National Newspaper Association Foundation

Promoting news literacy, protecting the First Amendment
and enhancing the capabilities of community newspapers

Login Your Cart

Understanding Periodicals ⁠— Max Heath Postal Institute™ Training Series

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ARCHIVES OF TRAINING WEBINARS

Newspaper Periodicals mail can be a mystifying product for newspaper executives. It involves a labyrinth of qualification, content and preparation rules that are set by federal laws and regulations. Failing to follow the rules can lead to service failures, fees and even the loss of a permit. But successful use can benefit a newspaper with the lowest commercial postage rate, preferred service and, in some states, qualification as a newspaper or record.

This course, part of the Max Heath Postal Institute™, is designed to de-mystify Periodicals mail.

The course comprises several sessions. Students will attain levels of expertise as they complete the sessions. Each session will be offered at least twice in a webinar format with Q and A for attendees. (NNAF may limit attendance to ensure that all students’ comments and questions are addressed.) The sessions can be accessed (with member login) below for review.

Students may attend all sessions or just some. Students who wish to earn the Newspaper Mail Master certificates may enroll in the certification program for a modest fee. The levels of attainment will be Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels. Students will earn certificates for each level upon successful completion of an exam for that level. There is no limit to how many times an enrolled student may take the exam.

Students who do not seek certification may attend for free if their employer/contractor newspapers are members of National Newspaper Association or News Media Alliance.

Who should attend the Newspaper Mail sessions?

  • Publishers
  • Printers
  • Circulation managers
  • Editors
  • Accountants and bookkeepers
  • Others who are responsible for mailing copies of the newspaper

The cost of certification is as follows:

Bronze Certification: 1. Overview 2. Managing a Permit & How You Find The Answers You Need 3. Things You Forgot - Or Things You Never Knew About Periodicals ($20)

Silver Certification: Three above plus: 4.  Using Your Permit to Generate Revenue and 5. All Things Mail Entry ($20)

Gold & Platinum Certification: Five above plus: 6. Proper Mail Preparation & Addressing ($20) and 7. Governing the Nation's Monopoly Mail Service — Who is in Charge?

Fill out the form below to be entered into the Certification Process: https://nna.formstack.com/forms/mhpi_certification

2023 Curriculum

1. Overview

2. Qualifying for a Periodicals Permit/Keeping a Permit

3. Things you never never

4. The Privileges

5. Proper Mail Preparation-Addressing

6. Proper Mail Preparation - Containers

7. Postal Policy - why it works the way it does

Understanding Periodicals mail vol 2

Jan 20, 2023

The Max Heath Postal Institute™ 2023 certificate program is designed to de-mystify Periodicals mail and will comprise several sessions. More here ... 

Read more

Understanding Periodicals VII: Governing the Nation's Monopoly Mail Service — Who is in Charge?

Nov 3, 2022

Influencing USPS has been NNA's work since its founding in 1885. But the Postal Service is a massive institution and Periodicals mail is a shrinking fraction of its delivery responsibilities. Sometimes ...

Read more

Understanding Periodicals VI: Proper Mail Preparation & Addressing

Sep 15, 2022

Registration open. In this session, we’ll go deep on addressing, bundling, sacks, trays and more. Join Brad Hill, Interlink’s CEO, to learn the right way to handle addressing and mail ...

Read more

Understanding Periodicals Session V: All Things Mail Entry

Aug 25, 2022

Watch an archive of the fifth session in the Max Heath Postal Institute series, Understanding Periodicals V: All Things Mail Entry.  Making sure your newspaper is sorted in the right bundle ...

Read more

Understanding Periodicals Session IV - Using Your Permit To Generate Revenue

Jul 21, 2022

Learn how to use your sampling privileges strategically for advertising ⁠— including information and samples on unmissable promotions like inserts and sticky note ads; how to promote to advertisers; ...

Read more

Understanding Periodicals Session III: Things You Forgot — Or Maybe Never Knew — About Periodicals

Jun 23, 2022

This session will cover some fundamentals that are baked into most newspapers’ Periodical usage. But why are they there and how do we use them?

Read more

MHPI Understanding Periodicals session II: Managing a Permit and How DO you find the answers you need?

Apr 21, 2022

Registration is open for the second session in the Max Heath Postal Institute series, Understanding Periodicals. 

Read more

Max Heath Postal Institute™: Understanding Periodicals

Feb 9, 2022

Max Heath Postal Institute™ presents Understanding Periodicals, an overview of the key rules and regs for newspapers.  Watch the recording below.  

Read more

Web Design and Web Development by Buildable