Forum Communications Company
St. Cloud Live — Rates, Specs & Deadlines
St. Cloud, MN · 2026 Edition
St. Cloud Live has served the St. Cloud area for 3 years, providing local news, information and advertising opportunities for St. Cloud and surrounding Central Minnesota communities.
Rates
2026 Rate Card
Open Local Display — Print
| Ad Size | Dimensions | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1/24 Page | 3.26" × 2.38" | $200 |
| 1/16 Page | 4.96" × 2.38" | $260 |
| 1/12 Page | 3.26" × 4.9" | $340 |
| 1/8 Page H | 10.056" × 2.38" | $420 |
| 1/8 Page V | 4.96" × 4.9" | $420 |
| 1/6 Page | 3.269" × 9.93" | $520 |
| 1/4 Page H | 10.056" × 4.9" | $800 |
| 1/4 Page V | 4.96" × 9.93" | $800 |
| 1/3 Page | 3.26" × 20" | $980 |
| 1/2 Page H | 10.056" × 9.93" | $1,450 |
| 1/2 Page V | 4.96" × 20" | $1,450 |
| Full Page | 10.056" × 20" | $2,775 |
Prices include full color.
Frequency Program (per-insertion rate)
| Ad Size | 1× | 6× | 12× | 26× | 52× |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 Page | $420 | $350 | $275 | $225 | $200 |
| 1/4 Page | $800 | $375 | $375 | $300 | $275 |
| 1/2 Page | $1,450 | $825 | $675 | $535 | $500 |
| Full Page | $2,775 | $1,525 | $1,225 | $950 | $900 |
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.
- Rates include color.
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
| Publication | Publication Day | Materials Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud Live | Friday | Monday 12:00 PM |
Contact
Get in touch
Phone
833-773-8591
Email
advertise@forumcomm.com
Web
stcloudlive.com
Address
113 5th Ave. South, St. Cloud, MN 56301
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