4A's Opens Membership Doors

Media, PR and Promotion Shops Welcomed
NEW YORK–The American Association of Advertising Agencies is amending its membership qualifications, inviting independent media, public relations, corporate identity and sales promotion agencies to its ranks.
The move is meant to reflect the growing role of nontraditional players in all aspects of marketing, not to boost membership in the 560-member trade organization. Only those shops owned by ad agencies had been eligible for membership. Now, any organization that “creates and/or places advertising or marketing communications” can come aboard.
“Times are changing,” said 4A’s president and chief executive Burtch Drake.