A good NIE program offers many benefits to the weekly or community newspaper. With a moderate amount of effort the newspaper can create a program that will return far more than is invested in it.

• NIE builds readership and reading skills
  Building readership through the NIE program is a natural fallout of sending newspapers to the school. Children who have newspapers available in the classroom often go home and request that partents and other adults have newspapers in the home environment.
  
  Many NIE programs encourage students to take the newspaper home after it has been used in the classroom. For many families this may be the first time that a newspaper has been in the home. Some of those families will become regular subscribers once they develop the habit of reading your newspaper.
  
  Several studies have shown that children and/or adults who regularly read a newspaper demonstrate significant gains in reading skills.

• NIE builds circulation
  A quality NIE program can add significant numbers to your circulation data. If the Audit Bureau of Circulations audits your newspaper, be careful to meet their guidelines before counting school copies as paid circulation.
  
  ABC guidelines indicate that NIE copies of the newspaper must be paid at a minimum of 25 percent of your basic subscription rate. That is usually interpreted as the home-delivered price rather than the newsstand price. The cost of newspapers can come from the school, the teacher or outside sponsors. If you have any questions regarding ABC rules, please contact ABC at (847) 605-0909 or www.accessabc.com.
  
  Several small weekly and community newspapers have added significant numbers to their circulation through NIE programs.

• NIE builds community goodwill
  Don't overlook the positive benefits of using your newspaper to help improve local education. By placing your newspaper in the classroom, you are giving teachers the opportunity to use the most up-to-date textbook on the market. Make sure your community is aware of your commitment and dedication to the educational opportunities the NIE program can offfer.
  
  Take every opportunity to showcase NIE students, teachers and sponsors in the newspaper. Many times pictures speak louder than words!
  
  The newspaper advertiser loves it when a shopper tells them they saw their product in a newspaper advertisement. They love it even more when it is a student that saw the ad in the newspaper!
  
  The community appreciates those who show an interest in the education, health and safety of their children. NIE can help children in all of those areas.
  
  - National Newspaper Association of America Foundation