A number of strategies can help to reduce costs. Bulletins belonging to or linked with established organizations such as teaching institutions or hospitals tend to have an advantage in terms of human, financial, material and administrative resources. For example, you may be able to negotiate to use the organization’s computers and other electronic facilities for desktop publishing. Reference materials that are already available can also be easily used.

It is best to clearly define the scope of the bulletin and its target audience. A focused activity helps limit spending while increasing the bulletin’s expertise within a defined area.

It may be possible to reduce printing costs by using fewer colours or publishing fewer pages.

Distribution of a bulletin can be costly. This task, although as important as publication, is often neglected or carried out inefficiently. To save on distribution costs it is essential to find out which mailing services have the lowest rates. Establishing good links with other organizations can also be of assistance in distribution. It may be possible to reduce costs considerably by using a mechanism that is already in place. For example, in some cases a drug bulletin is distributed together with another journal, such as a national journal of a medical or pharmaceutical association. Bulletins which have a long experience of subscription, distribution and promotion can help less experiences ones. For example, as well as editorial training sessions, la revue Prescrire has organized special sessions on these topics for young bulletins.

Inexpensive electronic communication channels such as e-mail can be an economical means of achieving quick national and international dissemination. Similarly, more and more bulletins are starting to be published on the Internet.²