>ICOM Economy: can money be earned through advertisements in ICOM News? 
>Even with the current number of members, one would think ICOM News was
attractive for >advertisements. With a strongly increased number of members,
advertisements could make ICOM >News an income earner, even in a paper
version. I do not think advertisements in any case will >>make ICOM rich,
but it may pay part or all of the expenses connected to ICOM News. 
******
Dear members,
We have already tried this experience it was in 1993, at that time I was a
very young professional at the ICOM secretariat, and I was also thinking
that with advertising we would be able to cover a big part of the expenses
of ICOM NEWS. At that time ICOM News did  not have, in terms of design and
lay out, the same quality as today. However we were able to sell some
advertising pages and if you have a look on issues 1-2-3-4 / 1993, you will
see the results..(Note that we had also sold advertising pages for special
publications projects and notably in 1992 with the ICOM membership
Directory.)

Why did we not continue ?
1 -  Legal and administrative Statuts of ICOM : ICOM is under the french law
as an "Association loi 1901, à but non lucratif", this means that we are
only allowed to make a very small amout of  income on commercial activities,
without paying taxes on these incomes (approx. 70 000 FF/ year = +/- 11 600
us$)
2- Sell advertising pages is a full time job.  So the advertising pages have
also to cover the expenses a one more salary ( at least a "half" salary).Of
course this could be done by an agency, but our prices were not enought high
to interest an agency and the proposals we received were not interesting in
terms of finance  for ICOM.
I am not negative to try again this experience, (also because ICOM News
looks better now), but there are lot of matters to take into consideration.
 I think, The legal and administrative Status of ICOM is the most important
issue you must be aware of  in your discussions on the reform of ICOM. I am
certain the RTF will give you more information on this issue.
Be sure that, at the ICOM secretariat, we are following with many interests
your discussions on the reform of ICOM. It is very instructive for us and it
helps us to better know our membership.  We encourage you to continue as
much as possible.
Regards,

Valerie Jullien
Communications/publications Officer
ICOM Secretariat


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