The News Media Alliance and the National Newspaper Association have joined a legal challenge of an order by the Postal Regulatory Commission that would effectively eliminate a Congressionally-mandated limit on postal rate increases for Periodicals and Marketing Mail.
The News Media for Open Government today sent a position paper to President-Elect Joseph Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’s transition team, outlining policy objectives that support and strengthen openness in government and the right to a free and independent press.
Yesterday the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution, introduced by Rep. Val Demings (D-FL), calling for increased diversity in American media. The News Media Alliance applauds Rep. Demings and her fellow sponsors and co-sponsors, and joins them in their commitment to improving diversity in the media.
On November 30, the Postal Regulatory Commission approved a rule, establishing a new rate-setting system that eliminates the previously implemented cap on postage rates which could harm newspapers and ultimately weaken the nation’s postal system.
The past nine months have been uniquely trying for us all; yet as we enter the holiday season, I am reminded of all that we have to be thankful for – yes, even in 2020. It may not be the year we envisioned back on January 1, but there have been some bright, shining moments for the news industry and for the Alliance in this strange, dark year.
From November 6–10, the Lincoln Network hosted the Reboot Conference, a series of virtual conversations about the intersection of technology and policy. Included in the November 10 discussions was a conversation between the Lincoln Network’s Marshall Kosloff and Alliance CEO David Chavern on the future of online news.
MPA filed comments on the FTC’s Review of Endorsement Guides
Currently, USPS can raise or lower rates for products such as Periodicals and Marketing Mail (e.g. TMC products) on an annual basis, with smaller, predictable rate increases that do not exceed the inflation-based price cap. But this pricing structure that brought newspapers predictable pricing could be in jeopardy if a new rate-setting system is approved.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on October 9 filed notice for new postal rates for market-dominant products, which includes Marketing Mail and Periodicals. If approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) in the coming weeks, the new rates will take effect on January 26, 2020.
The News Media Alliance has provided a quick-reference one-pager that summarizes key provisions of the new DOL Overtime rule, as well as relevant FLSA exemptions.
