Under the private reporting framework, circulation figures continue to be independently audited by ABC to the same industry-agreed standards. The change relates only to how the data is disseminated. Full audited figures remain available to authorised agencies and advertisers who have signed ABC’s Confidentiality Agreement, ensuring the advertising market continues to have access to trusted data for trading and planning purposes.
The reporting option was introduced following extensive consultation with publishers, agencies and advertisers. It was designed to reflect the evolving nature of the news publishing market, balancing publishers’ ability to manage the public dissemination of commercially sensitive data with the continued availability of independently audited figures for media buyers.
Following recent Board approval, the same private reporting framework is also now available to other titles that report audited figures on a monthly basis. This provides consistency across sectors that operate on similar reporting cycles. The change relates solely to how audited data is published; the independent audit process and industry-agreed standards remain unchanged.
Steve Chester, Director of Media at ISBA, said:
“Advertisers rely on trusted, independent data when making significant investments in newsbrand advertising. What matters most is that the auditing standards remain robust and that agencies and advertisers continue to have access to comparable, industry-standard figures. Private reporting maintains that transparency for those directly involved in trading.”
Graeme Griffiths, Director of Media Research at the IPA, added:
“Our members need reliable, independently verified data to support media planning and buying decisions. The private reporting framework ensures agencies continue to receive the audited data they rely on, while recognising publishers’ need to manage how commercially sensitive information is shared publicly.”
Paul Sinker, Director of Communications at the News Media Association said:
“National newsbrands continue to invest heavily in trusted journalism and in reaching highly engaged audiences across multiple platforms. The private reporting model allows publishers to manage the public presentation of commercially sensitive circulation data while maintaining the rigorous independent auditing that advertisers and agencies depend on.”
