In a newspaper publishing official announcements the page layout is not free: the line density and the range of font sizes are determined numerically in the Regulation.
The General Principle - Art. 40/1
It is compulsory for newspapers to take care over the page layout in accordance with technological developments; for the writing, pictures, photographs, graphics and the like to be relevant to their texts; and to take the measures necessary for that content to be read and understood easily.
The Numerical Rule - Art. 40/2
It is compulsory for the news, columns, articles, comment, interviews and other written texts in the content of newspapers, other than the headline and the strapline, to contain at least 12 and at most 14 lines of text in every five-centimetre portion, and for the letters to be used in such a way that they are not smaller than 8 points or larger than 10 points.
| Criterion | Lower limit | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|
| Number of lines in every 5 cm | At least 12 | At most 14 |
| Font size | May not be smaller than 8 points | May not be larger than 10 points |
What Must Appear on Every Page - Art. 40/3
Having regard also to the established practices of the press and the characteristics of the printing technique, the date, the page number and the name of the newspaper must appear on every page of newspapers.
- The date
- The page number
- The name of the newspaper
The Principles of Printing - Art. 41
Art. 41/1: it is compulsory for newspapers to take care over the printing technique in accordance with developments in the printing industry and in technology, in such a way as to ensure that every kind of writing, picture, photograph, graphic, cartoon and the like in their content is easily readable and understandable.
Art. 41/3: other than for compelling reasons, the printing operation of newspapers may not be carried out before 19.00 on the day preceding the day whose date the issue to be printed bears, and it is compulsory for as much as the daily minimum actual sales amount to be completed at once, without interruption, at the same printing house.
| Rule | Content |
|---|---|
| The earliest time of printing | 19.00 on the day preceding the day whose date the issue bears |
| The amount | As much as the daily minimum actual sales amount |
| How | At the same printing house, without interruption, at once |
The Place of Printing and Its Change
Art. 41/4 (Added phrase: Official Gazette 10/12/2025-33103): newspapers must notify a change of their place of printing to the Agency in signed form, together with the contract made, on the first following working day at the latest.
Art. 41/5: the pages must have been arranged at the place of publication and be printed, in conformity with the provisions of Printing Houses Law No. 5681, at printing houses operating within the borders of the province where it is published. However, newspapers may also print at printing houses outside the borders of the province within the same principles, provided they notify the Agency in signed form in advance.
We cover the detail in the place of printing guide and the digital press guide.
A Checklist
- Does the range of 12-14 lines in 5 cm hold in the texts?
- Is the font size in the 8-10 range?
- Is the date, page number and newspaper name on every page?
- Are the images relevant to the text?
- Is printing done after 19.00 on the day preceding the day whose date it bears?
- Is the minimum actual sales amount printed at once at the same printing house?
Summary
In texts other than the headline and the strapline there must be at least 12 and at most 14 lines in every 5 centimetres and the letters must not be smaller than 8 or larger than 10 points. The date, the page number and the name of the newspaper must appear on every page. Printing may not be carried out before 19.00 on the day preceding the day whose date the issue bears, and as much as the minimum actual sales amount must be completed at once at the same printing house.