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ASNE revises dues schedule, lowering rates for most

Membership dues will decline dramatically for most American Society of News Editors members and prospective members under a new dues structure unveiled today. Under the new plan, ASNE returns to graduated dues rates based on the size of a member's organization and his or her position within the company.

Membership dues will decline dramatically for most American Society of News Editors members and prospective members under a new dues structure unveiled today.

Under the new plan, ASNE returns to graduated dues rates based on the size of a member's organization and his or her position within the company. Dues rates top out at $395 for news leaders at the largest organizations, and drop to as low as $75 for those employed at smaller organizations. The annual dues rate for retired members will also decline under the new plan, from $125 to $95.

“We heard from many potential members, particularly at smaller news organizations, who told us they would like to join ASNE, but need the dues to be more affordable,” said ASNE President Ken Paulson. “We want to dramatically expand our membership as we transform the organization for the digital age, and restructuring our rates is an important step forward.”

The new structure creates five new membership categories based on organization type: Newspapers; News Services and Corporate Headquarters; News Websites; Journalism Schools; and Research/Training Centers. Within each, there are subcategories based on size and job classification. The new plan also allows organizations to bundle memberships at a substantial discount.

The most dramatic changes apply to small news organizations. For instance, annual dues for top editors at newspapers with circulation under 25,000 were slashed by 68 percent, from $295 to $95. Dues for section editors at small papers, editors at small news websites, and journalism professors dropped even more, to $75.

The new dues schedule is available for download here. (PDF)

In 2009, the last time the dues structure was revised, ASNE moved from a graduated system of rates between $675 and $175, to a flat rate of $295 for all active members.

“All of us on the board are aware of the need to convince leaders at smaller news organizations to become members,” said Andy Alexander, chairman of the Membership and Marketing Committee. “ASNE has long been perceived as a ‘big paper' organization. We are working hard to change that perception.”

Later this week, ASNE will issue revised invoices for members whose dues are scheduled to be paid in January. Those who have already paid more in dues than they would have under the new plan will be refunded the difference, while those who have paid less in dues than they would have under the new rates will not be re-billed under the new rates until 2013.

Since Paulson took the helm in April, ASNE has substantially reduced organizational expenses; launched a weekly e-mail newsletter; moved the annual Newsroom Employment Census online and partnered with a research unit at the University of Missouri to administer the survey; launched a series of regional seminars in partnership with other journalism organizations; and partnered with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press on Sunshine Week. ASNE is also in the final stages of revamping its website and membership database, moving its headquarters office, and forming a strategic partnership with a journalism school.

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