MARBLEHEAD, MA – February 20, 2003 – SWOP (Specifications for Web Offset Publications), a leader in the graphic communications and publication printing industries charged with ensuring consistency and quality of material in publications, announced today the election of new officers to the SWOP board of directors.   Following the retirement of Joel Rubin, SWOP chair for the last 9 years, Nubar Nakashian of Print International has been elected the new chairman of SWOP. Well known for his leadership role in the development and adoption of accredited file formats and specifications in the publishing industry, Nakashian will help carry on the SWOP tradition.  Ron Brockman of Vance Publishing Corp. was elected treasurer, joining fellow officers Roy Zucca of ConsultRoy.com and Larry Warter of Fuji Photo Film USA, vice chairman and secretary respectively. Rubin will continue to serve on the SWOP board as past chairman. "The SWOP board includes experienced members from across the entire spectrum of the publishing industry," remarked Nakashian. "Our directors represent ad agencies, prepress houses, printers, publishers and system developers.  Together we look forward to expanding SWOP’s mission to continually raise the level of quality of publication printing by setting forth specifications and tolerances in response to the evolving technology." Nakashian also cited plans to announce new initiatives at the March 4th SWOP Reception at the PrintMedia Conference in New York City.  Sponsored by Creo Americas, this reception will celebrate SWOP’s past achievements, announce the publication of SWOP’s 10th Edition Specification and launch SWOP’s new Membership Program. Also introduced at the reception will be "The SWOPranos," an industry task force whose mission will to create new "incentives" for agencies to deliver SWOP proofs with their ads. "SWOP is considering the electronic distribution of the 10th Edition Specification," shared Nakashian.  "Given the dramatic growth in electronic resources over the past few years, it seems appropriate to examine this method of distribution. Digital workflow is being used every day by agencies, prepress facilities, and publication printers. Computer-to-plate is now state-of-the-art in pressrooms across the country.  The continued push for the use of accredited file formats throughout the industry continues to be a priority for SWOP.  Our new Membership Program is designed to strengthen the relationship between SWOP and members of the magazine publication industry." Rubin applauds these new directions. "Looking over the past 27 years of the SWOP Specification, we should be very pleased with the contribution SWOP has made to the publication printing industry," Rubin stated. "Yet we must remain determined to continue pressing forward to increase the number of SWOP certified proofing systems and expand the adoption of SWOP proofing methods." About SWOP Specifications for Web Offset Publishing (SWOP) was initiated in 1975 as a response to the printing industry’s need for uniform specifications and tolerances to ensure consistency and quality of material in publications.  Over the past 25 years, SWOP has become a major factor in the publication printing industry. The resulting recommended specifications are the concern of all those involved in the production of publications-including the advertiser, publisher, printer, advertising agency and prepress service provider.