About AWNA

Who are we?

Alberta’s community newspapers reflect the images, thoughts and everyday happenings of the communities they serve. While these communities may vary in size from tiny, isolated locations to bustling suburban centres, they share one important feature — a strong weekly newspaper.

Today there are 113 member newspapers throughout Alberta and the Northwest Territories. They boast a combined verified circulation of 634,995. The smallest newspaper circulates 466 copies each week; the largest – 27,540.

We are part of a Canada-wide network of Community Newspapers through the Canadian Community Newspapers Association (CCNA), together with six other provincial associations. Together we represent nearly 700 newspapers.

When and why were we formed?

The association celebrated its 85^th anniversary in 2005. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s it operated from the basement of publisher George Meyer. A central office was established in 1977. Dennis Merrell, Executive Director, has been with the association since 1982.

The AWNA’s mission is to encourage, assist and ensure our members publish high quality community newspapers. The Association achieves this by prioritizing education, marketing and fellowship.

What do we do?

The AWNA is committed to providing advertisers with unsurpassed service and up to date information on each of the markets community newspapers serve. As a leader in the community newspaper industry, AWNA continues to develop technology that translates into increased sales and target audiences for each advertising client.

Advertising services include: Target Marketing with Market Analyzer System (MAS), ComBase Readership survey results, Data Book, One System (One Order…One Bill), Blanket Classified Advertising; AWNET (electronic news release distribution service). For more information about these services refer to the Market Research and Advertising Services sections of this Data Book.

Member Services is another function of AWNA. The association provides member newspapers the opportunity to focus on the quality of their products through its Better Newspaper Competition and workshops. It is the only community newspaper association in Canada that sponsors an annual Newspaper Symposium of 17 seminars over 3 days for the education and training of member newspapers.