The AOP's plans for greater independence follow a similar move initiated by the customer magazine association APA earlier this year. The APA will become an independent legal entity on 1 January 2010, but continue to be an affiliated member of the PPA and work together on joint industry issues.
The PPA said the talks are part of an initiative to create a more "federated" trade body structure.
Currently, the PPA provides services for AOP members including government lobbying, research and technical expertise. The AOP's members include the digital arms of some of the UK's biggest media companies, such as ITV, Channel 4, BSkyB, IPC Media, Guardian News & Media, News International, NatMags and BBC Worldwide. These companies are not leaving the PPA.
The two bodies are negotiating over plans for the AOP to have control over its own finances and corporate governance. In the new structure, however, the AOP and the PPA will continue to share a number of services, including legal expertise.
AOP director Lee Baker said: "As part of our obligation to provide the highest value to all our members, AOP is committed to fulfilling its potential as an independent trade body for online publishers.
"Independence represents the outcome of 12 months strategy work, together with the PPA. We will continue to enjoy their support as a separate entity, and reciprocate with insight and thought from the digital business world that their members can benefit from."
PPA consultant Eric Verdon-Roe said: "PPA is committed to driving through these refreshed relationships; we see it as a very positive way of all parties delivering better value for members.
"No one is severing ties with the PPA. We will continue working in the same open-plan offices with the APA and AOP, whose executives will continue to sit on PPA committees."
The PPA said the changes in its structure are intended to provide the AOP and APA with "greater independence" to develop services specifically tailored to their members, while providing a focus where publishers can use the PPA's expertise.
- CLARIFICATION This story is an amended version of "Members break from PPA ranks", first published in the print edition of Media Week on 13 October (page 5), which incorrectly stated that AOP members were "severing ties" with the PPA, rather than negotiating an affiliated status as explained above.
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