A

advertised price. The basic price of publication.

advertisers' copies. Copies of a publication given to advertisers in the publication (one copy to each advertiser) for checking their advertisements.

advertising agencies' copies. Copies of a publication given to advertising agencies for the purpose of checking advertisements placed by such agencies.

all other. A phrase used specifically in newspaper reports to designate all circulation not included in city and retail trading zones or newspaper designated market.

arrears. Subscribers retained on active subscription list after expiration.

association subscription. Subscription received as part of membership in an association.

audit. Examination of a publisher's records and corroborative data in order to check for correctness in the Publisher's Statements covering the period audited.

Audit Report. Official document issued by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, detailing its findings as the result of audit. (On white paper to differentiate it from Publisher's Statements.)

average paid. Average paid circulation of all the issues arrived at by dividing the total paid circulation of all the issues during the period by the total number of issues.

B

back copies. An issue of a publication is considered to be a back copy immediately upon the appearance for sale of the next issue.

basic prices. The price at which the publication may be purchased by anyone, without limitation, for a definite duration, in contrast to a special price for a limited period or to a limited class or under limited conditions.

bulk sales. Quantity sales of copies of a single issue or subscriptions of two or more consecutive issues to one purchaser (see applicable rule).

C

call-at-office subscribers. Subscribers who obtain their copies at office of publication.

carrier. Individual engaged in delivery of newspapers.

D

deductible from dues. Subscriptions of members of an association, organization, or society which allows its member to deduct the subscription price from their dues or contribution if they do not wish to receive the publication.

deferred subscriptions. Subscriptions served a month or more late, usually from copies unsold from initial distribution and returned by distributor.

distribution. The total number of copies distributed per issue whether paid, non-paid or unpaid.

distributor. A general term applied to carriers, dealers, street vendors and all others who sell publications as a vocation or part of their vocation. This term also covers middlemen who resell papers to carriers, dealers, street vendors and all others.

draw. The number of copies of a publication charged to dealer, carrier or other distributor.

E

"eat" papers. To accept and pay for more copies than one has customers.

F

field served. The publisher's description of the market/markets or occupations to whose interest the publication's editorial content is directed.

free publication. One which is distributed mainly free of charge to recipients.

fulfillment. Procedures involved in delivering copies of publication to recipients.

function. The type of work a publication's recipient performs. It may or may not be the same as the individual's title.

G

galley. A list of all publication subscriber mailing labels or stencil impressions.

gift subscriptions. Subscriptions paid for by one other than the recipient, used as a gift and not to promote the interest of the donor.

group organizer. A person who takes two or more subscriptions to the same publication from a group of individuals, collectively, and sends the order for all of the group at the same time, each member of the group thereby receiving a reduction from the regular subscription price.

group subscriptions. Subscriptions in quantities to corporations, institutions or individuals for employees, subsidiary companies or branch offices under special conditions specified in the rules. (See applicable rule.)

H

hotel copies. Copies purchased by a hotel or motel and distributed free to guests. Copies similarly distributed by restaurants, clubs, and transportation companies are included in the same designation. They are included in bulk sales regardless of number. (See applicable rule.)

I

individual mail subscription. Individual subscription served by mail and qualifying as paid in accordance with the rules.

informational announcement. Advisory notifications. Their use in connection with the distribution of priced publications as supplements is intended to be of a non-circulation inducing nature. The following parameters shall apply:

• Informational announcements are intended to inform the subscriber/single copy purchaser that the supplement publication will be included in the distribution of their (host) publication.
• No disclosure of price or value of the supplements distributed.
• No reference to the inclusion or distribution of supplements in subscription/single copy promotional offers.
• May include an insert to host and/or supplemental publications informing recipient that the host publication will be distributing the supplemental publication.

installment subscriptions. Subscriptions on which the collection of the total amount to be paid is made in installments within the subscription period.

intermittent subscriptions. Subscriptions to periodic (or irregular) issues only. For newspapers, this may include service of less than the total potential days within an established term (i.e. serving 9 out of 13 Monday issues). Such subscriptions may include "anchor" days, such as every Sunday published within the total term, plus the period issues.

M

mail subscription. Order received by mail directly from a subscriber.

motor route. Delivery of single copies by means of motor transport to subscribers.

N

net press run. Total of copies printed suitable for distribution.

news agents. A distributor of newspapers or periodicals at wholesale.

newsdealer. A merchant with fixed place of doing business who buys newspapers or periodicals to sell again at retail.

newspaper supplement. A compilation of syndicated and/or locally edited features, news items, or editorial comment and advertising distributed as a separate part or section of a newspaper.

nondeductible from dues. Association subscriptions of members of an association which allows no deduction of the subscription price of the publication from the dues in case the member does not desire the publication.

non-paid direct request. Copies of a business publication or farm publication served to recipients who do not pay for them but receive copies upon written request, when in the field served by the publication.

nonreturnable. Not subject to credit on being returned. A sales plan in which dealers or other distributors purchase their copies with the understanding that they must pay for all copies purchased whether they sell them or not.

O

P

paid. A classification of subscriptions or purchases, based upon payment in accordance with the standards set by the rules.

paid-on-delivery subscription. Subscription for which the price on each issue is collected when it is delivered or, in case an advance payment is made with order, the prorated balance is collected at time of delivery of each issue.

paid subscriber. Purchaser of publication on a term contract, whose subscription qualifies as paid circulation in accordance with the rules.

paid subscription. A subscription paid in accordance with rules defining a paid subscriber.

pay-in-office subscription. Any subscription to a newspaper where the subscriber is billed by and makes payment to the newspaper's office regardless of the delivery method (carrier delivery, U.S. Postal Service, or Canada Post) utilized.

periodical. Publication of regular periodic issue, except newspapers.

premium. Anything, except periodicals, offered to a subscriber, either free or at a price, with a subscription, either direct, or by agent.

Publisher's Interim Statement. Statement of publisher, made to ABC at the publisher's option and issued unaudited (but subject to audit) by the Bureau.

Publisher's Statement. Statement of circulation data made to ABC by a publisher member of the Bureau and issued unaudited (but subject to audit) by the Bureau.

Publisher's Suggested Price. The price at which the publication may be purchased by anyone, without limitation, for a definite duration, in contrast to a special price for a limited period or to a limited class or under limited conditions.

R

rack sales. Sales of newspapers from racks or boxes, placed on street corners or other convenient points, with the customer depositing coin in payment in a box provided for the purpose. Same as "box" or "honor box" sales.

reduced prices. Subscriptions or single copies sold at prices less than the basic price.

reference media. Books or publications of periodic issue giving statistical data designed to be kept for reference.

renewal. A subscription which has been renewed prior to or at expiration or within a period thereafter permitted under Bureau rules.

replate. A change of one or more pages during the printing of an edition or issue of a publication. This procedure generally serves the purpose of adding late news items or of correcting an error in the original copy.

returnable. Copies of publications sold to distributors under agreement to take back those unsold. Fully returnable means that all copies sold to any and all distributors may be returned if unsold. Limited returnable is used in two senses. First, when a part of the distribution is sold on a returnable basis and part on a nonreturnable basis; second, when distributors are allowed the return privilege but only of a certain percentage of the quantity purchased.

returns. Copies returned to publisher by dealer or other distributor for credit. Frequently, to save transportation charges, complete copies are not returned but only paper headings or covers.

rotated circulation. Copies of a publication sent free to prospective subscribers for less than six months.

S

sample copies. Copies distributed free to prospective subscribers or prospective advertisers. Copies delivered as part of a contractual arrangement shall not be counted as sample copies.

sheet-writer. Name applied to a class of subscription salespeople who receive high percentage of subscription price, often 100 percent, and sometimes a bonus. While subscriptions obtained by a sheet-writer are often fully paid by subscribers the conditions under which they work sometimes result in their accepting less than the subscription price. Frequently they work on a contract which requires them to turn in a certain quota per day, which induces them at times to send in names of persons who have not subscribed. Sometimes also they handle several publications, some of which they offer free in order to get a subscription for a publication upon which he gets a bonus.

short term arrears. Copies served to subscribers retained on active subscription lists after expiration of a term order which was for less than one year and where the amount paid for the term was less than 50% of the basic annual price.

short term subscription. Subscription for less than a year.

special 6-month statement. A statement issued by the Bureau instead of Publisher's Statement. It is based upon data already audited.

split period audit. Audit covering a period other than covered by the regular Publisher's Statement period.

split-run. The insertion or substitution of different advertising content for a portion of the distribution of an edition or of an issue for either a newspaper or periodical.

Sponsored Sales (magazines). Quantity sales of 11 or more copies of a single issue or subscriptions of two or more consecutive issues to one purchaser.

sponsored subscriptions (newspapers). Subscriptions obtained through cooperation between publisher and an organized local civic or charitable organization, members of schools, churches, fraternal or similar organizations, publisher donating a portion of the subscription price to the organization involved.

street sales. Newspapers sold by individuals on the street or through racks, as distinguished from those sold by dealers with permanent shops or by a carrier with a regular list of customers.

street vendors. Sellers of newspapers on streets.

subscription agency. An individual, firm or corporation obtaining subscriptions for two or more publications.

subscription salespeople's copies. Copies of a publication carried by subscription salespeople to aid them in obtaining subscriptions.

subscription salesperson. One who solicits subscriptions for publications. The person may receive compensation on either salary or commission basis, or both.

T

third party sales. Newspaper's quantity sales of copies of a single issue or subscriptions of two or more consecutive issues to one purchaser (see applicable rule).

total paid. Total of all classes of a publication's distribution for which the ultimate purchasers have paid in accordance with the standards set by the rules.

trial subscriptions. Subscriptions resulting from test offers.

two-pay plan. Designation of sales plan under which the subscription solicitor collects from the subscriber a portion of the subscription price and the publisher or the subscription agency receives the balance direct from the subscriber. Some publishers refuse to start service until second payment is received.

U

unpaid copies. Copies distributed either entirely free or at a price inadequate to qualify them as paid in accordance with the rules.

W

weekly group audit plan. Under this plan, weekly newspapers that sell advertising as a group can show their circulation figures separately and as a group total on ABC reports.