ABC Reporting For B2B Publications Set To Change

ABC reporting of business to business publications is set to change, with reporting of print and digital edition circulation to be combined, taking effect from the next B2B reporting period for publications that are auditing digital editions.

Following discussion and consultation within the ABC Business Press Specialist Committee, the ABC Council has approved the recommendation of a change to the way digital editions are reported. This change of reporting has come in response to ongoing industry demand for integrated reporting of digital editions in the B2B sector.

In June 2004, the current rules for the auditing and reporting of digital editions on ABC certificates were announced by the ABC Council, enabling publishers to include their digital edition figures on certificates, although separate from the headline print figure.

ABC reporting will now change in the B2B market to allow publishers auditing digital edition distribution to show integrated circulation figures on their certificates. A new class of certificate called the ‘Print and Digital Edition Certificate of Circulation’ has been introduced.

In addition, robust publicity rules have been approved and are in place to ensure accurate and transparent use of the figures by publishers. Business readers must have asked to receive their copies as digital editions for them to be accepted as valid circulation.

Jan Pitt, director of business to business at ABC said: “ABC’s continuing role is to serve the needs of all relevant parties in the media industry. In the case of the reporting of digital editions in the B2B sector, agreement was achieved between publishers, advertisers and media buyers. The industry consensus we have achieved ensures ABC continues to deliver a robust and accepted media currency.”

ABC: 01442 870 800 www.abc.org.uk