ABC Approves Low-Cost Audit Plan for Community Papers, Elects Officers

By: E&P Staff The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) board of directors has given final approval to the Community Newspaper Audit (CNA) service that cuts auditing costs and requirements for U.S. newspapers under 25,000 paid circulation, the Schaumburg, Ill.-based bureau said Tuesday.

ABC said more than 200 newspapers have already registered in the new CNA service, which begins with the March 2010 reporting period.

The CNA service is offered at all-inclusive fees that begin at a flat annual rate of $2,000 per year. ABC said its "streamlined audits" will take place under CNA every other year, "and require less publisher preparation and involvement," than its existing audit program. Participants are listed in ABC's searchable online database used by advertisers and ad agencies.

ABC added it expects to offer to Canadian newspapers next year a CNA service customized for the national market.

In other action during its annual business meeting, which took place Nov. 12 and 13, ABC agreed to form a Canadian digital advisory committee that it said will examine trends, business opportunities and ABC's role in auditing emerging media.

The group will be chaired by Ted Boyd, CEO of digital agency 58Ninety Inc.

ABC members re-elected 17 directors to serve on the board, and elected two new directors: Lisa Haynes, regional media manager, advertising for Kohl's Department Stores, and Lorraine Hughes, president of OMD Canada.

Members also elected the following slate of board officers to serve one-year terms:

Chairman: Merle Davidson, director of media services, J.C. Penney Co. Inc.

Vice-Chairs: David W. Leckey, executive vice president of consumer marketing at American Media Inc.; Vikki Schwartzman, vice president and corporate media director, L'Oreal USA; Brian Segal, president and CEO of Rogers Publishing; and David Walker, CEO of Geomentum.

Secretary: Rob Fisher, senior vice president, American City Business Journals.

Treasurer: Dennis Skulsky, president and CEO, Canwest Publishing