The News Media Alliance and MPA – The Association of Magazine Media submitted joint comments on June 17 to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rule requiring registrants to provide certain climate-related information in their registration statements and annual reports. The rule includes Scope 3 reporting, which seeks to capture greenhouse gas emissions throughout a company’s value chain, causing a potential significant impact on reporting public and non-public companies. The comments focus on allowing flexibility in climate reporting and disclosures.

View the comments here.

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Fact Sheet originally published by MPA – The Association of Magazine Media

Download PDF of Fact Sheet

With 100% recyclable, biodegradable, non-toxic printed paper stock, magazines are partners in environmental stewardship and should be supported.

THE ISSUE

Inclusion of paper in EPR programs won’t increase recycling but would unfairly target magazine media.

Magazines are partners in recycling and environmental stewardship. Magazines are printed on non-toxic, biodegradable and 100-percent recyclable paper, and long-form magazine journalism has led the way on environmental education and advocacy. More than 63 percent of paper discarded by consumers is already recycled, and the EPA estimates that magazines account for only 0.3 percent of municipal solid waste.

State and local Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs that include paper products would perversely subsidize producers of hazardous, environmentally harmful and hard-to-recycle products, as it spreads some of their EPR costs to paper users and producers.

That is why paper products are excluded from EPR programs in Europe, which is generally considered to have more advanced recycling programs than U.S. jurisdictions.

And at 63 percent already, including paper in EPR programs likely would have no effect on increasing paper recycling rates. In British Columbia (BC), for example, EPR fees on paper products rose 86 percent in 2020 and nearly 50 percent more once again in 2021. Meanwhile, the paper recycling rate in BC is declining.

A BETTER SOLUTION

Target hazardous or hard-to-recycle products in EPR programs.

Target the real problem, not highly recyclable paper, by explicitly excluding environmentally friendly printed paper stock from EPR programs.

THE TAKEAWAY

• Printed on and with sustainable products, magazines are partners in recycling and environmental stewardship.
• Long-form magazine journalism has led the way on environmental education and advocacy.
• Imposing EPR programs on paper would punish good environmental actors and possibly reduce recycling rates.

Magazine Media Delivers

Valued and trusted content

• Content that is researched, curated and edited.
• Readers value our educational, cultural, scientific, and informational content, in longform articles and on digital platforms.

Diverse & multigenerational connections

• Read by more than 90% of U.S. adults across all age groups and demographics, including 18-25.
• A 1.5 billion audience across all its platforms – digital, mobile, video and print.

Commitment & investment to our communities

• More than 240,000 U.S. jobs supported with an annual average wage of more than $98,000.
• Trusted, long-standing first party relationship based on respect and transparency for our readers.
• Partner in environmental stewardship, using biodegradable, recyclable and certified materials.

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As we enter the second month of social distancing due to COVID-19, many people will be getting cabin fever (if you haven’t already), especially kids. With schools closed and remote learning taking up only a fraction of the day, many parents are struggling to keep their kids occupied while they deal with new responsibilities of their own at work. We know it can be difficult with everyone under one roof 24/7, so we’ve rounded up some fun “news”-themed activities your kids — or you! — can do when things get dull.

Newspaper Activity Sheets from ThoughtCo. will help keep elementary- and middle-school-aged children busy learning about the news business. The website, created by veteran educators to share learning resources for teachers and homeschoolers, has a lot of content, but we’re particularly fond of their newspaper printables. From vocabulary worksheets and crossword puzzles to newsy coloring pages, there’s a little something for everyone, from tots to tweens. Access them here.

FeltMagnet.com has nearly five dozen Newspaper Crafts to keep people of all ages, from toddlers to grandparents, from going stir-crazy during this pandemic. From super simple newsprint paper dolls to complex paper wigs and decoupage, you’ll make use of every page of your daily paper – after you finish reading it, of course! The 59 projects come from crafty bloggers around the world and will keep you crafting long after the pandemic ends. See the full list of crafts here.

Want something more educational? The Oklahoma Press Association has shared a Newspapers in Education Booklet that you can use to supplement your child’s at-home education. There are newspaper-based activities for elementary school, middle school and high school students, and they cover multiple areas of study. Whether you want your new homeschooler to learn about language arts, social studies or math, there’s a news-related activity here to help them learn an important lesson or skill. Download the activity book here.

If your child is studying English as a second language (ESL), Busy Teacher has rounded up 11 Newspaper Activities for ESL Students. The near-dozen activities offer ways to use the newspaper to help your child brush up on their English, from writing stories to understanding what headlines mean to playing word search games throughout your daily paper. Learn more here.

Looking for some creative ways to recycle your old newspapers? The Alliance previously rounded up Eco-Friendly Uses for Old Newspapers around the house that will help you as you tackle your spring cleaning and gardening.

Want more? We’ve got a free set of News-Themed Coloring Pages that will appeal to anyone in your household who just needs a break and wants to do something calming. Download them here.

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Paper Revolution.

68% of paper and paper packaging is recycled into new products, great to know for the 61% of U.S. consumers who prefer their news in print.

Paper recovery for recycling is a national success because of the commitment millions of Americans make each day to recycling at home, at work, or at school. Newspaper recycling is a big part of this overall success as nearly 70 percent of old newspapers are recycled into new newsprint, boxboard and other products.

Two Sides, a global resource to promote the sustainability of print and paper in North America and in five continents around the world, has created an ad that News Media Alliance members can use to inform readers about printed newspaper recycling efforts.

News Media Alliance members are provided the ad at no additional cost. You may download the PDF ad in quarter- and full-page sizes below.

Download the ad:

Click on the links below to download and run the ad.

Full-page color (PDF) (11.55″ x 21″)
Quarter-page color (PDF) (5.7″ x 10″)

Sources: American Forest and Paper Association, 2019.
Two Sides North America/ Toluna, 2017. An online survey of 2,132 U.S. adults.

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April 22 is Earth Day. This holiday was first celebrated in the 1970s, as a response to an oil spill. Now, it is celebrated by hundreds of countries across the globe. This Earth Day, find a new use for your newspaper (after you’re done reading it).

Newspapers were not designed as a permanent medium. In nature, the sheets break down in six weeks. Obviously, we advocate for the recycling of newspapers. But this weekend, try these other fun methods of reusing the paper.

1. In the Garden

When planting your spring garden, first put down a layer of newsprint before adding soil. This layer acts as organic material for your plants and prevents weeds from sprouting up. This chemical-free gardening method also helps save water.

2. On the windows

Instead of grabbing Windex and some paper towels, go a bit more natural for sparkling glass windows. Vinegar and newspapers are a fool-proof way to get streak free windows. It’s simple: mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper, not paper towels, which cause streaking.

3. Crafting

You might remember our Christmas craft using newspapers to make ornaments. That’s just one idea of thousands on Pinterest that upcycle the news. And if you’re not into papier-mâché, the paper also makes a great drop-cloth for painting with children.

4. Wrapping

Many foil wrapping papers can’t be recycled. Instead, wrap a gift with newspaper and tie a bow around the present for a pop of color. Additionally, the paper works great for shelf liners and school text book covers.

5. Shoe stuffers

Tired of your winter boots and purses losing form in your closet? Crumple up some newspapers and stuff them into the shoes or bags to help keep them looking good as new when you’re not using them.

Happy Earth Day from the News Media Alliance!

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