Updated guidelines are effective with the September 2021 reporting period.
Recently, AAM news media clients shared feedback that the rules for counting digital editions needed an update to better align with the offerings and promotions news media companies are offering to their readers. We worked with publishers and buyers on the news media committees to revise the rules.
Effective immediately for the September 2021 reporting period, news media companies can qualify paid digital circulation based on the following guidelines:
- Print Plus Digital Publishing Plans—When a subscriber receives a print edition and has access to a digital edition for the same publishing day, the print edition is always counted. Digital edition copies on the same publishing day are only counted if the subscriber accesses the digital platform.
- Print and Digital Publishing Plans—When a subscriber receives a mixed print and digital subscription, newspapers may qualify one print or digital copy based on the subscription offer. On days when both a print and digital edition are available, the digital copy may only qualify if the subscriber accesses the digital platform.
Here are some practical examples of the rule change:
Example 1: Print Plus Digital Publishing Plan
Publication A publishes a print edition seven days a week, sold as subscriptions and single copies.
A seven-day home delivered subscription and access to all digital products is offered for $29.99 per month.
In this example, Publication A can claim one print circulation unit each day of the subscription term and one digital circulation unit on any day the subscriber accesses the digital platforms.
Example 2: Print and Digital Publishing Plan
Publication B publishes a print edition three days a week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), sold as subscriptions and single copies. A digital-only edition is published the other four days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday).
A print home delivery and digital combination subscription, including access to all digital products, is offered for $24.99 per month.
In this example, Publication B can claim one print circulation unit for Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and one digital circulation unit on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for the subscription term. Publication B may also claim one digital circulation unit if the subscriber accesses any of the digital platforms on Wednesday, Friday or Sunday.
Example 3: Print Plus Digital Publishing Plan
Publication C publishes a print edition two days a week (Wednesday and Sunday), sold as both subscriptions and single copies. A digital edition and single-copy print edition are published the other days of the week.
A print home delivered and digital combination subscription, including access to all digital products, is offered for $34.99 per month.
In this example, Publication C may claim one print circulation unit for Wednesday and Sunday and one digital circulation unit on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the subscription term. Publication C may also claim one digital circulation unit if the subscriber accesses any of the digital platforms on Wednesday or Sunday.
If you have any questions about changes to the digital edition rules or if you would like to have a program pre-approved, please contact your audit manager.