to manage the flow of mail however it wishes. A mechanism or regulatory body to monitor quality of service should be put in place to ensure reliability and timeliness of the mail.
On the above basis, we are asking for your help. Please contact your US Senator and Congressional Representatives echoing these concerns. Use this column or parts of this column asking them to move these issues higher on their list of priorities since we depend heavily on the post office to deliver not only our local newspapers but also our medicines and other crucial supplies during the pandemic. The contact information is listed below.
Patrick J Wood
Publisher
The Honorable Robert M. Duncan, Chairman
USPS Board of Governors
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC
Email: [email protected]
Honorable Louis DeJoy
Postmaster General of the United States
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington DC 20024
Sen. Tammy Baldwin
709 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5653
Sen. Ron Johnson
328 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5323
Rep. Glenn Grothman, 6th District
1427 Longworth House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-2476
Rep. Thomas Tiffany, 7th District
1714 Longworth House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-3365
Rep. Mike Gallagher, 8th District
1230 Longworth House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-5665