Rules & Resources
Newspaper Support Center

Electronic Editions—U.S. Newspapers

Reporting

Prototypes:


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. A prototype of an Audit Report with electronic editions in Paragraph 3 is available. (PDF*)

Paragraph 4:
All new and renewal subscription sales for electronic editions should be included in this paragraph.

Paragraph 5:
All basic prices for Mail, Home Delivery, Motor Route, and Single Copy should be included in this paragraph. As a reminder, a newspaper may not establish a separate set of basic prices for electronic editions (See Pricing section) nor may a separate set of basic prices for a “hybrid” frequency be established (See Home Delivery section).

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.)

Supplemental Data Report (SDR):
A Supplemental Data Report must be filed with your Publisher’s Statement if the circulation for electronic editions exceeds five percent of total average paid circulation AND is greater than 3,000 copies. Any newspaper that claims electronic editions as paid circulation, but does not meet the above requirement, has the option to report an SDR.

The SDR will disclose the categories where electronic editions were serviced (such as home delivery, single copy, NIE, employee, etc.) and the average circulation associated with each category.

A prototype of a Supplemental Data Report for electronic editions is available. (PDF*)

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. Prototypes of both the Print Version of the FAS-FAX Report (PDF*) and Electronic Version of the FAS-FAX Report (PDF*) are available.




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