Representatives from the regional press are among the candidates for places on the Council of the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

The ABC was founded to provide an independent verification of circulation and data figures to allow buying and selling of advertising space in national newspapers.

It has since expanded and is used by many newspapers, both regional and national, to verify their figures.

It is governed by a council of permanent and elected representatives from advertisers, advertising agencies, media owners and their representative trade bodies.

The three council members drawn from the regional paid newspapers will come from the following: Robert Hughes (Yorkshire Post Newspapers), Roy Lyttle (Belfast Telegraph), Geoffrey Copeman (Eastern Counties Newspapers), Julie Tattersall (Guardian Media Group), Paul Hodgson (Trinity Mirror Regionals), Carolyn Mackinnon-Ure (Northcliffe Newspapers) Andrew Boyd (Birmingham Post & Mail) and James Espin (Newsquest York).

Voting is now taking place among ABC member organisations. The new Council will be announced at ABC’s annual meeting on Wednesday December 12.

ABC Council elections take place every two years for seats designated for representatives of national newspapers, regional paid press, free newspapers, consumer magazines, business to business magazines, exhibition organisers, advertising agencies and advertisers.

Although day to day management of the organisation lies with chief executive Chris Boyd, the management committee and his team, the ABC Council has a critical role to play in terms of developing strategy, operating budgets and rule changes.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
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