Latest Changes

March 2012

• Reporting of editions: For issues distributed on or after 2 January 2012 all editions reported on the ABC certificate will be reported with an average circulation and breakout by circulation type, not just those with a change in ROP (display) advertising which has been the case up to this point.
• Reporting of editorial content and pagination: From reporting periods beginning January 2012 has been simplified so the analysis is based on the last issue reported in the period (ignoring excluded issues) rather than an average. Other changes include a revised definition of what constitutes advertising and the calculation is to the nearest half page rather than quarter page.
• Social Media: You can now report a basic measure of social media audience(s) on a product’s ABC Multi-Platform Certificate. Examples of what could be reported are Facebook ‘Likes’ or Twitter ‘Followers’. This can be reported from April 2012.

Previous Changes

September 2011

• Editions - From the October 2011 audit month: 1) No longer a requirement for separate rate card. 2) Clarification on treatment of wraps. 3) Clarification on reporting of changed format editions.
• Free Letterbox delivery - From January 2012: Changes to requirements in relation to contract distributors

December 2010

• Editorial content percentage: From reporting periods ending December 2010 publications will report an editorial content percentage into one of four bandings, rather than an advertising percentage figure.
• Free letterbox delivery: It is clarified that from January 2011 bracketing calls (additional checks following a possible break down in distribution) must be completed within the same time-frame as specified for back checks.
• Appeal procedure: Where a member appeals against a decision in relation to an ABC audit or inspection, the timescale within which the Director of Audit will investigate and provide a decision has been amended from 5 working days to 10 working days.