• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, March 5, 2009

The second swipe at a big ad trade magazine at the Four As in as many days.

Today’s swipe came in the opening speech from Four As chief Nancy Hill, citing Adweek’s Brian Morrissey’s recent post questioning whether the venerable trade magazine still needs to name a “digital agency of the year.”

Actually, that’s something we’ve been debating at MediaPost and OMMA magazine for a while now too. (Personally, I agree with Morrissey, so stay tuned.)

But that opened the door for Hill’s dig, and this morning she quipped, “Does a digital trade magazine even need a digital editor. Just asking Brian.”

The trade press dig came less than 24-hours after GroupM heavy Irwin Gotlieb zapped Advertising Age’s attack on trade associations like the Four As and the IAB, saying the trade mag’s attack reflected the economic “pain” it must be feeling, more than that of the industry it covers.