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Newspaper publishers alarmed over continuing postage rate increases

By Paul Osborne, Editor & Publisher

Decatur Tribune

EVERY Thursday morning, before I take the elevator in our building up two floors to the WSOY studio to appear on Byers & Co., I always grab a copy of that week's Decatur Tribune off of the front counter to give to Brian. Last Thursday, as we were discussing the community and national news of the day, Brian held the newspaper in his hands and commented how he liked the scent and feel of a printed newspaper.

DESPITE the wonders of the digital age, and instant news as close as a person's fingertips, Brian is not alone in liking the scent and feel of newsprint. I also feel that way and despite producing an "online edition" of this newspaper, the vast majority of Tribune readers prefer the print edition. A small percentage of the print edition is also sold at newsstands at various locations around the city. However, the vast majority of Tribune readers receive their printed copy through the mail each week. Even some of those who subscribe to the online edition, also want the print edition delivered to them, and they purchase both.

I'M WRITING about the print edition in today's column because one of the most serious challenges facing local newspapers these days is the constant postage increases by the United States Postal Service coupled with decreasing delivery efficiency. As I've mentioned before in this column, the local USPS workers who handle our mail are not at fault. We've always had excellent local postal workers who have handled our business and newspaper mailings. The problem is the decisions made at the top of the USPS ladder that have.

 THAT GIGANTIC increase is the result of six postage increases and a plan to raise postage every six months for ten years! That's crazy and the impact its having is that the number of USPS customers continues to drop along with a decrease in community newspapers. If six postage increases since 2021 has increased postage for this, and other newspapers, by nearly 50%, I shudder to think what it is going to cost to mail a newspaper (or a letter) after the postage is automatically increased 14 more times over the next 7 years! By the way, despite the enormous postage increases, the USPS continues to lose an enormous amount of money each year which also falls into the lap of taxpayers!

THE NATIONAL Newspaper Association recently delivered letters from more than 200 newspapers to the Postal Regulatory Commission, complaining about inadequate mail delivery and escalating postage rates. According to Lynne Lance of the NNA, "The comments were part of a review by the PRC of its postal rate regulations, which it is required by Congress to do periodically. The Commission last completed a rate review in 2021 at which time it gave the US Postal Service authority to raise postage rates beyond inflation levels."

NNA CHAIR John Galer, publisher of the Journal-News, Hillsboro, IL, asked NNA members and newspapers in state newspaper organizations to send him their thoughts on the impact of the past few years of postage increases. "Responses registered a state of alarm on the future of the industry, specific complaints about delivery failures, losses of subscribers and unresponsive local postal authorities when delivery was not properly executed." Galer included the letters in NNA's comments to the Commission. NNA is also working with mailing industry partners on more detailed comments on the mechanisms involved in the rate regulation, including one provision that allows USPS to increase rates more when mail volume declines, which many in the industry consider a reward for poor performance.

COMMUNITY newspapers are the backbone in the structure of providing residents with accurate information about what is going on in their community. I have fought, and will continue to fight, to keep the Decatur Tribune rolling off of the press each week and delivered to your home or office through the USPS. A very high percentage of our business is handled through the USPS and that includes invoices, renewal notices and countless other business outreach items.

INCREASED postage rates is not the only reason newspapers shut down. Some of it is due to a loss of advertising and so many ways the public can get their news online these days. In order to survive, many independent, home-owned newspapers across the nation have been absorbed into huge publishing conglomerates which no longer have the same personal connection in a community.

I HAVE published the Decatur Tribune for nearly six decades, and have fought a long battle to keep it going despite, as most of you know, some incredible odds and stiff competition. I want the paper edition to keep rolling off of the press and the scent of newsprint and ink, and publishing independence, to be in the air. A free and independent press is more valuable today than ever before in our nation's history. With God's help, and yours, we will continue what we've been doing since the 1960s being an unfettered press.

A free and independent press resulted in this newspaper, and other newspapers across the nation, paying an incredible amount to mail the print newspapers each week compared to what we paid in 2021. As I am sure you are aware, the number of community newspapers in our nation continues to shrink with 2,100 going out of business in the last 15 years some that had been publishing for over a century.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2025

Contact Information:
Christopher Weishaar
Digital Public Relations Specialist
cweishaar@studentloan.org
(515) 273-7140
 


Six $1,500 scholarships now open to Midwest high school seniors
High school seniors from six Midwest states have a chance to earn the scholarships
 

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — High school seniors from Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin now have a chance to receive one of six college scholarships worth $1,500. Registration is open now through April 30, 2025. Parents are also able to register their student.

High school seniors or their parents may register for the ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Midwest. ISL Education Lending will award $1,500 scholarships to six students whose names are randomly drawn after the registration period. There are no financial need, grade point average or class rank requirements. The ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship can be used at any eligible institution in the United States.

Registered participants also receive emails highlighting financial literacy tips, such as the importance of early career and college planning and ways to reduce student loan indebtedness.

“Student loan debt is a huge concern for new college students,” said Steve McCullough, president and CEO of ISL Education Lending. “As a nonprofit, we provide tools and resources to help high school seniors plan so they can reduce the amount of debt they need to take on while achieving their education goals. Students sign up for a chance at a $1,500 scholarship, and we take that opportunity to share information with them about our free resources.”

The ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship is open to legal U.S. citizens who are seniors at a high school in one of the qualifying states during the 2025-2026 school year and who intend to attend college, either virtually or physically, in fall 2025. It is a no-purchase-required program, and full rules and details are available at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Midwest.

Additional Resources Available
In addition to offering student loans, ISL Education Lending has other resources for families planning for college and for students who intend to pursue advanced degrees. The Parent Handbook consists of valuable tips to help families of students in sixth through 12th grades prepare for success in college and other postsecondary options. Parents of students in eighth through 12th grades can also sign up to receive twice-monthly emailed tips on academic, college and career planning through the Student Planning Pointers for Parents program. The College Funding Forecaster helps families understand the total cost of four years of college based on a freshman-year financial aid offer. Information about these resources is available at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/SmartBorrowing.

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About ISL Education Lending
Established in 1979 as Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation, a private, nonprofit organization, ISL Education Lending helps students and families obtain the resources necessary to succeed in postsecondary education. ISL has helped nearly 400,000 students pay for college, offering student loans and other products under the name ISL Education Lending. The organization, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, also provides an array of borrower benefits, financial literacy tools and community reinvestment programs, including support for free college planning services for students and their families. For more information, visit www.IowaStudentLoan.org.


 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2025

Contact Information:
Illinois State Medical Society
Jann Ingmire
janningmire@isms.org
(312) 520-9802
 


Illinois State Medical Society offers free programs for health professionals to address human trafficking awareness
 

As January marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) is offering a free, two-part webinar series aimed at equipping physicians and other health care professionals with the tools to identify and support those individuals exploited by human trafficking. The series, which is available on demand, is designed to challenge stereotypes, clarify the various factors contributing to trafficking, and provide practical approaches for assisting survivors of both sex and labor trafficking.

Health care professionals are uniquely positioned to identify and assist trafficking victims due to their frontline access and trusted roles within the community. By offering these programs, ISMS aims to raise awareness and offer resources to professionals who may come across survivors in their care.

January 11 is recognized as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and the month as a whole is dedicated to increasing awareness of trafficking, which affects millions globally. According to a 2017 survey of 127 human trafficking survivors, 69% reported having accessed health care services at some point during their exploitation. Of those, 85% sought treatment for injuries or illnesses related to their trafficking. Despite this, only 6% of health care workers reported having treated someone who was a victim of trafficking.

The two no-cost, on-demand programs, available 24/7, offer continuing medical education (CME) credits and are designed to help health care professionals recognize signs of trafficking, improve their response, and ensure proper support for survivors.

Human Trafficking: Identification and Response in a Healthcare Setting 

Presented by Anna Pastor, coordinator, Cook Co. Human Trafficking Task Force

Human Trafficking: Practical Approaches and Resources in a Healthcare Setting

Presented by Traci Kurtzer, M.D., medical director for trauma informed care and education, Northwestern Medicine

The programs are free to all health care professionals and the public. 

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