The AWNA provides advertisers with efficient and effective advertising services, and current information on the markets that Regular Member community newspapers serve. The AWNA develops technology that increases sales and target audiences for each advertising client.

 

Parameters:

 

1. NAV System

 

a) Ad Reproduction

Size alterations up to and including three lines in width or depth are acceptable. Ad must appear in its entirety.

Any size alterations over three lines in width or depth are subject to client discretion in regards to payment or non-payment.

 

b) Ad Reproduction Quality

Reproduction quality issues beyond the control of the AWNA are the responsibility of the member newspaper to rectify.

 

c) Newspaper Deadlines

The AWNA requires two weeks notification of changes to publishing deadlines. Changes in dates of publication requires 90 days notice.

 

d) Ad Cancellations

While the AWNA will do its best to resolve all situations fairly, the AWNA will not be held financially responsible for any ads cancelled after newspaper deadlines.

 

e) Tearsheets

AWSOM files must be uploaded within 24 hours of publication. If the newspaper closes down for a holiday week, it is required that the newspaper be uploaded beforehand. Ads that are not uploaded within 24 hours may result in non-payment.

 

f) The AWNA buys subscriptions to member newspapers.

g) The AWNA abides by the AWNA ad placement procedures of Community Media Canada (CMC) with the following exceptions:

i. The AWNA may process payments to newspapers without a tearsheet as long as there is proof that the advertisement was published as ordered. Acceptable proof includes and electronic (digital) archive and/or a publisher’s sworn affidavit of insertion.

 

ii. AWNA Regular Members may change rates on January 1 of each year. These rates are used for the entire calendar year.

 

iii. The AWNA charges a processing fee of 4.7% on all placed ads. 

 

iv. The AWNA pays Regular Members bi-weekly of each month for all ads that were published 60 days prior.

 

v. The AWNA does not follow a sequential liability policy, except in cases where an ad is placed by another association. In all instances, the AWNA pays its regular members for all ads placed.

 

h) Commission on Ad Placements – other Provincial Associations

A commission of 3.5 percent is to be granted to other associations that place ads in AWNA member newspapers. This is a reciprocal arrangement with other associations not included in the membership, where provisions apply.

 

i) Ad Leads and Commission to Member Newspapers

The AWNA will split its service fee 50/50 with member newspapers that place advertising through the NAV System or refer a lead to the AWNA that results in an ad placement.

 

j) Service fee on Flyers

A service fee of ten percent is to be levied by the AWNA office on all free-standing inserts (F.S.I’s) placed in member newspapers.

 

2. Blanket Classified Advertising

a) Acceptable Classified Advertising

i. The AWNA makes a reasonable attempt to verify the authenticity and/or legality of advertisements.

ii. AWNA contacts other provincial associations when specific issues arise, in order to develop agreed-upon uniform acceptance policies.

iii. Participating Members newspapers retain the right to reject any advertisement under this program that does not meet their advertising standards.

iv. AWNA does not provide tearsheets for blanket classified advertisements.

v. Regular members must place out-of-province blanket classified ads with the AWNA office.

 

 

b) Unacceptable Classified Advertising

The AWNA does not accept the following classified advertisements in its blanket classified advertising service.

i. Any advertisement that asks the reader to send money in advance for a product or service, or for information about a product or service. The AWNA reserves the right to ask for a sample of any product or service offered through an advertisement, in order to determine the worth of the product or service.

ii. Any business opportunity that is not, in the judgment of the AWNA, a legitimate business opportunity or job offer.

iii. Any advertisement for a product or service that the AWNA feels is undesirable or offensive to readers or its Member newspapers.

iv. Any advertisement that makes undocumented claims about the benefits of a product or service.

v. Any advertisement for an unlawful product or service.

vi. Any advertisement that is discriminatory to any race, color, creed, religion, or gender.

vii. Any ad from outside of Canada that appears to be questionable.

viii. Any ad from newspapers that are members of other provincial associations

 

c) Rates

i. The Board determines the rates annually, or as needed.

ii. Rate increases are set by November 1 and take effect on January 1 of the following year, unless the Board determines that financial difficulties require different timing.

iii. Regular members cannot discount or inflate the price of blanket classified ads.

iv. Regular Members must limit free member employment classified advertising to twenty-five (25) words. Regular Members are limited to a maximum of 12 free recruitment ads per calendar year.

 

Blanket Classified Fund

v. A fund is to be established, effective July 1, 2004, to help offset members’ costs related to the publication of the Association’s blanket classified advertisements. This fund will be derived from two sources;

1) from a $3 per word charge on ads that exceed 25 words, with the charge only applied to words in excess of 25, and 2) from a $20 per ad additional charge. The extra word charge is in effect as of July 1, 2004, until further notice, and the extra $20 charge per ad is in effect as of January 1, 2005, until further notice. Payments to member newspapers are to be made quarterly, one month following the end of each fiscal quarter, i.e., October 31st, January 31st, April 30th and July 31st.  The Board of Directors has the discretion to forego payment to members due to financial circumstances.

 

 

vi. Membership Dues

Membership dues not paid by June 30 will be deducted from the next display ad payment.

 

d) Finder’s Fees

i. The Board determines the finder’s fees annually, or as needed.

ii. The AWNA honours a 20% finder’s fee from other provincial community newspaper associations. This finder’s fee is applied to the total cost of the ad.

 

e) Deadlines and Publication

i. AWNA deadlines are no earlier than the end of the day on Wednesday for publication of the following week.

 

f) Distribution of Ads

i. The AWNA distribute ads to Regular Members in an electronic format.

 

g) Errors

i. The AWNA reruns in the next available date, at no charge, any ad that another provincial association distributes in error.

ii. A Member newspaper that incorrectly publishes an ad must rerun the ad in the next issue at no charge.

 

h) Billing and Payment

The AWNA offers a volume discount for blanket classified advertising, in which advertisers that run ten (10) ads over a six (6) month period receive the 11th ad free.