Monday, April 29, 2024
USPS is delivering more newspapers
Publishers want dependable service for their subscribers
Newspapers across the nation are increasingly turning to USPS to deliver their print editions, aiming to provide their subscribers with more reliable, consistent service.
As the labor market has tightened in recent years, many publishers have struggled to find private carriers for traditional home deliveries. By turning the job over to the Postal Service, publishers are able to take advantage of the organization’s ability to deliver to every address in the nation.
USPS receives about 100 applications each year for periodical delivery, the classification for newspapers and magazines. Last year, more than 50 of these applications came from daily or weekly newspapers — an increase from previous years.
“The Postal Service is proud to provide newspaper delivery in communities across the United States. We work closely with publishers to provide a dependable, cost-effective service that benefits their readers,” said Steve Monteith, the organization’s chief customer and marketing officer.
Gannett, the nation’s largest newspaper publisher, has transitioned to USPS delivery from private carriers in more than 70 markets since 2022.
“As the post-COVID and gig economy has grown, all newspaper companies have struggled to find folks willing to deliver papers in the middle of the night. The Postal Service is another arrow in the quiver of solutions for our readers,” said Steve Wagenlander, senior vice president of publishing operations for Gannett.
The trend recalls the American postal system’s earliest days.
The first major postal law, passed by Congress in 1792, encouraged the exchange of newspapers by allowing them to travel through the U.S. Mail at extremely low rates of postage to ensure the success of the democracy.
In markets where Gannett has switched to USPS delivery, subscriber satisfaction with mail delivery is good if not better than with the carrier force, Wagenlander said.
The company has also found local postmasters eager to do business with them.
“They’re great partners for us,” he said.
Heroes
Through the roof
An employee reported a house fire, helping avert a total loss
City Carrier Assistant Jodee Jones was recently driving along her route in Huntingdon, TN, when she saw smoke coming from the roof of a home.
After Jones called 911, firefighters arrived and extinguished the blaze.
The residents, who were not there at the time, thanked Jones the next day, telling her that if the call had been received just minutes later, the fire would likely have resulted in a total loss.
“I am glad to have been in the exact spot I was that day,” said Jones. “It brings me great joy knowing I saved a family from losing everything.”
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered April 21-27
Mr. ZIP, digital detectives and others stepped into the spotlight
Last week, Link looked at the Postal Service’s efforts to update its beloved Mr. ZIP character.
The organization is licensing Mr. ZIP to publishers, toymakers and other companies that pay USPS a fee to use the character.
“Our vision is that Mr. ZIP becomes a beloved character to today’s children, and they grow up remembering him and having an affinity for mail and the Postal Service,” said Amity Kirby, the organization’s licensing and creative manager.
We also marked Earth Day by highlighting the Postal Service’s commitment to environment sustainability, previewed this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive and told you about the USPS rules about contracts.
Additionally, we went “On the Job” with Aaliyah Smith, a part-time flexible retail associate in Loveville, MD, and “Off the Clock” with Tina Geiger, an Arcadia, KS, retail associate who makes dollhouse furniture, and we introduced you to “Heroes” such as Kharalyn Ford, a Memphis, TN, mail processing clerk who performed the Heimlich maneuver on a choking co-worker.
Finally, Link visited the USPS Remote Encoding Center in Salt Lake City as it celebrated 30 years of service.
The center receives digital images of letters and packages with illegible addresses from other postal facilities around the country. More than 730 employees work at the center, doing the detective work of determining where the poorly addressed mailpieces are supposed to go.
Johanna Luckau, the center’s senior manager, said she feels “quite fortunate” to work there, adding that “not many people can stay with an organization and still love their job after 20-plus years.”
May 6, 2024
Datebook
‘Building Resilience for Life’s Challenges’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on bouncing back from adversity and using it to emerge stronger than ever.
The session, “Rising Strong: Building Resilience for Life’s Challenges,” will be held Monday, May 6, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from GEHA, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the discussion.
Participants must register before the event on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the Benefits and Wellness team.
Postal Posts takes on sustainability
The latest entry on Postal Posts, the USPS blog, gives an overview of the organization’s plans to build a greener and cleaner Postal Service.
Jennifer Beiro-Réveillé, environmental affairs and corporate sustainability senior director, wrote the post, which was published last week.
“We are eliminating unnecessary air and road trips and optimizing the journeys we need to take. We are using less fuel and energy, reducing waste at every level of our operation, and recycling and reusing as much material as possible,” Beiro-Réveillé writes.
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USPS is delivering more newspapers
Publishers want dependable service for their subscribers
-
Heroes
Through the roof
An employee reported a house fire, helping avert a total loss
-
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered April 21-27
Mr. ZIP, digital detectives and others stepped into the spotlight
-
May6Datebook
‘Building Resilience for Life’s Challenges’
-
Brief
Postal Posts takes on sustainability