The Audit Bureau of Circulations has given preliminary approval to community newspaper orientated auditing service, Editor & Publisher reported Tuesday.

The ABC Community Newspaper Audit proposal was accepted at its July meeting in Chicago last week and could be available to U.S. and Canadian publishers with newspapers with less than a paid circulation of 25,000 by January next year, dependent on ABC board approval.

The community audit will offer smaller newspapers a reduced cost and process audit with fees beginning at a $2,000 flat annual fee.

"This is a significant new service offering that directly addresses the challenges many community newspapers face today," Kirk Davis, president and COO of GateHouse Media, said in a statement. "Many publishers in this category will likely see savings of 25% to 50%, with the quality and brand draw of an ABC audit to help them attract local, regional and national advertisers. I think it will have widespread appeal for many newspapers."

Advertisers have begun to target the unique range of community papers and Merle Davidson, director of media services at J.C. Penney and chairman of the ABC board believes the smaller papers "improve reach and coverage in local markets no longer being served by metropolitan newspapers," E&P reported

The July meeting also saw the board approve audit freezes for 2010 the third year straight.

Sunni Boot, president and CEO of ZenithOptimedia Canada, was named as the new chairman of the ABC Canada Board. Dennis Skulsky, president and CEO of Canwest Publishing, will take on the vice chairman role, according to E&P