ABC's Monthly Online Member Newsletter

Ask ABC: What are the qualification and reporting guidelines for registered college student copies?

As a follow-up to last month’s Ask ABC’s article on the differences between NIE electronic and print editions, this month’s topic focuses on the main qualifying and reporting guidelines for registered college student copies.

The key qualifying component to these copies is that they must be distributed in areas limited to access by registered students in a campus setting. Examples of these areas include but are not limited to student centers, dormitories, school cafeterias and the student bookstore.

Additionally, the following five criteria must be met:

• Copies must be provided to registered college students.
• Copies need to be made available for individual pickup and may not be delivered to individual rooms.
• Copies not picked up are considered returns and will be deducted from paid circulation.
• Records should indicate the number of copies distributed and the number of leftover copies.
• A qualifying price is collected for the copies.

Registered college student copies may be paid for by either a sponsor or by the school.

For the Audit

For copies claimed as registered college student copies on ABC reports, the newspapers must contain documentation to support the following:

1. Requests from schools for copies of the newspaper
2. Individual records for each school that orders newspapers
3. Distribution for newspapers to the schools
4. Leftovers (copies not picked up each day)
5. A list of locations at each school where the copies are available
6. Account(s) maintaining incoming funds for educational program copies (either by sponsors or from the schools)
7. Transfer of funds from the general education fund account(s) to the school accounts (or invoice and payment directly by school)
8. Document from the school identifying the number of registered college student in each semester.

Here is an example of paragraph 6a of a newspaper audit report:

For additional questions about the NIE print or electronic versions, please contact your Publisher Relations manager.

Related Links:
Educational Programs Guide for Newspapers
Electronic Editions Guidebook

Visit ABC Main Site

Current Issue of NewsBulletin

Read Archived Articles

Read Print Issues

Bylaws & Rules

Annual Conference

Events Calendar

Free Reports

Listing of New ABC Members

Reports and Data Access

e-Mail Updates
Keep on top of all the happenings at ABC by signing up for these FREE e-mail alerts.