Guide for Initial Audits

ABC Documents

There are many documents ABC produces and releases. Below, is a list and descriptions of a few key documents you will need to be familiar with as you begin the ABC application and membership process.

Analyzed issue
The analyzed issue is a single issue in the initial audit period, chosen by the publication, to be analyzed and disclosed in detail in the Initial Audit Report. The issue chosen should be representative of the average circulation for the period covered by the initial audit. Subsequently, an analyzed issue must also be selected and disclosed in each Publisher’s Statement and annual Audit Report.

Audit Report
Every consumer magazine member of ABC must undergo an annual audit. The ABC audit staff conducts an audit to verify that the circulation data claimed by the publication on the Publisher’s Statement is accurate. The Audit Report is the official document issued by ABC detailing its findings as the result of the audit. A prototype Audit Report is available on ABC’s Web site.

Bylaws & Rules
The Bylaws and Rules are the rules, policies, and guidelines governing ABC and its members. In part, this resource provides the technical requirements for all reporting and qualification of circulation claimed by ABC’s members. The complete Bylaws & Rules are available on ABC’s Web site.

FAS-FAX
A document compiled and released by ABC for the six-month periods ending June 30 and December 31 (consumer magazines). It contains top-line information extrapolated from the Publisher’s Statements for all consumer magazine members who filed their statement by the deadline. A prototype page from a FAS-FAX report is available on ABC’s Web site.

Initial Audit
The first audit completed and released by ABC for a new member. The information contained in the document has been audited. The Initial Audit Report will be similar in appearance to a Publisher’s Statement, but will be noted as an initial audit.

Publisher’s Statement
Circulation claims made by a publication and filed with ABC. For consumer magazines, Publisher’s Statements must be filed twice a year for the six-month periods ending June 30 and December 31. These statements must be filed no later than 30 days after the end of the period. ABC releases the Publisher’s Statement document, but the content is un-audited. Prototypes of the Publisher’s Statements are available on ABC’s Web site.

Survey and Worksheet packets
This is a summary of all circulation data for a six-month Publisher’s Statement period. All consumer magazine members are required to complete and submit a standardized survey and worksheet packet to ABC at the time of filing the Publisher’s Statement. Instructions for completing and submitting this information are available on ABC’s Web site.

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