Forum Communications Company
Madison Daily Leader — Rates, Specs & Deadlines
Madison, SD · 2026 Edition
Madison Daily Leader has served Madison, South Dakota and surrounding communities for 136 years, providing local news, information and advertising opportunities for the area.
Rates
2026 Rate Card
Frequency Program (per-insertion rate)
| Frequency | Full | Half | Quarter | Eighth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12× | $785 | $432 | $225 | $200 |
| 26× | $628 | $346 | $180 | $150 |
| 52× | $471 | $260 | $125 | $100 |
Open Local Display — Print
| Ad Size | Dimensions | B&W | Full Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Page | 10.056" × 20" | $1,295 | $2,865 |
| 1/2 Page H | 10.056" × 9.93" | $665 | $865 |
| 1/2 Page V | 4.966" × 20" | $665 | $865 |
| 3/8 Page H | 10.056" × 7.43" | $630 | $780 |
| 1/4 Page V | 4.966" × 9.93" | $350 | $450 |
| 1/4 Page H | 10.056" × 4.9" | $350 | $450 |
| 1/6 Page V | 3.269" × 9.93" | $295 | $395 |
| 1/8 Page V | 4.966" × 4.9" | $187.25 | $254.25 |
| 1/8 Page H | 10.056" × 2.38" | $187.25 | $254.25 |
| 1/12 Page H | 6.66" × 2.38" | $155 | $222 |
| 1/12 Page V | 3.269" × 4.9" | $155 | $222 |
| 1/16 Page | 4.966" × 2.38" | $122 | $155 |
| 1/24 Page | 3.269" × 2.38" | $90 | $123 |
Premium Ad Positions
| Position | Dimensions | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Front Skybox | 3.269" × 2.38" | $150 |
| Front Banner Strip | 10.056" × 1.5" | $300 |
| Front Banner | 10.056" × 2.38" | $400 |
Rate Notes
- All print ad rates include that day's e-paper. E-paper rates apply on days without a printed edition.
- All advertising is payable 30 days upon receipt of bill. Accounts 60+ days past due incur a 1.5% monthly service charge.
- The word "advertisement" must appear above all advertising simulating editorial content.
- We do not accept local brokered advertising.
- Creative design is included in all print advertising rates.
- All rates valid for 12 months with a signed annual agreement.
02 / Specs
Mechanical Specifications
Sizing
Ad Size
Build the ad to the exact size purchased. Ads will not be stretched or reformatted to fit.
- If an ad is submitted at a different size:
- It will be scaled proportionally to fit within the purchased space.
- The ad will not be reformatted or redesigned.
- Final placement may include white space if proportions differ.
File Format
Accepted Files
Preferred: press-ready PDF with fonts embedded or outlined.
Other file types (JPG, PNG, etc.) are not recommended for camera-ready ads due to compression and quality limitations.
Resolution
Image Resolution
| Setting | Specification |
|---|---|
| Recommended | 300 DPI |
| Minimum | 200 DPI |
Images below the minimum resolution may appear soft or pixelated when printed.
Color
Color Requirements
- Color ads must be built in CMYK.
- Files submitted in RGB will be converted for print, which may result in color or tonal shifts.
- Black text should be 100% black (K only).
- Black & white ads should use grayscale or black-only images and text.
Ink Coverage
- Total ink coverage should not exceed 240%.
- Higher ink levels may cause printing issues, including muddy or blurred images.
Trim
Bleed & Safe Area (For Trimmed Publications)
- Bleed: 0.25" beyond trim on all sides.
- Safe area: keep all important content at least 0.5" inside trim (minimum 0.25"); content closer than this may be flagged during preflight.
- Bleed, trim, and safe area may vary by publication size.
- PDFs should not include printer's marks.
- Content outside the safe area may be trimmed.
- Contact us if you need specifications for a specific publication.
Print
Print Considerations
- Keep text above 5.5 pt for readability.
- Avoid reversing small text out of colored backgrounds.
- Expect normal print variation due to press conditions (dot gain).
Content Use
Image & Content Use
- All submitted content must be approved for use in advertising.
- Advertisers are responsible for ensuring they have the appropriate rights, licenses, or permissions for all images, logos, and text included in their ad.
- If content is licensed, it is the advertiser's responsibility to confirm that the license allows for commercial use and third-party reproduction.
- The publisher reserves the right to reject any content that does not meet these requirements or is deemed unsuitable for publication.
Adjustments
Ad Adjustments & Rebuilds
Camera-ready ads are intended to run as submitted. If resizing, edits, or reconstruction are required:
- All editable materials (text, images, logos) must be provided.
- Submitted files will be used as a reference only.
If we are unable to scale to a usable size, the ad will be returned to client for resizing; deadlines apply. Rebuilds and adjustments void our credit policy.
Dimensions
Print Ad Dimensions — Broadsheet
Modular standards for broadsheet publications across Forum Communications. Build ads to the exact dimensions shown.
Standard Sizes
Full Page
10.056" × 20"
1/2 Page — V
4.96" × 20"
1/2 Page — H
10.056" × 9.93"
3/8 Page — H
10.056" × 7.43"
1/4 Page — V
4.96" × 9.93"
1/4 Page — H
10.056" × 4.9"
1/8 Page — V
4.96" × 4.9"
1/8 Page — H
10.056" × 2.38"
Small & Specialty Sizes
1/12 Page — V
3.26" × 4.9"
1/12 Page — H
6.66" × 2.38"
1/16 Page — H
4.96" × 2.38"
1/24 Page — H
3.26" × 2.38"
Double Truck
Double Truck
21.065" × 20"
1/2 Page Double Truck
21.065" × 9.93"
Front Page Premium Spots
Skybox
3.26" × 2.38"
Banner Strip
10.056" × 1.5"
Banner Label
8.35" × 2.38"
Banner Full
10.056" × 2.38"
- Skybox — top of the page in the masthead area. Available at all print locations.
- Front Banner Strip — beneath the masthead. Available at all print locations.
- Banner Label — bottom of the page above the index. Available in newspapers printed in Detroit Lakes and Bismarck.
- Banner Full — above the index at the bottom of the page. Available in newspapers printed in Sioux Falls.
10 / Dimensions
Print Ad Dimensions — Tabloid
Modular standards for tabloid publications across Forum Communications.
Standard Sizes
Full Page
10.056" × 9.93"
1/2 Page — V
4.96" × 9.93"
1/2 Page — H
10.056" × 4.9"
1/4 Page — V
4.96" × 4.9"
1/4 Page — H
10.056" × 2.38"
1/6 Page — V
3.26" × 4.9"
1/6 Page — H
6.66" × 2.38"
1/8 Page — H
4.96" × 2.38"
Bizcard
3.26" × 2.38"
Double Truck
Double Truck
20.862" × 9.93"
Front Page & Premium Positions
Front-page modular spots are premium positions and available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Deadlines
Submission Deadlines
| Edition | Space Reservation | Materials Due | Final Ad Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Daily Leader | Fri 10:00 AM | Mon 10:00 AM | Tue 10:00 AM |
| Leader Lite (TMC) | Fri 9:00 AM | Mon 9:00 AM | Tue 9:00 AM |
Contact
Get in touch
Phone
605-256-4555
Email
advertise@forumcomm.com
Web
advertising.forumcomm.com
Address
107 E Center St, Madison, SD 57042-2907
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