News organizations to merge
The boards of the American Press Institute, Reston, Va., and Newspaper Association of America Foundation, Arlington, Va., approved the merger of the two organizations.
Mark Newhouse, EVP of Advance Publications, will head a board consisting of representatives from the API board and NAAF board of trustees. Over the next several months, leaders of the new entity will decide on structure and operations, and what programs the new entity will offer. They also will determine what the new organization's name will be, and where offices will be located. NAAF is located in NAA offices, while API shares offices with the American Society of Newspaper Editors.
Carol Ann Riordan is API interim executive director. Former executive director Drew Davis retired last year, and former deputy director Mark Mullholland also departed. Sandy Woodcock is NAAF director.
NAA CEO Caroline Little told Poynter.org that she hopes the new organization will continue API's training, especially in developing digital products and revenue. Details: www.naa.org.
ASNE revises dues structure...again
American Society of Newspaper Editors will return to a graduated dues structure after smaller news organizations conveyed that they could not afford the current flat rate.
Under the new plan, dues will top out at $395 annually for news leaders at the largest organizations. ASNE slashed rates most dramatically for small news organizations. For instance, annual dues for top editors at newspapers with circulation of fewer than 25,000 were cut by 68 percent, from $295 to $95. Some dues rates go as low as $75. The new plan also offers more discounts for bundling memberships.
ASNE will give refunds to those members who already paid dues that are higher than the new rates. Those who have paid less in dues will not be billed under the new rates until 2013.
In 2009, ASNE moved from a graduated dues rate to a flat rate of $295 for all active members. Details: www.asne.org.
