Newspaper Financial Execs' Group Merges Membership Into Broadcast/Cable Association

By: Mark Fitzgerald The association for newspaper financial executives known as INFE is going away under an agreement that will merge its membership into the principal association for broadcast and cable industry financial executives.

The agreement between INFE and the Media Financial Management Association (known as MFM) caps a year of changes for the newspaper group.

INFE changed its name from International Newspaper Financial Executives to Interactive and Newsmedia Financial Executives and then, like several other newspaper industry associations, canceled this year's annual meeting. As a substitute MSM invited INFE members to its distant learning events, and as full participants at its own annual conference.

INFE will close its headquarters in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Purcellville, Va., and its executive director for the last 26 years, Bob Kasabian, will be leaving once the consolidation under MSM is complete. MSM is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Glenview, Ill.

INFE President Jeff Hood, the CFO of Seattle-based Pioneer Newspapers, said the decision was the result of a strategic review conducted by the association's board of directors and executive committee to see what changes needed to be made in the changed media environment.

"We believe this combination will allow INFE members greater access to ideas and tools via increased contacts and information," Hood said in a message to members.

The decision to run the consolidated organization from MFM was "a very difficult one," he added.

"Bob Kasabian ... has been leading INFE for 26 years and built it into a respected organization that is recognized throughout the industry," Hood wrote. "We all owe Bob a huge debt of gratitude for all his years of service and creative ideas that made this organization successful for many years."

INFE members will "continue receiving the services that they have previously enjoyed," the joint announcement said. It noted that INFE members will now be legible to access MFM's BCCA subsidiary, which provides credit and collections reports and related services customized for media companies.