Rules & ResourcesNewspaper Support Center
Electronic Editions—U.S. Newspapers (Effective April 1, 2009 through September 30, 2011)
Reporting
Prototype:
Paragraph 1:
Electronic edition circulation is reported as its own line item as “Electronic Editions.” All circulation generated and fulfilled utilizing electronic editions should be classified under this category regardless if the electronic editions were home delivered, NIE, employee, etc.
Paragraph 1A:
This paragraph discloses the details for all categories of circulation for the Core Newspaper. Copies served via electronic edition should be excluded from this detailed disclosure, as they are not part of the Core Newspaper. The Core Newspaper refers only to print copies of the newspaper.
Rather, all copies serviced via electronic editions should be classified under the line item of “Total Average Paid Electronic Editions”—in total only.
Paragraph 2:
Electronic edition circulation is reported as its own line item as “Electronic Editions”— by ABC zone. The ABC zone for electronic editions should be determined based on billing addresses of the purchaser. All circulation generated and fulfilled utilizing electronic editions should be classified under this lump sum category regardless if the electronic editions were home delivered, NIE, employee, etc.
Paragraph 3 (Audit Report only):
Copies served via electronic editions are reported in their own column in Paragraph 3, regardless if the electronic editions were home delivered, NIE, employees, etc.
Paragraph 4:
All basic prices for print Mail, Home Delivery, Motor Route, and Single Copy should be included in this paragraph. This paragraph should also disclose any electronic edition or hybrid subscription basic prices.
Paragraph 5:
Not impacted.
Paragraph 6A:
This paragraph discloses the details for all categories of circulation for the Core Newspaper. Copies served via electronic edition should be excluded from this detailed disclosure, as they are not part of the Core Newspaper. The Core Newspaper refers only to print copies of the newspaper.
Paragraph 6B:
If a newspaper serves and claims any electronic editions as paid circulation, a description of their electronic edition must be disclosed in Paragraph 6B (Explanatory). This description should:
- Briefly describe the electronic edition product
- List the types of circulation serviced with electronic editions (home-delivery, single-copy, NIE, employee, etc.)
Also, if a newspaper's total e-editions exceeds five percent of total average paid circulation AND is greater than 3,000 copies, an additional detailed analysis is required. Any newspaper that claims electronic editions as paid circulation, but does not meet the above requirement, has the option to report this additional data. This further detail will identify how the electronic editions were serviced (such as home delivery, single copy, NIE, employee, etc.) and the average circulation associated with each category.
FAS-FAX:
The FAS-FAX report is produced by ABC using information filed by its members in the Publisher’s Statements. ABC produces both a print and electronic version of FAS-FAX (the electronic version contains additional details not available in the print product).
In both the print and electronic FAS-FAX reports, all electronic editions are shown in total only.
