The additional indicator is the mechanism that is added proportionally on top of your basic indicator and enlarges your monthly quota. The right does not arise by itself: it requires an application and depends on three conditions. Those conditions are regulated identically in Article 47 for newspapers and Article 65 for online news sites.
The three conditions
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| Having published official announcements for 6 months | The additional indicator is not open to publications that have only just acquired the right; you must first have actually published official announcements for at least six months |
| Maintaining the condition for at least 1 month backwards | You must have met the additional indicator condition for the month preceding the application, not merely at the moment of applying |
| A signed application stating the article | You must state expressly which additional indicator provision your request relies on and notify the Agency in signed form |
The third condition looks formal but skipping it may invalidate the application. The article uses the words “on condition of expressly stating the article of this Regulation in which the provision that is the subject of the additional indicator application is regulated”. Saying “I request an additional indicator” is therefore not enough; you must write which article you rely on.
When does it start?
The second paragraph of each article lays down the same rule: where the Agency establishes that the conditions have been met, the date on which you begin to benefit from the additional indicator is the date on which the request reached the Agency’s records.
The practical consequence: the moment you establish the month in which you met the additional indicator condition, make the application rather than waiting another month “to be sure”. You must in any event already satisfy the one-month backward condition.
The exemption granted for the accelerated waiting period
Article 65(3) introduces an important concession for online news sites: for online news sites completing the waiting period under Article 54(2), the additional indicator conditions other than sub-paragraph (c) of the first paragraph are not sought.
Sites that complete the waiting period in six months by meeting twice their category conditions are therefore exempt from the six-month publication and one-month backward conditions for the additional indicator; only the requirement of a signed application stating the article, in sub-paragraph (c), remains.
Which additional indicators exist?
Different additional indicators are regulated by type of publication:
| Additional indicator | For whom | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Staff and surface area | Newspapers | Art. 48 |
| Printing | National newspapers | Art. 49 |
| Distribution | National newspapers | Art. 50 |
| Sales | National and 1st–5th Category newspapers | Art. 51 |
| Staff | Online news sites | Art. 66 |
| Visitor traffic | Online news sites | Art. 67 |
| Announcement reporting | General Category online news sites | Art. 68 |
You may qualify for more than one; the rates are added together and applied to the basic indicator. The method of calculation is covered in the indicator guide, the staff indicator in the staff indicator guide and the printing indicator in the printing indicator guide.
Conclusion
Three conditions are required: having published official announcements for at least six months, maintaining the additional indicator condition for at least one month backwards, and making a signed application expressly stating the article relied on. The right runs from the date the request reaches the Agency, so you should apply as soon as you meet the condition.
The first two conditions are not sought for online news sites completing the waiting period in six months on double conditions; only the signed application remains.