Industry task force takes over survey p. 10

By: Editorial Staff THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY Compensation Study, the annual survey of wages and direct compensation at U.S. and Canadian daily newspapers, has been transferred from the Newspaper Association of America (NAA) to a task force led by the Inland Press Association.
Inland, which has processed the survey since its inception in 1988, will continue in the role and also be responsible for convening the task force. Inland will also add financial backing to the project.
For its part, NAA will support and promote the survey through its publication and provide a "transitional subsidy, if needed," according to the joint announcement by Inland executive director Ray Carlsen and John Sturm, NAA senior vice president/public policy and general counsel.
The NAA had sponsored the survey from the beginning.
"NAA's objective is to continue to provide our members with access to a quality, comprehensive survey at a reasonable price," NAA's Sturm said. "By creating a consortium for a single study, NAA and Inland are building on our very successful record and eliminating needless expense and duplication."
In addition to the NAA and Inland, co-sponsors of the task force include International Newspaper Financial Executives, New England Newspaper Association, and the Newspaper Personnel Relations Association.
To sustain the survey, the task force announced it will assess a user fee, ranging from $60 to $200, depending on circulation size.
"In addition, the 1995 report will be scheduled for earlier summer release, to permit use of the information in fall budgeting," the task force said.
As was true in past years, access to the reports will be limited to participating newspapers.
Inland's Carlsen said, depending on participation within the areas, regional and state breakouts will be added to the survey report.
All members will get the national report, while the state and regional breakouts will be available exclusively through co-sponsoring organizations, he added.
The confidential study presents averages in base pay and direct compensation, organized by circulation group and geography for 63 newspaper job titles.