Audit Bureau of Circulation
-
Upload
meenu26391 -
Category
Documents
-
view
139 -
download
16
Transcript of Audit Bureau of Circulation
1
News Media Management
A GUIDE TO ABC AUDIT
AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS
Wakefield House, Sprott Road, Ballard Estate, Mumbai - 400 001
Tel: 91 22 2261 18 12 / 2261 90 72 Fax: 91 22 2261 88 21
E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: httpp://www.auditbureau.org
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
2
News Media Management
PREFACE
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
3
News Media Management
Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) is a voluntary organization constituted in the year 1948. Going
back six decades when the concept of circulation audit was yet to be established in our country,
advertisers had no means to know the actual circulation numbers of publications that they used for
advertising and had to depend more on their own judgment. Publishers also found it difficult to
convince advertisers of the relative values of their publication for the purpose of advertising. It is
with this background, eminent representatives of the advertising profession and publishing industry
came together to establish an organization which could serve common interest. Since then the
benefit of ABC certificate of circulation have been availed by advertisers, advertising agencies,
publishers and organizations connected with print media advertising.
The primary objective of the Bureau is to secure accurate circulation figures and data relating to all
periodicals and media that sell advertising space and in regard to such publications to obtain
information as to area of distribution and fix standard forms and methods for ascertaining the
circulation figures and to record such information and circulate it to members of the ABC.
Bureau certifies circulation figures of member publications for a six-monthly audit period i.e. January
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
4
News Media Management
to June and July to December. The system envisages a comprehensive audit of printing, distribution,
financial and production records of member publications by a panel of approved auditors as per the
audit guidelines laid down by the Bureau from time to time.
This Guide has been updated up to July 2009.
LOGO OF AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATION
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
5
News Media Management
About Us - What is
ABC
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
6
News Media Management
Audit Bureau of Circulations
Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) is one of the several organizations of the same name operating in
different parts of the world.
The ABC founded in 1948 is a not for profit, voluntary organization consisting of Publishers,
Advertisers and Advertising Agencies. It has done pioneering work in developing audit procedures to
verify the circulation data published by those newspapers and periodicals which have earned the
right to display its emblem.
ABC as it is called and understood by all is a founder member of the International Federation of Audit
Bureau of Circulations. The main function of ABC is to evolve, lay down a standard and uniform
procedure by which a member publisher shall compute its net paid sales. The circulation figure so
arrived at is checked and certified by a firm of Chartered Accountants which are approved by the
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
7
News Media Management
Bureau. The Bureau issues ABC certificates every six months to those publishers whose circulation
figures confirm to the rules and regulations as set out by the Bureau.
From a modest beginning it has grown to remarkable proportions. ABC's membership today includes
411 Publishers of national and regional importance, 151 Advertising Agencies, 51 Advertisers & 20
New Agencies and Associations connected with print media and advertising. It covers most of the
major towns in India.
Facts and figures which are checked and certified by an independent body is a very important tool in
the hands of the advertising business community. The details of ABC certified circulation figures are
available online to all Members of the Bureau (http://www.auditbureau.org) at no extra cost.
An Advertiser would like to know the facts and figures before investing his money in advertising. An
Advertiser ought to know how many people buy a publication and in which area. The ABC gives all
these vital facts every six months. The ABC figures are not the outcome of opinions, claims or
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
8
News Media Management
guesswork, but they are the result of rigid, in depth and impartial audits of paid circulations of
member publications by independent and leading firms of Chartered Accountants working in
accordance with the rules / procedures prescribed by the Bureau.
About Us - The Working of ABC
The Policy formation body of the Bureau is the Council of Management consisting of elected
representatives from publishers (8), advertisers (4) and advertising agency (4) members of the
Bureau. To assist the Council of Management an Executive Committee is appointed by the Council,
to guide and oversee the day-to-day working of the Bureau. The Executive Committee consists of
Publishers, Advertisers and Advertising Agency Members of the Council. The Council of Management
and the Executive Committee meets regularly as often as required. The Chairman is elected annually
by the Council of Management.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
9
News Media Management
The Bureau certifies audited NET PAID circulation figures of publications enrolled with it for a
continuous and definite six-monthly audit periods and supplies copies of the ABC Certificates issued
for such publications to each member. Free distribution and bulk sales are also shown on the
certificates provided the relevant records are adequately maintained.
Records are checked and rechecked at every level for authenticity. Facts and figures are scrutinized
by impartial Auditors, and only then is the CERTIFICATE OF NET PAID CIRCULATION issued. The day
to day working of the bureau is handled by its secretariat which is headed by the Secretary General.
About Us - ABC & the Publisher
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
10
News Media Management
ABC’s primary objective is to arrive at and certify authentic circulation figures representing Net Paid
Sales of member publications and disseminate the data for the use of space buyers. Together with
the ABC Certificate, data on territorial distribution of copies in various states, major cities and small
towns is included as add on.
As ABC Certificates are regularly referred to for media selection, the publisher has a far better
chance of being selected by space buyer members of ABC. By enjoying the confidence of space
buyers, publishers are able to increase their Ad revenues and also improve their services.
Publisher members must maintain essential books and records to facilitate a proper ABC audit and
also appoint an independent firm of Chartered Accountants from amongst the approved panel of
auditors named by ABC. Admission of publishers to ABC membership is subject to a satisfactory
admission audit. ABC has a system of recheck audit and surprise check audits of publications to be
carried out as and when ABC deems appropriate.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
11
News Media Management
ABC adds to the Publications’ success by providing advertisers the information they need to evaluate
print media. The Publishers fully participate in ABC’s efforts to help them gain the credibility
advertisers are looking for. Advertisers normally place their advertisements with publications that
can substantiate their Circulation claims through authentic sources which is easy to understand.
The Publisher should be a Member of Indian Newspaper Society (INS) and the Publications should be
registered with Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI).
New Membership:
Membership of ABC entails certain obligations in respect of books and records to be
maintained to facilitate a field and proper ABC audit as per the information given below:
Permanent information form and Membership application form should be filled up and
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
12
News Media Management
sent to the Bureau’s office along with one years annual subscription plus the same
amount as one time entrance fee.
New Membership - Publishers
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
13
News Media Management
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
Membership Application Form
DAILY NEWSPAPERS
Schedule of fees
Specimen of Check -list
Specimen of Publication Confirmation Form
Specimen of Letter of Authority
WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS
Schedule of fees
Specimen of Check -list
Specimen of Publication Confirmation Form
Specimen of Letter of Authority
MAGAZINES
Schedule of fees
Specimen of Check -list
Specimen of Publication Confirmation Form
Specimen of Letter of Authority
14
News Media Management
ESSENTIAL STAGES OF THE ABC AUDIT
FIRST STAGE: NEWSPRINT CONSUMPTION - Check:
a. Opening Stock of Newsprint with stock Register or Bank Certificate.
b. Purchases with invoices, Transport Documents, Goods Inward documents and
Payment Vouchers
c. Print Orders, Newsprint issue Sheets, Machine Room Returns and Newsprint Stock.
Reconciled Newsprint Consumption with copies printed.
SECOND STAGE: DISTRIBUTION - Check:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
15
News Media Management
a. Cash Sales - Cash Sales Records.
b. Subscription Sales -
i. Subscribers' Register with Postage Book. and
ii. Subscribers' Register with Hand Delivery Book
c. Agency Sales -
i. Agents' Sales Register with Railway / Air / Postage Book etc.
ii. Agents' Sales Register with Returns Register.
ii. Agents' Sales Register with Duplicate Bill Copies
THIRD STAGE: FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION - Check:
a. CASH SALES :
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
16
News Media Management
i. Cash Book with Cash Sales Register or Cash Sales Records.
ii. Cash Book with Sales Account in General Ledger.
b. SUBSCRIPTION SALES :
i. Cash Book with Subscriber's Register.
ii. Cash Book with Sales Account in General Ledger.
c. AGENCY SALES :
i. Agents' Sales Register with Agents' Ledger
ii. Agents' Sales Register with Sales Account and Agents' Account in
General Ledger.
iii. Cash Book with Agents' Ledger
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
17
News Media Management
iv. Cash Book with Agents' Account in General Ledger. Agents' Ledger with Credit
Note Books.
v. Totals of Credit Note Books with Agents Accounts and Sales Account in
General Ledger
vi. Journal with Agents' Ledger and General Ledger.
Cash Book with Bank Pass Book
About Us - ABC & the Advertising Agency
ABC provides its member advertising agencies with up to date audited circulation data every six
months relating to member publications in the country. This circulation data covers distribution of
copies in various states, major cities and even smaller towns which are potential markets. The half-
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
18
News Media Management
yearly ABC Certificates are used for media planning. To get maximum value for their clients, the ABC
Certificates enable advertising agencies to compare the circulation trends of various newspapers and
periodicals.
ABC provides reliable, accurate and audited circulation figures which normally forms a sound
foundation for media recommendation.
ABC has been the foundation for all print media buyers providing the advertising industry with an
even playing field. Advertisers are assured through ABC that each Rupee spent is correctly invested
in media that provides accurate circulation numbers while extending creditability to publishers’
circulation claims.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
19
News Media Management
New Membership:
An advertising agency seeking membership of the Bureau should be accredited to Indian
Newspaper Society (INS). New Delhi or a Member of AAAs of India, Mumbai The new
advertising agency member should fill up Membership application form and the
information form in detail and send the same along with a cheque/demand draft as per
the schedule of entrance fees and annual subscription.
New members should remit their annual subscription as well as equivalent amount as one
time entrance fee.
About Us - ABC & the Advertiser
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
20
News Media Management
Advertisers require knowing to what extent any advertising medium is an effective sales promoter
and consequently must have knowledge of two factors (1) cost of the advertisement and (2) the
results which he expects from the advertisement. Any calculation of results must necessarily be
based on the scope of audience which the advertiser is addressing and in the case of a newspaper or
a periodical this is directly related to number of copies which are in circulation. As far as the
advertisers are concerned, more and more effective distribution of their advertising investments is
ensured by the circulation data provided by the ABC. This ABC data is by far the most accurate
information on circulation of important publications, which is available. It also shows the changes in
the circulation trends and its coverage of circulation.
Advertisers can access the purchase preference in that area thereby obtaining valuable clues in
locating potential markets. ABC Certificates can be used as a reliable and a dependable guide for
finding the right markets for the advertiser’s products. ABC.s concept of circulation audit is accepted
in many advanced countries for authentic and accurate circulation figures.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
21
News Media Management
New Membership:
New advertiser member should complete the information and the membership form and
send the same to the Bureau’s office along with annual subscription and equivalent
amount as one time entrance fees.
About Us - ABC & the Organization
The ABC plays an important role together with DAVP, Press Registrar and Publicity Officers of the
various State Governments and Public Sector undertakings to improve promote and project
nationally accepted objectives through the medium of the press.
The ABC with the active co-operation and expertise of its member publishers, advertisers and
advertising agencies, can assist the Union and the State Governments in reaching their targets in
rural and semi-urban areas effectively and fruitfully.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
22
News Media Management
New Membership:
The Membership of small and medium newspapers in ABC gives the Government agencies
a wide field for operation and helps them reach the remote comers of the country.
AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS
Wakefield House, Sprott Road, Ballard Estate, Mumbai- 400 001
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM
NEWS AGENCIES /ASSOCIATIONS/ ORGANISATIONS/ GOVT. PUBLICITY DEPT.
The Secretary General Place
Audit Bureau of Circulations
Wakefield House, Ballard Estate, Date
Sprott Road,
Mumbai - 400 001
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
23
News Media Management
I/We, the undersigned, hereby apply to the Council of Management of Audit Bureau of Circulations
for enrolment to membership of the Bureau.
I/We undertake to abide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, and to
observe the rules and regulations governing the working of the Bureau as laid down by the Council
from time to time.
(The Audit Bureau of Circulations is a company limited by Guarantee and not having a share capital.
The only possible financial liability attached to members, other than their entrance fee and annual
subscription is one of not exceeding Rupees fifteen per member in the event of winding up of the
Company.)
I/We further agree that in the event of any differences of disputes arising between me/we and the
Bureau and / or its Council of Management at any time from the date of this application, whether
during the period of my /our membership of the Bureau or after its cessation, these shall be subject
to the jurisdiction of Courts in Mumbai only.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
24
News Media Management
I/We declare that, according to the schedule of fees fixed by the Council of Management, from time
to time the amount of my/ our Entrance fee is Rs. and the amount of my / our Annual Subscription
works out to Rs.
(Applicants may apply at any time during the year. Membership subscription will thereafter fall due
on 1st April every year)
Cheque /DD for Rs. (Rupees) are enclosed.
Signed
(Please affix Rubber Stamp / Seal)
For & on behalf of
Address
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
25
News Media Management
Proposed by
(Please affix Rubber Stamp / Seal)
Seconded by
(Please affix Rubber Stamp / Seal )
(To be proposed and seconded by any two members of the Bureau.)
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
26
News Media Management
AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS
Wakefield House, Sprott Road, Ballard Estate, Mumbai- 400 001
INFORMATION FORM
NEWS AGENCIES /ASSOCIATIONS/ ORGANISATIONS/ GOVT. PUBLICITY DEPT.
1. Name and Address
2. Telephone, Fax & Email Details:
3. Date of Establishment
4. Type of Organization -
(i) Company under the Companies Act
(ii) Partnership firm
(iii) Proprietary concern
5. Is the Applicant Organization a subsidiary?
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
27
News Media Management
If so, state the name and address of the holding Company:
6. Name and designation of the Representative on the Bureau:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Are any of the owners or persons referred to in (6) above directly or indirectly financially
connected with any newspaper and /or periodicals? If so please give details:
8. Branch Offices:
9. State the purpose for which you desire to avail the bureaus Services:
10. Is the applicant Organization a member of any other professional Organization?
If so, please state its name
11. Name and Address of your Bankers:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
28
News Media Management
Place: For and on behalf of
Date: Designation
(Please affix Rubber Stamp/Seal)
Audit Bureau of Circulations
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) of North America is a non-profit circulation-auditing
organization. It is one of several organizations, operating in different parts of the world, that audits
circulation, readership, and audience information for the magazines, newspapers, and other
publications produced by their members.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
29
News Media Management
ABC is a forum of the magazine and newspaper publishers, advertisers and advertising agencies,
similar to BPA Worldwide. As a non-profit association, ABC is funded by dues and service fees by
advertisers, advertising agencies and publishers.
ABC provides credible, verified information critical to the media buying and selling process by
conducting independent, third-party audits of print circulation, readership and Web site activity. ABC
also maintains an electronic database of audited circulation and readership media.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
30
News Media Management
History
At the turn of the 20th century, publishers were ungoverned. A practice of inflating circulation
figures to win advertising dollars was common. With little recourse, advertisers were forced to buy
advertising based on exaggerated circulation claims.
Determined to end deceptive industry practices, advertisers, advertising agencies and responsible
publishers banded together to establish an industry organization to independently verify circulation.
In 1914, ABC was created.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
31
News Media Management
Governance
ABC is governed by a tripartite board of directors composed of 17 publishers and 19 advertisers and
advertising agencies. The board meets three times a year (March, July and November) to review
existing rules, establish new rules and consider member requests.
ABC also has 14 advisory committees. The advisory committees meet throughout the year and
discuss member-initiated topics. The committees consider the topics and make recommendations to
the ABC board of directors.
The organization has its headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois, and additional offices in New York
City and Toronto.
Membership
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
32
News Media Management
Membership is open to all publishers, advertisers and advertising agencies. Additionally, any
individual, firm or corporation
who requires access to
circulation data may apply for
an associate membership.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
33
News Media Management
Newspaper circulation
A newspaper's circulation is the number of copies it distributes on an average day. Newspaper
circulation rates are currently experiencing a downward trend. Circulation is one of the principal
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
34
News Media Management
factors used to set advertising rates. Circulation is not always the same as copies sold, often
called paid circulation, since some newspapers are distributed without cost to the reader.
Readership figures are usually higher than circulation figures because of the assumption that a
typical copy of the newspaper is read by more than one person.
In many countries, circulations are audited by independent bodies such as the Audit Bureau of
Circulations to assure advertisers that a given newspaper does indeed reach the number of people
claimed by the publisher.
World newspapers with the largest circulation
The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) publishes a list of newspapers with the largest
circulation. In 2005, China topped the list in term of total newspaper circulation with 93.5 million a
day, India came second with 78.8 million, followed by Japan, with 70.4 million; the United States,
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
35
News Media Management
with 48.3 million; and Germany, with 22.1 million. Around 75 of the 100 best selling newspapers are
in Asia and seven out of top ten are Japanese newspapers.
The Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun and Seikyo Shimbun are still the
best-selling newspapers in the world.
Germany's Bild became the only entry in the top ten from outside of Asia. Reference News (參考消息)
is the most popular paper in China. The highest selling from the United States is USA Today, which is
13th in the world.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
36
News Media Management
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the daily circulation of the Soviet
newspaper Trud exceeded 21,500,000 in 1990, while the Soviet weekly Argumenty i Fakty boasted a
circulation of 33,500,000 in 1991.
INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES
India
The 2009 Indian Readership Survey findings show that the largest read local language
newspapers to be Dainik Jagran (with 55.7 million readers) and Dainik Bhaskar (with 31.9 million
readers), both published in Hindi. The Times of India is the most widely read English language
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
37
News Media Management
newspaper (13.3 million), followed by Hindustan Times (6.3 million), The Hindu (5.2 million). The New
Indian Express is another widely-read English language newspaper (1.8 million}. Eenadu news paper
which is published in Telugu crossing 1.32 million has the largest circulation in regional languages.
Belgium
The Belgian institution CIM (Centre for Information about Media) publishes national circulation
figures for all written, audiovisual and web-based media in Belgium. The top ten best selling papers
according to their website are Het Laatste Nieuws, 317,715; Het Nieuwsblad, 245,209;SUD
Presse (group of papers focused on community specific content), 147,749; Het Belang van Limburg,
121,428; Le Soir, 113,780; Vers l’avenir, 109,287 (group of papers focused on community specific
content); La Dernière Heure, 107,583; De Standaard, 104,758; Het Volk, 77,025 and De Morgen,
73,784.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
38
News Media Management
Japan
The 2004 circulation figures for the morning and evening editions of Japan's largest
newspapers: Yomiuri Shimbun, 14,067,000; The Asahi Shimbun, 12,121,000; Mainichi Shimbun,
5,587,000; Seikyou Shimbun, 5,500,000; Nihon Keizai Shimbun, 4,635,000; Chunichi Shimbun/Tokyo
Shimbun,4,512,000; Tokyo Sports, 2,425,000; Sankei Shimbun, 2,757,000; Nikkan Sports,
1,965,000; Hokkaido Shimbun, 1,896,594; Sports Nippon, 1,711,000; The Nikkan Gendai,
1,686,000; Akahata, 1,683,000; Yukan Fuji, 1,559,000; Shizuoka Shimbun, 1,479,000; Sankei Sports,
1,368,000; Hochi Shimbun, 1,354,000; Daily Sports, 999,000;
Turkey
Best-selling paper in English as of April 18, 2008, according to the BPA World Wide,
Today's Zaman
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
39
News Media Management
United Kingdom
Best-selling papers as of July 2, 2006, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, are the News of
the World (Sunday only), 3,471,415;The Sun, 3,148,700 and The Daily Mail, 2,340,255.
United States
The heyday of the newspaper industry was the 1940s, but the percentage of Americans reading
newspapers began to decline with the increased competition from radio, television and, more
recently, the Internet. A growing population helped the absolute circulation numbers continue to
increase until the 1970s, where it remained stable until the 1990s, when absolute circulation
numbers began declining.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
40
News Media Management
Newspaper circulation numbers are reported to the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Best-selling papers
as of March 31, 2009 in the U.S.A., according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, are USA Today,
2,113,725; The Wall Street Journal, 2,082,189 and The New York Times, 1,039,031.
Canada
The most widely read paper in the country is the Toronto Star, which, as of the six-month period
ending on March 31, 2007, averaged 634,886 copies sold on Saturday, 436,694 Monday to Friday,
and 442,265 on Sunday. The second most widely read paper is Toronto-based national
newspaper The Globe and Mail, which averaged 410,285 copies on Saturdays, and 322,807 Monday
to Friday. The most widely read French-language newspaper is Le Journal de Montréal, which
averaged 319,899 copies on Saturday, 267,404 Monday to Friday, and 264,733 on Sunday. It should
be noted that unlike in the United States, newspapers in Canada published their biggest and mostly
widely read editions on Saturdays, and that most papers don't publish on Sundays.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
41
News Media Management
A GUIDE TO ABC AUDIT
JULY 2009
PART I – NEWSPAPERS
I N D E X
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
42
News Media Management
1) DEFINITIONS:
1.1 Audit
1.2 Average
1.3 Back Copies
1.4 Combo Offer
1.5 Daily Newspaper
1.6 Distribution Cost
1.7 Distributing Trade
1.8 Edition
1.9 Excess Circulation
1.10 Free Copies
1.11 Institutional Sales
1.12 Joint Subscription Offer
1.13 Local Agent
1.14 Net Realization Rate - NRR
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
43
News Media Management
1.15 Normal Circulation - NRR
1.16 Non Compliant Week - NRR
1.17 Principal Agent
1.18 Printing Centre
1.19 Publication
1.20 Publishing Day
1.21 Qualifying Sales
1.22 Returns
1.23 Single Copy Sales
1.24 Subscriber
1.25 Trade Term
2) CONCEPT OF “NET REALISATION RATE” – NRR:
2.1 Net Realization Rate (NRR)
2.2 Qualifying Sales
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
44
News Media Management
2.3 Normal Circulation
2.4 Excess Circulation
2.5 Treatment of non compliant week:
2.6 Exemption for subscription copies from the concept of NRR
2.7 Weekly Newspapers
2.8 Facets of New Certification Criteria
3) SUBSCRIPTION SALES:
3.1 Subscription Offers (Single & Joint):
3.2 Institutional Subscription Sales:
4) NON-SUBSCRIPTION SALES – includes Single,
Institutional, Combo copies etc.
4.1 Combo Offers (Non Subscription)
4.2 Single Copy Sales
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
45
News Media Management
4.3 Institutional Sales:
5) SCHEMES FOR READERS - Non subscription copies:
5.1 Incentive / Gifts Schemes for Readers (Non subscription copies):
5.2 Calculation of excess circulation in case of gifts valued at over 50% of
the cover price of a newspaper (Non subscription):
5.3 Gift of a publication on newsstand sales (Non subscription):
5.4 Cash Gifts not permitted:
6 COPIES DISTRIBUTED THRU DISTRIBUTION TRADE:
6.1 Distribution Cost
6.2 Trade Terms:
6.3 Gift Schemes for Agents
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
46
News Media Management
7 SUBMISSIONS OF CIRCULATION FIGURES:
7.1 COMPILATION OF INCOMING CERTIFICATES
· Certification of a new edition / printing centre for part audit
period
· Copies indented locally but distributed abroad
· Option to avail a separate and/or a combined ABC certificate
for a multi-edition publication
· Procedure for compilation of combined ABC certificate
· Publishing Days – multi edition / centre publications
· Reasons for increase in circulation
· Sunday circulation/Weekly editions of Daily Newspapers
7.2. COMPILATION OF AREA BREAKDOWN STATEMENT:
· Area Breakdown Statement
· Compilation of Area Breakdown Statement (In case of new edition
started during the audit period)
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
47
News Media Management
· Details of town-wise distribution under section 'B' to be
provided as under
7.3 NEWSPRINT WASTAGE
7.4 BUREAU MEMBERSHIP
· Enrolment of new editions / printing centers
· Return of Application for Bureau Membership
· Re-admission to Bureau Membership
· Starting of new printing centre and / or edition
· Surprise Recheck Audit by Bureau’s Auditors prior to admission to
Bureau Membership
8. GUIDELINES COVERING TITLES HAVING AVERAGE
CIRCULATION LESS THAN 15,000 COPIES
· Advance written indents / monthly confirmations
· Agents’ Supply Register
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
48
News Media Management
· Agreement with outside printers
· Banking of cash collection
· Cash covering Notes
· Cash sales records
· Machine Room Returns
· Newsprint Consumption Register
· Newsprint Stock Register
· Postage / dispatch record for subscribers
· Print Order
· Returns Register
9 OUTSTANDING / ADD BACK OF COPIES:
9.1 Adjustment of agents deposits against outstanding dues
9.2 On account payments by agents
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
49
News Media Management
9.3 Outstandings
A GUIDE TO ABC AUDIT
FOR DAILY AND WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS
VARIOUS TERMS USED - BUREAU’S AUDIT GUIDELINES:
1. DEFINITIONS:
1.1 AUDIT:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
50
News Media Management
Examination of publisher’s as well as his principal agency/agencies (local or otherwise) distribution,
and financial records and corroborative evidences in order to establish the Qualifying Sales and non
Qualifying Sales and to verify whether the publisher and his concerned principal agency/s has
complied with all Bureau’s audit guidelines from time to time.
1.2 AVERAGE:
Means average per day, per week as the case may be, of the relevant audit period.
1.3 BACK COPIES:
Any issue of a publication which is not a current issue. The current issue is defined as follows:
a) Daily Publication - Day of the date of imprint only (In the case of evening Newspapers
including copies dispatched prior to the issue for the following date is published)
b) Weekly - Upto the date of imprint of the next issue
1.4 COMBO OFFER:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
51
News Media Management
More than one publication available under a scheme (other than subscription) to readers at a
combined price
1.5 DAILY NEWSPAPER:
A daily newspaper which is printed and published daily for at least 5 working days in a week except
approved holidays
1.6 DISTRIBUTION COST:
An amount paid to the distribution trade by whatever name called plus any additional incentives /
benefit which is directly connected with selling / distribution of the newspaper paid to the trade, the
same shall be totaled to arrive at the gross trade term payable to the trade for distributing copies.
1.7 DISTRIBUTING TRADE:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
52
News Media Management
A general term applied to agents, hawkers, principal agent (local or otherwise) and any other person
engaged in distribution of a publication.
1.8 EDITION:
A publication/title separately registered with Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) and having a
separate registration number, serial No. & Volume Number
1.9 EXCESS CIRCULATION - NRR:
“Excess circulation” is the incremental circulation for any non complaint issue as compared to
the average normal circulation of the immediate previous week or such another week during an
audit period where all relevant issues are compliant with the qualifying criteria and the
corresponding circulation qualifies for certification.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
53
News Media Management
1.10 FREE COPIES:
Voucher, exchange and complimentary copies, and copies (if any) given to agents for onward free
distribution for which records are available.
1.11 INSTITUTIONAL SALES:
Copies of newspapers (Dailies & Weeklies) which are either sold directly by the publisher and/or his
distributing trade to organizations not connected with newspaper distribution trade provided bona
fides of the organization(s) involved in Institutional Sales are established to the satisfaction of the
auditors (Unless Auditors/Bureau having any evidence to the contrary).
Institutional Sales are accepted for certification only to the extent of 10% of Qualifying Sales.
1.12 JOINT SUBSCRIPTION OFFER:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
54
News Media Management
A subscription offer for more than one publication for which subscription at the prescribed rate is
received in advance for a specified term
1.13 LOCAL AGENT:
An agent appointed by a publisher to effect distribution of copies within the town of publication or
any of its printing centers
1.14 NET REALISATION RATE (NRR):
Net Realization Rate (NRR) is the term used for value of newspaper in waste computed on the basis
of waste rate per kg. as fixed by the Council from time to time .
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
55
News Media Management
1.15 NORMAL CIRCULATION - NRR:
Normal circulation is the average circulation of any week during an audit period when all relevant
issues of the week are compliant with the qualifying principle and accordingly the corresponding
circulation qualifies for certification.
1.16 NON COMPLIANT WEEK - NRR:
Is such a week which on an average basis does not comply with the Net Realization Rate Criteria?
1.17 PRINCIPAL AGENT:
An agent who distributes or affects at least 20% of the total sales subject to a minimum of 25,000
copies per printing centre / edition is recognized and termed as a “principal agent”.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
56
News Media Management
1.18 PRINTING CENTRE:
Printing of an edition of a publication carried out simultaneously at any other location with same
RNI registration number and volume number.
1.19 PUBLICATION:
A piece of printed matter of regular periodic issue, selling at a prescribed price, which may or may
not carry advertising
1.20 PUBLISHING DAY
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
57
News Media Management
A Publishing day is a day on which the publication is normally published whether as a regular issue
or a special issue, and concurrently or separately in the case of a multi-centre publication. Special
issues will be excluded only if they are IN ADDITION to the regular issue.
1.21 QUALIFYING SALES:
Circulation figure which meets the following criteria is treated as “qualifying sales” and certified
under ‘Part A’ of the ABC certificate of circulation. “For each issue on a daily basis the net sale price
to the dealer (first point of sale) at any trade margin is higher than the net realization rate (NRR)
with a provision to remove “excess circulation” of non compliant issues where **net sale price to the
dealer at any trade margin offered is lower than the net realization rate (NRR)” subject to such non
compliant issues are compliant on a weekly average basis for all issues of the week taken together.
(**Net sale price to the dealer is the net price at which a newspaper is sold to the dealer
calculated at cover price of the publication less applicable trade commission, delivery
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
58
News Media Management
charges or by whatever name called).
1.22 RETURNS:
Copies of publication remaining unsold out of copies indented as notified by agents and accepted by
publishers and in case of additional copies supplied without agents’ indents, all copies reported as
unsold by agents whether or not such claims are accepted by publisher.
1.23 SINGLE COPY SALES:
All copies sold to the reader at the prescribed cover price.
1.24 SUBSCRIBER:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
59
News Media Management
Purchaser of a publication on a term contract, whose subscription at the full prescribed rate has
been received
1.25 TRADE TERM
Commission and allowances etc. mutually agreed to between the publisher and the distributing trade
and paid continuously and consistently.
2. CONCEPT OF “NET REALISATION RATE” – NRR:
2.1 NET REALISATION RATE (NRR):
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
60
News Media Management
Net Realization Rate (NRR) is the term used for value of newspaper in waste computed on the basis
of waste rate per kg. as fixed by the Council from time to time .
2.2 QUALIFYING SALES:
Circulation figure which meets the following criteria is treated as “qualifying sales” and certified
under ‘Part A’ of the ABC certificate of circulation. “For each issue on a daily basis the net sale price
to the dealer (first point of sale) at any trade margin is higher than the net realisation rate (NRR)
with a provision to remove “excess circulation” of non compliant issues where **net sale price to the
dealer at any trade margin offered is lower than the net realisation rate (NRR)” subject to such non
compliant issues are compliant on a weekly average basis forall issues of the week taken together.
(**Net sale price to the dealer is the net price at which a newspaper is sold to the dealer
calculated at cover price of the publication less applicable trade commission, delivery
charges or by whatever name called).
2.3 NORMAL CIRCULATION:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
61
News Media Management
Normal circulation is the average circulation of any week during an audit period when all relevant
issues of the week are compliant with the qualifying principle and accordingly the corresponding
circulation qualifies for certification.
2.4 EXCESS CIRCULATION:
“Excess circulation” is the incremental circulation for any non complaint issue as compared to
the average normal circulation of the immediate previous week or such another week during an
audit period where all relevant issues are compliant with the qualifying criteria and the
corresponding circulation qualifies for certification.
2.5 TREATMENT OF NON COMPLIANT WEEK:
Considering the principle of compliance with the qualifying criteria, if on an average basis, for any
given week, the NRR criteria is not complied with, then the benefit of reducing only “excess
circulation” for non compliant issues will be denied and entire circulation of all non compliant
issues during such a week will not be recognized as “qualifying sales” under ‘Part A’.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
62
News Media Management
This will however be shown under `Part B’ as “non-qualifying sales”. (All publishing day(s) during an
audit period will however be reckoned for average calculations of qualifying and non qualifying
sales.)
2.6 EXEMPTION FOR SUBSCRIPTION COPIES FROM THE CONCEPT OF NRR:
All copies supplied to the reader which are through subscription offers are exempted from the
purview of the concept of NRR since full details of a subscriber is available with the publisher which
can be verified through the process of audit. Subscription amount is also collected by the publisher
in advance thus providing a complete audit trail.
A publisher can offer discount / gift to the subscriber together with delivery charges to the
distribution trade upto 90% of the cover price of a publication.
2.7 WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
63
News Media Management
Qualifying criteria for certification will also apply to all weekly newspapers. In respect of a weekly
newspaper, every individual issue will be required to be compliant with the new qualifying criteria.
Should a particular weekly issue be noncompliant on any publishing day, the “excess circulation” will
be removed with reference to the nearest compliant day or any one compliant day during an audit
period. (Excess circulation over the nearest compliant day will be shown under ‘Part B’ of the
certificate as “Non-Qualifying Sales”).
2.8 FACETS OF CERTIFICATION CRITERIA:
_ Qualifying Criteria
“For each issue on a daily basis the net sale price to the dealer (first point of sale) at any trade
margin to be higher than the *net realization rate (NRR) with a provision to remove “excess
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
64
News Media Management
circulation” for such issues where **net sale price to the dealer at any trade margin offered is
lower than the *net realisation rate (NRR)”. The same should also be compliant on a weekly
average basis for all issues of the week taken together. (*Net Realisation Rate (NRR) is the
term used for value of newspaper in waste computed on the basis of waste rate per kg. as
fixed by the Council from time to time).
(**Net sale price to the dealer is the cover price of the publication less applicable trade commission,
delivery charges or by whatever name called).
Excess circulation of non compliant issues will be determined on the basis of comparison with
‘normal circulation’ which would be the average circulation of the immediate previous week or such
another week during an audit period when all relevant issues of the week on a daily basis are
compliant with the qualifying principle and accordingly the corresponding circulation qualifies for
certification.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
65
News Media Management
Q (i) How “excess circulation” for non compliant issues of the week will be
determined?
A(i) “Excess circulation” is the incremental circulation for any non complaint issue as compared to
the average circulation of the immediate previous week or such another week during an audit period
where all relevant issues are compliant with the qualifying criteria and the corresponding circulation
qualifies for certification.
Therefore, it is necessary that there is at least one week in an audit period when all issues on each
day of the week are compliant with the qualifying criteria.
Q(ii) What treatment will be given if, during an audit period there is no such
week where all issues of the week are independently compliant with the
qualifying criteria?
A(ii) Under such circumstances, the benefit of reducing only the excess circulation will not be
available. The entire circulation of all non compliant issues will not be shown as `Qualifying Sales’ in
‘Part A’ of the Certificate.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
66
News Media Management
However, such copies will be shown in ‘Part B’ as `Non – Qualifying Sales’. (All publishing day(s)
during an audit period will however be reckoned for average calculations of qualifying and non
qualifying sales.)
Q (iii) If for a given week, the qualifying principle is not complied with on a
weekly average basis, what treatment will be given to non compliant issues
during such a week?
A(iii) Considering the principle of compliance with the qualifying criteria, if on an average basis, for
any given week, the criteria is not complied with, then the benefit of reducing only “excess
circulation” for non compliant issues will be denied and entire circulation of all non compliant
issues during such a week will not be recognized as “qualifying sales” under
‘Part A’.
This will however be shown under `Part B’ as “non-qualifying sales”. (All publishing day(s) during an
audit period will however be reckoned for average calculations of qualifying and non qualifying
sales.)
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
67
News Media Management
3. SUBSCRIPTION SALES:
3.1 SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS (Single & Joint):
Following guidelines are required to be fulfilled in case of all single & joint subscription offers:
a. Subscription requisition / request in writing from the subscriber needs to be obtained by the
publisher and / or his agent(s).
b. In case, a subscription offer is for a period of less than six months, full subscription amount
to be received in advance. In case of subscription schemes for a period longer than six months,
for all booked subscriptions, full subscription amount to be received within a period of two
months from the date of booking a subscription.
c. Supply of subscription copies to a subscriber to commence only after the subscription
amount is received as above by a publisher and / or his agent(s) in full as per the subscription
offer.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
68
News Media Management
d. Valuation of a gift, branded or customised, to be valued at MRP or cost to the publisher plus
15% as applicable. Gift in the form of cash or cash equivalent is however excluded from the
purview of gift.
e. In case a publication is offered as a gift, the same to be valued at its cover price.
f. In case a publication, which is not a member of the Bureau but is offered under the Joint
Subscription Scheme, then the member publication shall arrange for verification of the
distribution and financial books and records of a non-member publication. The member
publication will then arrange to obtain a written confirmation from the non-member publication
that it’s financial & distribution books & records are open for scrutiny by Bureau’s Auditors /
officials.
g. Publisher should retain at least 10% of the cover price of the publication, after taking into
account discount on cover price, value of gifts, delivery charges, etc. (in case of joint
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
69
News Media Management
subscription publisher to retain at least 10% of the cover price of all publications individually
included in the subscription offer).
Non-compliance of any of the above conditions will render the subscription offer as unacceptable for
certification as qualifying sales (Part ‘A’).
3.2 INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIPTION SALES:
Subscription Sales effected to institutions up to 5% of the total qualifying sales will be considered as
qualifying sales. This is in addition to Institutional Sales (non subscription copies) which is included
for certification as qualifying sales up to 10% of the total non-subscription copies.
All prescribed audit guidelines for subscription copies (single and joint) as in force are also applicable
to all institutional subscription copies. All relevant documentation should be available with the
publisher for auditor’s verification.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
70
News Media Management
4. NON-SUBSCRIPTION SALES
Includes Single, Institutional, Combo copies etc.
4.1 COMBO OFFERS (Non subscription):
Definition:
More than one publication available under a scheme (other than subscription) to readers at a
combined price
The following guidelines are required to be followed:
a) Combined price along with the titles / names of publications involved in the combo offer
shall be distinctly mentioned on the print line below the masthead on all publications involved
in a Combo offer.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
71
News Media Management
b) Average number of Combo copies of the respective publications in an offer will be shown
separately on the respective ABC Certificate and shall be reckoned for certification.
c) No gift either in the form of a publication registered with RNI or in any other form will be
permitted for combo offers (non subscription).
d) The combo price to be at least 50% of the combined cover prices of all publications involved
in a combo offer.
e) In case of a combo offer of a daily / weekly / monthly the combined price to be similarly
worked out and should be atleast 50% of the cover price of all publications involved in the
combo offer.
f) Number of combo copies to be separately shown in the print order of the respective
publications.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
72
News Media Management
g) Combo copies should be separately billed to agents / sub agents at the prescribed trade
terms.
h) In case a Publication, which is not a member of the Bureau but is offered under a combo
offer, then the member publication shall arrange for verification of the distribution and
financial books and records of the nonmember publication. The member publication will then
arrange to obtain a written confirmation from a non-member publication that it’s financial &
distribution books & records are open for scrutiny by Bureau’s Auditors / officials.
i) The new qualifying criteria, (NRR) will be applicable to all publications under the combo offer
taken together at the prescribed combo price less trade commission / delivery charges, as
applicable.
Non-compliance of any of the above conditions will render the combo offer as unacceptable for
certification.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
73
News Media Management
4.2. SINGLE COPY SALES:
All copies sold to the reader at the prescribed cover price.
4.3 INSTITUTIONAL SALES:
Copies of newspapers (Dailies & Weeklies) which are either sold directly by the publishers and/or his
distributing trade to organisations not connected with newspaper distribution trade provided
bonafides of the organisation(s) involved in Institutional Sales are established to the satisfaction of
the auditors (Unless Auditors/Bureau having any evidence to the contrary).
Institutional Sales are accepted for certification only to the extent of 10% of Qualifying Sales.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
74
News Media Management
5. SCHEMES FOR READERS - Non Subscription Copies:
5.1 INCENTIVE / GIFTS SCHEMES FOR READERS (Non subscription copies):
Bureau’s present audit guidelines permit publications to offer gifts to readers on non subscription
copies upto 50% of the cover price of a publication so that copies qualify for certification as
Qualifying Sales (Part A).
Accordingly, it is clarified that publishers offering gifts to readers value of which is more than 50%
of the cover price on non subscription copies under any scheme for a defined period then such a
scheme is void abinitio and does not qualify for certification. Accordingly, all copies offered to
readers under such a scheme do not qualify for certification as Qualifying Sales irrespective of
whether readers have availed the benefit offered under the scheme or not.
All incentive schemes to readers to be framed in such a manner such that the name of the
beneficiary / reader is identifiable. An audit trail in the form of a reader booking form with the name,
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
75
News Media Management
address and other contact details of the reader should be made available for auditor’s verification
along with a record of gifts purchased and distributed.
Publishers should ensure that the reader incentive schemes are not taken advantage of by the trade
in order to increase their earnings which would result in reduction of the net price at which the trade
purchases a copy from the publisher. In case of barter arrangements, relating to gifts issued to
subscribers or on newsstand sales, publishers should pass necessary accounting entries in their
books of accounts.
5.2 CALCULATION OF EXCESS CIRCULATION IN CASE OF GIFTS VALUED AT
OVER 50% OF THE COVER PRICE OF A NEWSPAPER (NON-SUBSCRIPTION):
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
76
News Media Management
In case a gift / sample etc. is provided along with a particular issue of a publication value of which
is more than 50% of the cover price of a publication then in such cases only excess circulation
achieved for the relevant issue will not be considered for certification as Qualifying Sales.
The provision referred to above for reducing ‘excess circulation’ does not apply to cases where value
of gifts offered to readers is more than 50% of the cover price under a scheme for a defined period.
In such circumstances, such a scheme as mentioned above will be treated void abinitio and all
copies under such a scheme will be shown as NON Qualifying Sales (Part ‘B’).
In order to determine excess circulation achieved for a particular issue when a free sample, gift
etc. was carried along with a publication, following procedure needs to be followed:
a) In case of dailies, average Qualifying Sales of the previous week to be taken as normal
circulation provided there were no promotional activities*, in any form, during the given
period.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
77
News Media Management
b) In case of Sunday issue of a daily, weeklies and magazines, average Qualifying Sales of
previous four issues where there were no promotional activities*, in any form, would be
reckoned as normal circulation.
[*Promotional activity includes free distribution of gifts/samples, calendars etc. to readers and shall
also include any other schemes to induce a reader to purchase a publication]
Publishing Day on which free samples/gifts are distributed along with a publication would be
reckoned for circulation of average circulation in all cases.
5.3 GIFT OF A PUBLICATION ON NEWSSTAND SALES (NON SUBSCRIPTION):
a) The value of gift / inducement / incentive to a reader should not exceed 50% of the cover
price of the publication on which an inducement is offered.
b) In case another publication is offered as a gift, in such cases, on the print line below the
mast-head of the main publication, it should be mentioned that “XYZ” publication offered free
with “DEF” publication.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
78
News Media Management
c) Similarly, on the print line of the publication offered free, it should be specified that this
publication is offered free alongwith XXX publication.
d) Print Order of the publication offered free should specifically show the number of copies
offered free with a particular publication.
e) In case a Publication, which is offered as a gift / inducement / incentive is not a member of
the Bureau then the member publication shall arrange for verification of the distribution and
financial books and records of a nonmember publication. The member publication will then
arrange to obtain a written confirmation from the non-member publication that it’s financial &
distribution books & records are open for scrutiny by Bureau’s Auditors / officials.
f) Copies of the Publication offered free as an inducement or at less than the prescribed cover
price would not be considered for certification under Part A of the ABC Certificate of
circulation.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
79
News Media Management
g) The NRR will be ascertained after considering the combined pagination of the main
publication together with the publication given free as a gift.
h) The net price to the trade would be calculated at the cover price of the main publication less
trade commission and / or delivery charges on the main as well as the free publication.
Non compliance of any of the above guidelines would render such gift/inducement offer as
unacceptable for certification as qualifying sales.
5.4 CASH GIFTS NOT PERMITTED:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
80
News Media Management
a) The word “gift” would specifically exclude all cash gifts or cash equivalents (gift cheques
etc) to subscribers / regular readers from the purview of gifts to subscribers / regular readers.
Gifts offered to subscribers / regular readers only in kind will be considered for the purpose.
b) All copies involved in a scheme offering its readers cash gifts / cash equivalent / cash
discounts etc. will be shown as “Non Qualifying Sales” under ‘Part B’ of the ABC Certificate of
circulation.
6. COPIES DISTRIBUTED THRU DISTRIBUTION TRADE:
6.1 DISTRIBUTION COST:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
81
News Media Management
An amount paid to the trade by whatever name called plus any additional incentives / benefit which
is directly connected with selling / distribution of the newspaper paid to the trade, the same shall be
totaled to arrive at the gross trade term payable to the trade for distributing copies.
An amount not connected with distribution of copies paid / reimbursed to the trade for which
supporting are available may not be considered as part of the trade term. The trade term should be
calculated on the cover price of a publication. Actual cost of transporting publications from the
printing location to the distribution centers as per contractual arrangements made by the publisher
do not form part of the delivery charges or trade term.
6.2 TRADE TERMS:
Commission and allowances etc. mutually agreed to between the publisher and the distributing trade
and paid continuously and consistently. Apart from basic commission, it may include other facilities
such as office allowances, transport allowances, bonuses, rewards, incentives, ex-gratia payments,
value of gifts/ incentives consistently offered under any scheme to the distribution trade.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
82
News Media Management
However, if a gift or a reward is announced on specific occasion which is based on the performance
of a particular agent from a group of agents or is subject to a draw of lottery pursuant to a sales
promotion scheme, then such gifts shall be considered more or less as a sales promotion scheme
rather than a part of the trade term (Unless Auditors/Bureau having evidence to the contrary).
However, reimbursement made by the publisher for expenses actually incurred by the distributing
trade on their behalf for services rendered other than those relating to the sale of copies shall not be
included in the gross trade terms provided, necessary documentary evidence in support of actual
expenses incurred by agents for such services is available for auditors’ verification.
6.3 GIFT SCHEMES FOR AGENTS:
Information on gift schemes run for the benefit of the agents should be declared in the Incoming
Certificate and made available to the Auditors at the time of circulation audit. Written records should
be kept by all publishers for all such schemes.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
83
News Media Management
7. SUBMISSION OF CIRCULATION FIGURES:
Submission of circulation figures for each audit period is mandatory for all publisher members. If
audited circulation figures in the prescribed format are not submitted for one audit period by a
publisher member, then audited circulation figures for the following audit period cannot be
considered for certification.
a) All publisher members are mandatorily required to submit their circulation figures every six
months to the Bureau in the prescribed format of Incoming Certificate. The due dates are:
Audit period
January/June
Audit period
July/December
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
84
News Media Management
Submission date to the Bureau: 1st to 31st July 1st to 31st January (next)
b) A further extension of 15 days may be granted by the Bureau on a case to case basis
provided the extension is sought before the relevant due dates i.e. 31st July and 31st January
alongwith an acceptable explanation.
c) Incoming Certificate submitted to the Bureau after the due date (but before expiry of three
months from the relevant audit period) without seeking an extension for submission would be
considered for certification subject to a satisfactory surprise recheck audit at publisher’s
expense.
d) Incoming Certificate submitted after expiry of three months from the relevant audit period
will not be considered for certification and will be treated as “Not Filed” and no certificate of
circulation will be issued.
7.1 COMPILATION OF INCOMING CERTIFICATE:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
85
News Media Management
· CERTIFICATION OF A NEW EDITION / PRINTING CENTRE FOR PART AUDIT PERIOD:
Certification of a newly started edition / printing centre for a part audit period will be permitted only
in cases where publication requests for a combined certificate with an existing edition / printing
centre. It will be necessary for the publisher to submit a separate application for enrolment to
membership and also pay annual membership fees as well as one time entrance fees as prescribed
from time to time.
Publisher is also required to file the audited incoming certificate separately in such cases.
· COPIES INDENTED LOCALLY BUT DISTRIBUTED ABROAD:
All copies of a publication which are indented by agents in India but distributed / sold abroad will not
be considered for certification while arriving at the average qualifying sales.
· OPTION TO AVAIL A SEPARATE AND / OR A COMBINED ABC CERTIFICATE FOR A MULTI-
EDITION PUBLICATION:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
86
News Media Management
A publisher of a multi-edition publication has an option to avail either a separate certificate for its
various editions or a combined ABC certificate for various editions. A publisher who is a member of
the Bureau and has exercised an option to avail a separate ABC Certificate or a combined ABC
Certificate can change his option only once during a period of four six monthly audit periods.
Publisher’s request may be considered by the Council only prospectively from the commencement of
the following audit period.
· PROCEDURE FOR COMPILATION OF COMBINED ABC CERTIFICATE:
A multi-centre publication is regarded as one publication for issue of a combined ABC Certificate.
Accordingly, the day on which a publication is published either from one centre or more is regarded
as a publishing day for all editions/printing centres and is taken into account for calculating the
combined average figures. Under this procedure, combined average figures for each month as also
for an audit period are worked out by dividing, combined total sales by the total number of
publishing days on which the publication was published at either of the centre.
· PUBLISHING DAYS – MULTI EDITION / CENTRE PUBLICATIONS:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
87
News Media Management
Qualifying Sales of individual editions / printing centres will be shown as a foot-note on the ABC
Certificate of circulation. Qualifying Sales will however be calculated on the basis of highest number
of publishing days amongst all editions / printing centres. The publications total qualifying sales as
certified will accordingly tally with the total of individual edition’s average qualifying sales.
· REASONS FOR INCREASE IN CIRCULATION:
Publisher members are required to specify the reasons for increase in circulation when the
circulation of a printing centre or an edition individually increases / decreases by 10% or more over
the previous audit period.
· SUNDAY CIRCULATION / WEEKLY EDITIONS OF DAILY NEWSPAPERS:
In case of daily newspapers, where higher rates are prescribed or surcharge is levied over normal
advertisement rates for Sunday editions or Weekly edition published on any other day, average
circulation of such Sunday or Weekly editions is indicated separately on the relevant ABC certificate
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
88
News Media Management
alongwith average qualifying sales. In such cases, publisher members concerned are required to
submit separate circulation figures for Sunday issues/weekly editions.
7.2 COMPILATION OF AREA BREAKDOWN STATEMENT:
· AREA BREAKDOWN STATEMENT:
For the purpose of compilation of Area Breakdown Statement to be submitted to the
Bureau together with the circulation figures, publisher members and their auditors are
required to select an issue which has circulation nearest to the average qualifying sales
for the relevant audit period so that it reflects normal pattern of distribution of a
publication. Despite the above requirement, substantial variations are noticed between
the figures of average Qualifying Sales for an audit period and the total distribution
provided in the Area Breakdown Statement for the issues selected. In order to rectify this
anomaly, members are requested to provide details of State-wise, District-wise and
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
89
News Media Management
Town-wise distribution in an Area Breakdown Statement for the issue selected which will
be reduced or adjusted in proportion to the average circulation figures for the period.
Accordingly, total qualifying distribution of an issue provided in Area Breakdown
Statements will be equal to the average qualifying sales as certified for the period.
· COMPILATION OF AREA BREAKDOWN STATEMENT (IN CASE OF NEW EDITION
STARTED DURING THE AUDIT PERIOD):
In case of a new edition of a multi-centre publication started in between the audit period,
edition-wise distribution details of a newly started edition during the relevant audit
period will not be shown separately. The same will be reflected under the parent edition
from which supply was earlier catered to.
· DETAILS OF TOWN-WISE DISTRIBUTION UNDER SECTION 'B' TO BE PROVIDED AS
UNDER :
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
90
News Media Management
For the State(s) in which the town(s) of publication is/are situated, towns to be classified
according to the respective Districts. A tally of total distribution in each District to be
provided showing towns where 250 copies or more are distributed. Those distributed in
other towns to be totaled and indicated as distributed in "other places".
For other States, various towns to be classified according to respective Districts without
providing a tally of total distribution in the District.
7.3. NEWSPRINT WASTAGE:
Reasons to be provided in the incoming certificate for newsprint wastage of (+/-) 3 per cent age
points as compared to previous audit period
7.4 BUREAU MEMBERSHIP:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
91
News Media Management
_ Membership of the Bureau is governed by the terms and conditions of membership together with
the provisions of Bureau’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
_ All publishers who desire to enroll their publications to Bureau membership are required to submit
the following documents:
· Completed application form duly proposed and seconded by two members of the Bureau.
· Permanent information form duly completed, signed and stamped
· Fees: annual membership fee as per schedule of fees in force from time to time alongwith
one time admission fee (equivalent to one year’s membership fees).
· Check-list duly completed by publisher auditors (Annexure 1)
· Letter of authority (Annexure 2)
· Publisher’s confirmation (Annexure 3)
· Copy of relevant RNI registration certificate
· Specimen copy of the publication
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
92
News Media Management
If desired by a prospecting publisher member, a new publication / edition /printing centre to be
enrolled to Bureau membership may be directly put through Bureau’s audit by Bureau’s Auditors
prior to admission provided a written request is received by the Bureau at least one month before
the end of the respective audit period.
· ENROLMENT OF NEW EDITIONS / PRINTING CENTRES:
Publisher members are required to separately enroll a new printing centre and / or edition with the
Bureau. Publisher members are also required to submit separate Incoming Certificate for each
printing centre and / or edition.
Publisher members may request for a combined or separate ABC certificate of circulation for their
various editions.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
93
News Media Management
· RETURN OF APPLICATION FOR BUREAU MEMBERSHIP:
Bureau will be constrained to return application received for Bureau membership from prospecting
publisher applicant under the following circumstances:
· Not completing procedural formalities and providing required documents within a reasonable
time [within the audit period for which admission to Bureau membership was sought].
· Failure to comply with Bureau’s prescribed audit guidelines.
· Non-availability of RNI registration certificate.
· Non-payment of annual membership fees and entrance fee as per the prescribed schedule of
fees.
· Failure to comply with the provisions of Bureau’s Code for Publicity
· Any other reason which the Bureau’s Council of Management feels appropriate.
· RE- ADMISSION TO BUREAU MEMBERSHIP:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
94
News Media Management
All applications from Publishers for re-admission to Bureau membership would be considered by the
Bureau’s Council of Management only after a gap of two six monthly audit periods including the
audit period during which the membership was terminated/ ceased.
· STARTING OF NEW PRINTING CENTRE AND / OR EDITION:
ABC certificate of circulation are issued for a six monthly audit period i.e January to June and July to
December every year. Certification of circulation figures of a new printing center and / or edition for
part audit period would be considered for certification provided the publisher seeks a combined ABC
certificate alongwith an existing member edition and submits to the Bureau an application for
Bureau membership in the prescribed form as well as completes all prescribed procedural
formalities.
Certification of circulation figures separately of a new printing centre and / or edition for a part
audit period will not be considered.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
95
News Media Management
· SURPRISE RECHECK AUDIT BY BUREAU’S AUDITORS PRIOR TO ADMISSION
TO BUREAU MEMBERSHIP:
Publisher to file the circulation figures for the relevant audit period after the application for Bureau
membership is accepted in principle by the Bureau’s Council of Management. The relevant
circulation figures filed with the Bureau for the new title / edition / printing centre would then be put
through a surprise recheck audit by Bureau’s Auditors at publisher’s expense prior to admission and
confirmation of circulation figures
8. GUIDELINES COVERING TITLES HAVING AVERAGE CIRCULATION
LESS THAN 15,000 COPIES:
In order to encourage small publications / titles to have their circulation figures certified by the
Bureau and to minimise record keeping by such small publications / titles, following simplified
guidelines have been prescribed for maintenance of books of accounts and other documents for a
satisfactory circulation audit for such titles having average circulation upto 15,000 copies.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
96
News Media Management
The same is applicable to TITLES having average circulation less than 15,000 copies and not to
individual edition / printing centre of a title.
a) ADVANCE WRITTEN INDENTS / MONTHLY CONFIRMATIONS
This requirement is waived. Auditors may however seek direct confirmations from the agents.
b) AGENTS’ SUPPLY REGISTER
Details of total copies supplied to the agent – paid & free copies to be maintained. Details of unsold
to be maintained
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
97
News Media Management
c) AGREEMENT WITH OUTSIDE PRINTERS
No formal agreement necessary. Instead, printer’s bills and/or statement of account, with
correspondence to cover the supply of newsprint, conversion of reels into sheets and percentage of
wastage etc. to be maintained
d) BANKING OF CASH COLLECTION
Banking of cash collection only relating to sale of copies to be banked on the following day
e) CASH COVERING NOTES
This requirement is waived.
f) CASH SALES RECORDS
Centre wise details of copies supplied to hawkers in cash and cash received to be maintained.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
98
News Media Management
g) MACHINE ROOM RETURNS
Details should atleast include start and finish time preferably with machine break timings.
h) NEWSPRINT CONSUMPTION REGISTER
Periodic reconciliation of newsprint consumption and wastage to be carried out as under –
i) Daily Newspapers .. Fortnightly
ii) Weekly Newspapers .. Monthly
i) NEWSPRINT STOCK REGISTER
One consolidated register showing all receipts and consumption of newsprint with the necessary
details may be considered as adequate.
j) POSTAGE / DESPATCH RECORD FOR SUBSCRIBERS
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
99
News Media Management
Details of subscription copies despatched to be maintained
k) PRINT ORDER
Consolidated print order may be prepared
l) RETURNS REGISTER
Unsold / returns register to be maintained
9. OUTSTANDING / ADD BACK OF COPIES
9.1 ADJUSTMENT OF AGENTS DEPOSITS AGAINST OUTSTANDING DUES:
Publisher may seek to appropriate the agents deposits held by him against the outstanding dues of
the said agent by passing appropriate accounting entries in the books and records. In all such cases,
publisher is required to give a due notice in writing to such an agent whose deposits have been
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
100
News Media Management
appropriated on account of outstandings at the end of the audit period. In such cases, reversal of the
accounting entry after the close of the audit period is not permissible.
9.2 ON ACCOUNT PAYMENTS BY AGENTS:
In some cases distribution trade handles sale of copies as well as procurement of advertisements
and provides other services to the publishers. In such cases, when an on account payment is
received from the distribution trade and the same cannot be directly attributed to either sale of
copies, advertisements or for other services, then in such cases, the on account payment would first
be attributed towards the outstandings of other services excluding supply of newspapers.
In case one or more publications in a group are not members of the Bureau and outstandings from
an agent cannot be ascertained for each publication that he sells, then all outstandings from him will
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
101
News Media Management
be treated as in respect of ABC member publications only and allocated between them
proportionately to the value of copies sold to him.
It is therefore advisable for such agents to specifically mention the purpose for which the payment is
made to the publisher against a particular service offered by the agent.
9.3 OUTSTANDINGS:
Whilst calculating the qualifying copies under Part “A” of the ABC certificate of circulation
outstanding payment for copies supplied to agents at the end of the audit period as under have to
be excluded.
_ Local agents - outstanding for more than one month's supply
_ Outstation agents – copies outstanding for more than two months supply
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
102
News Media Management
_ Railway book stalls – copies outstanding for more than four months supply
Qualifying Copies which were outstanding for payment in the previous audit period and excluded but
payments for which have been received in the immediate subsequent audit period are to be added
back as qualifying sales for certification under Part “A” in the immediate subsequent period equally
over the entire audit period of six months.
10. AUDIT GUIDELINES
10.1 Rotation of Publisher Auditor
Publisher members are required to appoint a firm of Publisher Auditor which is empanelled with the
Bureau, a list of which is available on the Bureau’s website: www.auditbureau.org.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
103
News Media Management
A firm of Publisher Auditor may carry out publisher’s circulation audit for a maximum period of two
years or four half-yearly audit periods. Thereafter, a publisher member is required to appoint another
firm of Publisher Auditor from amongst the empanelled firms. The same firm of Publisher Auditor
may be considered for re-appointment by a publisher member only after a clear gap of four audit
periods or two years. The terms of appointment, fees etc. to be mutually decided between the
publisher member and the publisher auditor.
10.2 ALL PUBLICATIONS OF A GROUP NOT MEMBERS OF THE BUREAU:
Publishers who publish more than one publication, all of which are not members of the Bureau and
separate books of accounts are not maintained for non member publications then under such
circumstances the publisher should provide access to the auditor to enable him examine records
pertaining to non member publications.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
104
News Media Management
In cases where non member publications are offered to a reader along with member publications
under any scheme then it is incumbent upon the publisher to provide full access to the auditor for
scrutiny of books and records pertaining to non member publications.
10.3 BANKING OF CASH COLLECTIONS:
Publisher members are required to deposit into the bank on the same day or the next working day
cash received from all sources viz. sale of copies, advertisement receipts and from any other source.
Cash required by the publisher for day-to-day disbursement should be separately withdrawn and not
adjusted from the daily cash collection.
Auditor should verify this aspect and establish that actual cash received on all days has been
deposited into the bank in full on the same day or next working day and such a transaction is not
merely a book entry.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
105
News Media Management
10.4 BOOKS AND RECORDS TO BE AUDITED:
Each audit should include financial, sales and statistical audit to the satisfaction of the auditor in
order to establish the qualifying sales. For that purpose auditors should call for relevant books and
records and information as may be required from the publisher. However, the financial audit should
be limited to ascertain to the satisfaction of the auditor the circulation figures to be certified without
going into other financial records which have no bearing on the publisher’s circulation figures.
Scrutiny of various accounts heads in general ledger should be done for those accounts pertaining to
sale of copies.
For a satisfactory audit, an auditor should not limit his scrutiny of publishers books and records
placed before him but his audit should include physical verification of actual printing and despatch of
the publication including actual sale of copies to the trade which may be ascertained through market
visits, interaction with distribution trade as well as seeking direct confirmations from newsprint
suppliers, agents, principal agents and others involved in sales of copies.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
106
News Media Management
10.5 BOOKS AND RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED BY A PRINCIPAL AGENCY:
An agent who distributes or effects at least 20% of the total sales subject to a minimum of 25,000
copies per printing centre / edition is recognised and termed as a “principal agent”.
It is essential for the publisher to arrange for principal agent’s books and records for an audit by the
publisher auditor and / or Bureau auditor as required at all times.
Further the word “publication” in the context of principal agency mean “which submits separate
incoming certificate for consideration of the Bureau”.
Following books and records are required to be maintained.
a) Distribution records:
i. Sub agents/ hawkers supply register
ii. Sub agents/ hawkers unsold/returns register
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
107
News Media Management
iii. Sub agents written orders or subsequent confirmations for copies ordered by them
iv. Despatch distribution summary
v. Subscriber records wherever applicable
b) Financial Records:
i. Credit note register/ Credit notes
ii. Sub agents ledger for Credit sales
iii. Duplicate bills/invoice of sub agents – Bills register
iv. Cash sales records
v. Cash/bank book, Bank Reconciliation statement etc.
vi. Supporting payment advices for remittances received from distributing trade
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
108
News Media Management
The Auditors may where deemed necessary, call for such information directly from the parties
concerned with the concurrence of the Publisher.
Auditors shall verify that Cash receipts on account of sale of the concerned publication and from all
sources must be deposited with the bank intact on the following day except on a bank holiday, in
which case cash receipts are to be deposited on the next working day. The auditor will satisfy
himself as to the banking of cash receipts and examine the Bank Pass Book. He will also ensure that
cheques deposited on account of sale of the publication have been duly realised by reference to
bank reconciliation statement.
c) Agents Confirmations:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
109
News Media Management
Principal agent are required to obtain from their sub agents or by any other name called
documentary evidence for number of copies supplied to them. The said written evidence could either
be: -
i) Advance written indent / orders from agents in support of copies supplied to them.
ii) Subsequent confirmation from agents in cases where advance indents are not available specifying
the number of copies.
iii) In absence of (i) and (ii), principal agent should obtain monthly statements from agents / sub-
agents duly stamped and signed showing number of copies received and those remaining unsold,
payment received by either cash, cheque, or demand draft. In such cases, it is the principal agents
responsibility to obtain the duplicate copy of the statement of account from the agents / sub-agents
duly stamped and signed. This monthly statement of accounts duly accepted by the agents / sub-
agents should be kept on record for auditor’s verification.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
110
News Media Management
d) Agents Remittances:
All remittances from agents especially by cash or demand drafts should be supported by
documentary evidence such as payment advices, covering letter or statement of accounts.
All remittances from agents should be checked with the principal agent’s books of accounts and
bank statements.
Auditor should report all such cases and carry out detailed scrutiny specially where remittances have
been made on behalf of more than one agent through a consolidated cheque by another agent In
order to have an evidence for payment received in cash by principal agent’s representatives / field
staff, a pay-in-slip or any other document by whatever name called, duly filled by the agent / dealer
detailing name of the agent, place, Bill No. amount paid should be obtained. Auditors may seek
direct confirmations from such agents if required.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
111
News Media Management
10.6 BOOKS AND RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED BY A PUBLISHER:
A GENERAL
B PAPER PRINTING & DELIVERY
Cash Book
Print Orders
General Ledger
Machine Room Returns
Journal
Newsprint Stock Register
Bank Statement
Newsprint Consumption Register
Bank Reconciliation Statement
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
112
News Media Management
Newsprint Bills
Trial Balance
Wastage Records
Cash Sale Records
Dispatch / Distribution Summary
C AGENTS
D SUBSCRIPTION
Agents’ Invoice / Bill Register
Subscription Scheme
Agents’ Supply Register
Subscribers’ form
Agents’ Returns Register
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
113
News Media Management
Subscription amount receipts
Credit Note Register / Credit Notes
Subscribers Register
Agents’ Ledger
Dispatch Records
Auditors should include any adverse observation on the scrutiny of the above books and records in
their reports to be annexed along with six monthly audit report issued to the publisher.
10.7 AUDITORS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO COVER THE FOLLOWING AREAS
DURING THEIR CIRCULATION AUDIT:
a) Distribution records:
i. Sub agents/ hawkers supply register
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
114
News Media Management
ii. Sub agents/ hawkers unsold/returns register
iii. Sub agents written orders or subsequent confirmations for copies ordered by them
iv. Despatch distribution summary
v. Subscriber records wherever applicable
b) Financial Records:
i. Credit note register/ Credit notes
ii. Sub agents ledger for Credit sales
iii. Duplicate bills/invoice of sub agents – Bills register
iv. Cash sales records
v. Cash/bank book, Bank Reconciliation statement etc.
vi. Supporting payment advices for remittances received from distributing trade
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
115
News Media Management
The Auditors may where deemed necessary, call for such information directly from the parties
concerned with the concurrence of the Publisher.
Auditors shall verify that Cash receipts on account of sale of the concerned publication and from all
other sources must be deposited with the bank intact on the following day except on a bank holiday,
in which case cash receipts are to be deposited on the next working day. The auditor will satisfy
himself as to the banking of cash receipts and examine the Bank Pass Book. He will also ensure that
cheques deposited on account of sale of the publication have been duly realised by reference to
bank reconciliation statement.
c) Agents Confirmations:
For an effective audit, publishers are required to obtain from their principal agent, sub agents or by
any other name called documentary evidence for number of copies supplied to them.
The said written evidence could either be: -
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
116
News Media Management
i) Advance written indent / orders from agents in support of copies supplied to them.
ii) Subsequent confirmation from agents in cases where advance indents are not available specifying
the number of copies.
iii) In absence of (i) and (ii), publisher should obtain monthly statements from agents duly stamped
and signed showing number of copies received and those remaining unsold, payment received by
either cash, cheque, or demand draft. In such cases, it is the publisher’s responsibility to obtain the
duplicate copy of the statement of account from the agent duly stamped and signed. This monthly
statement of accounts duly accepted by the agents should be kept on record for auditor’s
verification.
d) Agents Remittances:
All remittances from agents especially by cash or demand drafts should be supported by
documentary evidence such as payment advices, covering letter or statement of accounts. All
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
117
News Media Management
remittances from agents should be checked with the principal agents books of accounts and bank
statements.
Auditor should report all such cases and carry out detailed scrutiny specially where remittances have
been made on behalf of more than one agent through a consolidated cheque by another agent.
In order to have an evidence for payment received in cash by publisher’s representatives / field staff,
a pay-in-slip or any other document by whatever name called, duly filled by the agent / dealer
detailing name of the agent, place, Bill No. amount paid should be obtained. Auditors may seek
direct confirmations from such agents if required.
NEWSPRINT PURCHASES AND CONSUMPTION
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
118
News Media Management
i. Auditors to verify the publisher’s newsprint purchases and loans of newsprint and paper of any
other kind used for production of this publication, with reference to invoices, receipts from parties,
bank statements correspondence etc. and have excluded copies, if any, printed
out of newsprint and paper acquisitions not supported by vouchers.
ii. Auditors to check the summary reconciling acquisition with consumption of newsprint and other
paper with reference to the copies printed and thoroughly verified the wastage of ………% which is
an overall wastage inclusive of tare, core, tear-off, cut- wastage and spoils etc.
iii. Auditors to examine the printing capacity of the equipment in use by the Publisher(s) and/or the
printer of publication; and in the later case: Auditors to also examine the printers’ bills showing total
number of pages/copies printed and the rate per form etc.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
119
News Media Management
iv. Auditors to carry out physical verification of newsprint stocks and/or verified stocks with the Bank
Certificate, and/or Certificate(s) from outside press(es), which has been found to be in conformity
with the records.
v. Auditors to verify the newsprint consumption with reference to Print Orders, Newsprint Issue
Sheets, Machine Room returns. Stock Register and/or periodic newsprint consumption statements
received from outside press(es).
vi. Auditors to verify non-payment to newsprint suppliers beyond 90 days which is considered as
normal credit period. Secondary documentation like octroi payment, gate pass etc. should be
verified. Auditors may seek direct confirmations from the concerned newsprint suppliers if required.
DISTRIBUTION
i. Auditors to check:
a. Cash Sales with Cash Sales Register and/or Cash Book.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
120
News Media Management
b. Subscription Sales with Subscriber’s Register and dispatch records.
c. Agency Sales: Supplies to Agents with advance written orders, subsequent confirmations or
statements of Account obtained from agents.
d. Agency Sales: Agency Sales Register with Railway Road/Air /Postage/Delivery Book .
e. Agents’ Sales Register with Duplicate Bill Copies.
f. Agents’ Sales Register with Returns register.
ii. Auditors to adjust from Qualifying Sales:
a. Copies involved in outstanding from agents and others in accordance with the instructions of
the Bureau.
b. Copies returned or intimated as remaining unsold by hawkers/agents/distributors. .
c. Copies not meeting the qualifying criteria.
FINANCIAL RECONCILIATION
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
121
News Media Management
Auditors to check:
a. CASH SALES:
i. Cash Book with Cash Sales Register
ii. Cash Book with Sales Account in General Ledger.
b. SUBSCRIPTION SALES:
i. Cash Book with Subscriber’s Register.
ii. Cash Book with Sales account in General Ledger
c. AGENCY SALES:
i. Agents’ Sales Register with Agents’ Ledger
ii. Agents’ Sales Register with Sales account and Agents’ Account in General Ledger.
iii. Cash Book with Agents’ Ledger
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
122
News Media Management
iv. Cash Book with Agents’ Account in General Ledger . Agents’ ledger with Credit Note Books
v. Totals of Credit Note Books with Agent’s Account and Sales Account in General Ledger.
vi. Journal with Agents’ Ledger and General Ledger.
vii. Cash Book with Bank Pass Books/ Statement.
d. CASH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS:
Auditors to confirm that:
vii. Cash receipts from ALL sources including circulation receipts, advertisement receipts,
receipts in respect of sister publications and miscellaneous receipts of whatsoever nature have
been regularly banked intact and that payments are made from withdrawals from the bank on
interest basis or otherwise.
viii. All payments and/or perquisites to agents have been verified with reference to Agents’
Ledger, Agents’ Account in General Ledger, respective Nominal accounts in the General
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
123
News Media Management
Ledger, Credit Notes and correspondence between the Publisher and the agent(s) and that
payments made or perquisites allowed have been taken into account while arriving at gross
Trade Terms as per the Bureau’s instructions.
e. QUALIFYING SALES (PART A)
Auditors to confirm that all copies shown under PART A of the certificate are qualifying copies and
satisfy the following norm for certification :-
For each issue on a daily basis the net sale price to the dealer (first point of sale) at any trade
margin is higher than the net realisation rate. The same has also been found to be compliant on a
weekly average basis for all issues of the week taken together.
(Net Realisation Rate (NRR) is the term used for value of newspaper in waste computed on the basis
of waste rate per kg. as fixed by the Council from time to time).
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
124
News Media Management
(Net sale price to the dealer is the cover price of the publication less applicable trade commission,
delivery charges or whatever name called).
Auditors to also confirm that excess circulation has been removed for such issues where net sale
price to the dealer at any trade margin is lower than the Net Realisation Rate (NRR)
Other Information
i) Principal Agency
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
125
News Media Management
Auditors to provide details of principal agencies (An agent who effects 20% or more of the total
distribution of a publication subject to a minimum of 25,000 copies per printing centre /
edition)
ii) Variation in average qualifying sales
Auditors to provide detailed reasoning for variations in qualifying sales (+/- 10% as compared
to previous audit period)
10.8 SURPRISE RECHECK AUDIT BY BUREAU’S AUDITORS:
· Circumstances under which a surprise recheck audit by Bureau’s Auditors are normally caused:
1. New Publication being enrolled to Bureau Membership.
2. Starting of a new publication centre / edition of an existing publication.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
126
News Media Management
3. Reduction in cover price which could possibly result in change (increase) in the trade terms /
NRR
4. Increase in circulation figures individually for an edition and / or printing centre as under:
Increase in average circulation for an audit period
_ Upto 50,000 ave. copies 20% and above
_ Between 50,001 copies and upto 200,000 average copies 15% and above
_ Above 2,00,000 ave. copies 10% and above
5. Circulation figures of a publication for the previous audit period are either not filed or not
certified by the Bureau for any reason.
6. Result of surprise check and/or surprise recheck audit of the previous period is
unsatisfactory or there are issues arising from the surprise check/surprise recheck audit report
which needs to be verified for compliance before certification of circulation figures.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
127
News Media Management
7. Any other reason for which the committee feels a surprise recheck audit is necessary
(reasons to be recorded).
· Publisher members may at their discretion request the Bureau atleast a month before the end of
the audit period to carry out surprise recheck audit by Bureau’s Auditors at publisher’s expense in
order to expeditiously complete the process of surprise recheck audit in the above cases.
Publisher members to keep books and records ready for scrutiny of Bureau’s Auditors by 10th
January / 10th July as the case may be
10.9 MACHINE ROOM RETURN:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
128
News Media Management
Machine room return is the record of actual printing as well as confirmation that newsprint issued to
the press has been utilised for printing the publication as per the Print Order. It states the number of
copies actually printed and sent for despatch.
Machine Room Return should contain the following details:
i) Issue date with their respective print-runs (if any)
ii) Number of pages for the respective issue
iii) Time of receiving the plates
iv) Start and finish time for each print run for respective editions / print runs
v) Number of copies recorded on clock for each print run
vi) Number of spoils and make ready copy for each run
vii) Number of good copies printed, for each run
viii) Number of copies to be printed as per print order
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
129
News Media Management
ix) Number of paper breaks with timings and time lost in each break
x) Number of reel changes and time taken for change
xi) Number of good copies sent for dispatch
xii) Number of copies spoiled etc. on hand
xiii) Remark column for any other information by foreman in charge
Machine Room Return states the actual performance of the machine / machines on a day to day
basis and should be based on actual machine running timings and signed by the foreman or
supervisor in charge of printing. In case of computerized Machine Room Returns, the source
documents on the basis of which computerized record is generated should be maintained and made
available for atleast one full previous audit period.
10.10 MARKET PROTOCOL TO BE FOLLOWED BY AUDITORS:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
130
News Media Management
Following Market Protocol to be followed by Auditors during their market visits from time to time :
_ Auditors shall visit market place/s where a particular publication is being printed, published
and distributed as intimated by the Bureau. The scope of the market visit inter-alia is to
observe and report the actual market practices followed by the concerned publisher member.
_ Auditors to purposively cover all depots / distribution centres in the respective cities / towns
where 10% or more of the publication is being distributed. Small depots / distribution centres
should also be visited randomly, such random samples selected should be adequate for a
meaningful and acceptable statistical conclusion. The market visit may also include visits to
trade associations / unions wherever existing.
_ Market visit to be undertaken by the Auditors official representatives only.
_ Auditors to disclose their identity. The aim of the exercise is to ascertain the factual
information without any pre-conceived notion.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
131
News Media Management
_ Auditors to check the number of copies received at the depots / distribution centres and
verify whether the number of copies tallies with the dispatch details earlier noted at the
publisher’s press / office.
_ Information regarding location of publisher’s depots / distribution centres as collected by the
Bureau from time to time for different cities / towns from member publications would be
provided to the Auditors to facilitate a surprise market visit.
_ Auditors to check the status of actual unsold returns by sub-agents / hawkers
Auditors report on the market visit to contain the factual observations on the following points.
i. System of un solds observed at the depot / distribution centres.
ii. Trade commission at which the sub-agents / hawkers purchase
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
132
News Media Management
the copies from the main agent both in cash as well as on credit.
iii. In case of credit sales, details of records maintained by the main agent / depot in charge.
iv. Interaction with the depot in charge / main agent / sub-agents / hawkers.
v. Ascertain whether any additional incentive over and above the trade commission was
offered to sub agents / hawkers based on number of copies distributed.
vi. Ascertain whether a complete publication including all supplements is distributed to all sub-
agents / hawkers.
vii. In case of combo sales whether all publications offered under the combo offer are
distributed together at the declared combo price less trade commission.
viii. In case, where subscription copies are also being distributed by the same sub-agents /
hawkers to ascertain the actual delivery charges received by them for delivery of subscription
copies.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
133
News Media Management
ix. Auditor’s conclusions on their market visit.
10.11 PRINT ORDER
It is utmost essential that a print order duly signed by an authorized official of the publisher is
available at the press before the start of the printing process. Any alteration / correction to the print
order should be duly authorized.
The print order should contain the following information:-
1) Date of issue
2) Total number of pages – main paper + supplements + add ons if any to be separately
mentioned.
3) Total number of copies to be printed
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
134
News Media Management
4) Break up of total number of copies into
_ Standalone copies
_ Combo copies
_ Subscription copies
_ Institutional sales
_ Free and promotional copies
5) Number of copies to be printed as per different print runs (details to be provided).
Auditors have been specifically intimated to verify the print order immediately before the
starting of the printing process.
10.12 PUBLICATIONS PRINTED AT OUTSIDE PRESS:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
135
News Media Management
Where a publication is printed at an outside press not owned by the publisher, printers' bills showing
number of copies printed, the rate per form along with the terms and conditions laid down in the
agreement between the publisher and third party printers should be maintained and produced for
auditor's verification. Where the printing press is an associate concern or subsidiary company under
the same Management or where proprietors/partners/directors of the printing unit, are also
proprietors/partners/directors of the publication, printing records maintained by such printers shall
also be made available for the auditors' verification.
Publisher shall arrange for verification of actual printing and distribution of copies by Bureau’s
Officials/ Auditors as and when required.
10.13 ROUTINE SURPRISE CHECKS BY BUREAU’S AUDITORS:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
136
News Media Management
· The system of Surprise Check is one of the important audit procedures instituted by the Bureau.
The main purpose of surprise check is to ascertain genuineness of circulation of a publication. This is
achieved through:
a. Verification of print runs by visiting printing presses where publications are printed.
b. Verification of distribution of copies by visiting distribution centres both in the towns of
publication as well as outside the publishing centres, through random checks.
c. Verification of supporting books and records and other documentary evidence in support of
(a) & (b) above
d. Verification of Newsprint Stocks and Consumption records including physical verification.
e. Verification of distribution and financial records.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
137
News Media Management
· The system authorises Bureau’s Auditors / representatives to visit publishers’ establishments,
without prior intimation, to verify actual print runs, distribution of copies as well as books and
records maintained by them.
· All publications enrolled with the Bureau will be visited for a surprise check by Bureau’s Auditors
atleast once in a span of three years or more, if deemed necessary.
· Surprise checks will be carried out by the Partners / representatives of firms of Chartered
Accountants enrolled on the Bureau’s Panel of Auditors.
Bureau’s officers may accompany the Bureau’s Auditors as and when considered.
· Prescribed books and records should always be made available by the publisher during the course
of Recheck Audit.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
138
News Media Management
· In case of Surprise Check, prescribed books and records should be produced on demand. If the
records are not made available for any specific genuine reason, the Auditors may at his discretion
wait for not more than 24 hours to enable the publisher to produce relevant records.
· Publisher members will be requested to issue Letters of Authority in favour of the Bureau to enable
Bureau’s Auditors and officials to visit their printing presses.
· Publisher members are requested to offer necessary co-operation to the Bureau’s Auditors in
carrying out surprise checks whenever they visit.
10.14 SURPRISE PRESS AND MARKET VISIT BY PUBLISHER AUDITORS:
All publisher auditors are required to carry out atleast one surprise press and market visit during a
calendar year which consists of two audit periods i.e. January to June and July to December. Such
surprise press and market visit to be carried out in respect of all printing and publishing units of the
publisher member.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
139
News Media Management
Publisher auditors are required to follow the market protocol prescribed by the Bureau.
A copy of the publisher auditor’s report should be submitted to the Bureau alongwith publisher’s
comments wherever required. This provision is not applicable to all those titles whose average
circulation is less than 15,000 copies during an audit period.
Under mentioned points should be covered in the publisher auditor’s surprise press and market visit
report:
a) Press Visit:
_ Date and time of visit
_ Number of copies to be printed as per print order available including break-up of print order
_ Cover price of various print runs as per print order
_ Number of copies printed and dispatched before Auditors arrival as per MRR and availability
of dispatch records.
_ Number of copies printed and dispatched during Auditors physical presence at the press
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
140
News Media Management
_ Auditors comments on the printing speed and capacity of the printing press as actually
observed.
_ Scrutiny of dispatch labels and dispatch details available at the press
_ Mode of dispatch
_ Details of maintenance of Machine Room Report
_ Any other relevant matter observed by the Auditors during printing and dispatch at the press.
b) Market Visit
Date & Time of visit
Names of the centres visited and the time of visit
Actual number of copies received at the centre
As per publishers record number of copies dispatched to the centre
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
141
News Media Management
Net price at which copies are sold to the trade at each centre, actual trade terms as a % of
cover price
Previous days unsolds
Whether cash sale or credit sale
Record maintained by the agent
Any other observations
10.15 Availing of combined ABC Certificate of circulation
A publisher avails of a combined ABC Certificate of circulation voluntarily as per his own discretion.
However, if on a surprise check and / or surprise recheck audit of a particular edition and / or printing
centre of a publication availing combined certificate is reported by the Bureau’s Auditors as
“unsatisfactory” and the result is confirmed by the Bureau’s Audit Committee then for the relevant
audit period, the combined circulation figures for the relevant publication will be treated as `Not
Accepted’ and the entire relevant ABC Certificate will not be considered for issue.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
142
News Media Management
For all practical purposes, a combined ABC Certificate and a single centre certificate issued by the
Bureau is treated as one certificate.
11. CODE FOR PUBLICITY BY PUBLISHER MEMBERS
1. PREAMBLE
Membership of the Bureau entitles a publisher-member to use the fact of his membership and
circulation figures certified by it, for publicity and promotion of his publication/s, in conformity with
the rules as set out in Sections 2,3 and 4 hereunder. These must be read in conjunction with each
other and not in isolation. The rules apply to publicity and promotion carried out by a publisher
member himself as well as to publicity and promotion carried out on his behalf by any other person
or organisation.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
143
News Media Management
These rules are intended to ensure that all publicity and promotion related to circulation are carried
out by publisher-members only on the basis of the circulation figures certified by the Bureau.
Membership of the Bureau requires members to abide by these rules and not to use any figures or
claims related to circulation in publicity and promotion that are not certified by the Bureau.
2. DEFINITIONS / SCOPE
a) CIRCULATION
i) ‘Circulation' shall always mean the Average Qualifying Sales of Daily & Weekly Newspapers
shown in Part A of the ABC Certificate of Circulation OR Net Paid Circulation of Magazines of
the entire audit period as certified by the Bureau for the last completed ABC Audit period.
ii) Circulation figures given under Part B of the ABC Certificate of circulation in case of Daily
and Weekly Newspapers are intended for information purpose only and should not be used,
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
144
News Media Management
added together with any other certified circulation figures for any publicity / promotion
campaign in any form whatsoever.
iii) Publisher Members may if they so desire, publicise their average Weekday, average Sunday
circulation figure provided the figure of average Qualifying Sales / Net Paid Circulation is also
shown in the publicity as prominently as (same font size) the average Weekday or average
Sunday circulation figure.
iv) Provided month-to-month circulation figures for the entire six-monthly audit period are
quoted along with the Average Qualifying Sales / Net Paid Circulation for the period, monthly
average circulation figures shall not be used selectively for the purpose of publicity and
promotion.
If so desired, copies of ABC Certificates issued by the Bureau may be circulated or used for
publicity without any alterations.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
145
News Media Management
v) Distribution data appearing in the Area Breakdown Statement of the same audit period,
certified by the Bureau may be used for publicity and promotion.
b) PUBLICITY AND PROMOTION.
Publicity and Promotion' shall always mean the providing of any information whatsoever relating
to circulation, through the release of advertisements in any medium and in any other form, such as
Ad rate cards, brochures, leaflets, circulars or handouts etc.
The term `in any other form' referred to above will also cover one-to-one communication
addressed by publisher members to more than one person.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
146
News Media Management
Such one-to-one communication shall not contain information relating to or based on circulation
figures, or any other figures not certified by the Bureau - for example, no reference will be allowed to
print order figures or projections made on circulations whether certified by the Bureau or not.
3. RULES.
a) Membership of a publisher with the Bureau can be publicised and used only after
confirmation of membership and issue of first ABC Certificate and not while the application is
under consideration.
b) Publisher member may use the ABC insignia and the statement "Member of Audit Bureau
of Circulations" for publicity and promotion of his publication/s as long as he is a member of
the Bureau. No reference shall be made either to the ABC or the circulation figures certified by
it for any audit period for the purpose of publicity or promotion after he ceases to be a
member. Violation of this requirement may disqualify the concerned publisher from seeking re-
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
147
News Media Management
admission to Bureau membership. The Council shall, however, retain its discretion to re-admit
a member if it so desires.
c) When a publisher member uses circulation figures in publicity and promotion, he shall only
use circulation figures as defined in para 2(a). Publisher may also, if he so desires, use
circulation figures of any previous period/s as certified by the Bureau along with the certified
circulation figures of the last ABC Audit Period. The period/s to which they relate must be
specified.
Where circulation figures for the last ABC audit period have not been certified by the Bureau
for any reason, the publisher must indicate the same in his publicity and promotion.
d) Publisher member must not use any figures which are not certified by the Bureau such as
print order figures, for the purpose of publicity and promotion.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
148
News Media Management
e) Publisher member may use comparative circulation figures in respect of other member
publications for the purpose of publicity and promotion, along with his own, provided
circulation figures are such as have been certified by the Bureau for the last completed ABC
audit period. (along with those for any previous period as certified by the Bureau, if so desired,
shown separately.) Publisher member may use circulation figures relating to his own
publication/s based on the ABC certificates issued to him. In case of data of other member
publications, such data will be sourced from the Preliminary Lists of Circulation, Serial
Volumes, Bureau’s website or any other publication released by the Bureau. Comparisons must
be made on the basis of circulation figures relating to the same audit period/s. If for any
reason, circulation figures for any publication/s are not certified, the fact as stated in the
Preliminary Lists, Serial Volumes, Bureau’s website e.g. `Not a Member', `Not Accepted',
`Under Consideration', ‘Not Certified’, `Not Filed’ etc. must be clearly specified. In case of
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
149
News Media Management
comparison with multi-centre publications, all respective editions of such member
publication(s) enrolled with the Bureau alongwith the circulation figures as certified must be
separately specified. In case a mutli-centre / multi-edition publication desires to publicise all
India certified circulation figures of average Qualifying Sales / Net Paid Circulation, then such
publication will be required to mention in the publicity that the circulation figures quoted are
the total average circulation figures of a publication published from various centres (all centres
to be stated along with the respective circulation figures). Further, in case of publicity of all
India certified circulation figures by a publication / title in a specific geographic viz. any Town /
District / State, it will be necessary to state the certified circulation figures of the relevant
Town / District / State as per the Area Breakdown Statement for the relevant period. Necessary
details as above are to be provided even though no comparison is made with any other
member publication. Where circulation figures of any edition / printing centre of any
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
150
News Media Management
publication are not certified, the same should be so indicated. However, totaling across
circulation figures certified by the Bureau of remaining editions / printing centre of a title will
then be permitted.
f) Whenever a publisher wishes to make a statement or claim relating to his circulation in a
specific region (e.g. State, Town, District, etc.), such statement or claim shall be made only on
the basis of the Area Breakdown Statement of the corresponding audit period as certified by
the Bureau. Further such statement shall be made only on the basis of his circulation in the
stated region and not on the basis of total circulation of the publication or edition emanating
from the region.
g) Publisher member shall not make any statement or claim relating to circulation of his
publication or that relating to other member publication/s which cannot be substantiated by
circulation figures certified by the Bureau. Publisher member shall not make ambiguous claims
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
151
News Media Management
relating to any member publication. Unless, claims such as 'leading' 'number one' etc. are
otherwise qualified, these will be treated as circulation claims and will be subject to the rules
set out in this Code.
h) Whenever a publisher member publicises circulation figures, a copy of such publicity
/promotional material shall be sent to the Bureau for information.
4. OTHER PUBLICITY
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
152
News Media Management
All Correspondence exchanged by members with the Bureau on any matter shall be deemed as
CONFIDENTIAL and no copies thereof shall be published/circulated by them to any person whether
ABC member or not, without prior approval of the Bureau.
5. CONTRAVENTION OF THE CODE.
Cases of contravention of Bureau’s Code for Publicity will be considered by the Bureau’s Disciplinary
Committee formed specifically to deal with such cases where necessary. The matter may also be
referred to the Bureau’s Council of Management for its consideration, if required.
Following action would be considered by the Bureau’s Disciplinary Committee/Bureau’s Council of
Management in cases of contravention of Bureau’s Code for Publicity by Publisher Members.
i) In case of contravention of the provisions of the Publicity Code for the first time, the
concerned Publisher member will be called upon to publish a corrigendum advertisement as
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
153
News Media Management
per the text provided by the Bureau in size 20 x 3 cc on page 3 of the publication within a
period of 15 days from the date of intimation by the Secretariat.
ii) In those cases where the concerned Publisher member does not publish the corrigendum
advertisement within the stipulated time, as above, and / or in case of a second violation by a
publication / group within a period of one year the Bureau would then in such cases, inform all
members through a circular the factual position in relation to contravention of the Bureau’s
Code for Publicity and also issue a press release to this effect. The erring Publisher member
will however be required to publish the corrigendum advertisement despite the above actions
by the Bureau.
iii) In case of multiple instances of contravention of the provisions of the Bureau’s Code for
Publicity by a publication / group in a period of two years or Publisher’s failure to comply with
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
154
News Media Management
the Bureau’s directives in (i) & (ii) above, then the Bureau’s Council of Management may show
cause the concerned Publisher member as to why their Bureau Membership should not be
terminated under the provisions of Article 44(a) of the Bureau’s Articles of Association.
PART II
MAGAZINESMiss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
155
News Media Management
PART II - MAGAZINES
In respect of audit of circulation figures of magazines, most of the audit guidelines pertaining to
Daily & Weekly Newspapers as mentioned in detail in Part I of the Guide would be applicable.
However, specific differences pertaining to magazine publisher members are only listed below:
1. CONCEPT OF NET PAID SALES
Concept of Net Paid Sales to continue for magazines
Definition of Net Paid Sales: NET PAID SALES: That portion of a publication’s circulation which
meets the following requirements.
a) Has been sold by the publisher, and has been paid for by, genuine readers at not less than the
normal declared newsstand and/or subscription price and / or combo price. and/or
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
156
News Media Management
b) Has been sold to the distributing trade by a Publisher or by his agent/agents within trade terms
which may be specified by the Bureau from time to time and which may reasonably be supposed to
have been sold by the distributing trade to and paid for by genuine readers at not less than the
publisher’s normal declared news-stand, subscription or combo price. (Unless Auditors/Bureau
having any evidence to the contrary)
Net Paid Sales shall not include:
· Sale of Back copies
· Copies remaining as unsold/short receipt out of copies indented as notified by the distributing
trade and accepted by publisher.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
157
News Media Management
· All copies reported as unsold in cases where additional copies supplied without agents’
indents even though such claims are not accepted by the Publisher.
· Copies equivalent to outstanding dues beyond the credit period as prescribed by the Bureau
provided such copies have not been deducted as per clause (3) above.
· Free and complimentary copies
· Copies sold to the trade above the maximum trade terms
· Subscription copies not meeting the subscription criteria
Net Paid Sales shall include add back of copies deducted on account of outstandings during
the immediate previous period but the amount of which is realised in the following period.
2. CERTIFICATION CRITERIA FOR MAGAZINES:
Atleast 50% of the total circulation of a magazine should qualify for certification as Net Paid Sales.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
158
News Media Management
3. TRADE TERM:
Commission and allowances etc. mutually agreed to between a publisher and the distributing trade
and paid continuously and consistently.
Copies sold upto maximum trade term of 65% of the cover price would be included as Net Paid Sales
subject to compliance with all other audit guidelines. Other provisions of earlier paras 6.1, 6.2 and
6.3 would also apply to magazines.
4. SUBSCRIPTION SALES:
All provisions under subscription sales, para 3.1 relating to subscription offers (single and joint)
would also apply to magazines. Gift / incentive / discounts offered to subscribers in aggregate not to
exceed 90% of the cover price of a magazine.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
159
News Media Management
Distribution / delivery charges on subscription copies:
i) If copies are delivered through trade, then maximum delivery charges payable to the trade caped
at 65% of the cover price.
ii) Delivery charges paid to the trade not to be included in the overall 90% limit on the cover price
iii) Actual delivery charges incurred through courier / postage not to be included in the overall limit
of 90% of the cover price
iv) Recognising the various means available to a magazine publisher due to technological
innovations, request received for subscriptions either through SMS, internet, email, telephone or
through any other electronic media will be accepted for the purpose of audit.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
160
News Media Management
Additionally, publisher may be required to pay service charges to the service provider for
subscriptions booked thru internet and receive the net amount from the service provider i.e.
subscription price less services charges as may be payable to the service provider.
The service charges as paid to be included in the overall 90% limit for subscription copies.
Discounts / gifts / incentives / service charges paid to a service provider for subscriptions booked
thru internet should not exceed 90% of the cover price of the publication.
Full particulars of a subscriber namely, name, address, telephone number, period of subscription etc.
should be obtained and available with the publisher for scrutiny by auditors.
5. SCHEMES FOR READERS - Non subscription copies :
All provisions under para 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 would also apply to magazines.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
161
News Media Management
· Gift on newsstand sales / subscription copies:
Gifts which are offered along with a magazine on newsstand mostly as inserts valued
upto 50% of the cover price of a magazine will now also be permissible on subscriber
copy. Value of such gifts to subscribers will not be included in the 90% limit on cover
price.
6. Bulk Sales/Institutional Sales:
Copies of magazines which are either sold directly by the publisher and/or his distributing trade to
organisations not connected with newspaper distribution trade provided bonafides of the
organisation(s) involved in Institutional Sales are established to the satisfaction of the
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
162
News Media Management
auditors (Unless Auditors/Bureau having any evidence to the contrary). Maximum limit for
institutional sales would be 25% of the total net paid sales. Copies could be sold directly to the
institutions at cover price less discount upto maximum 65% of the cover price and delivered
directly by the publisher to the institutions in bulk other than thru the trade. If magazines are
supplied to institutions in bulk through the trade then maximum trade commission paid to the
distribution trade should not exceed 65% of the cover price.
7. Institutional Subscription Sales:
A new category of institutional subscription sales introduced wherein institutions can subscribe in
bulk for magazines. Such institutional subscription scheme will qualify for certification if the
publisher retains atleast 10% of the cover price of the magazine after offering discounts / gifts /
incurring service provider’s charges, if any.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
163
News Media Management
Institutions availing the institutional subscription scheme will be required to maintain a list of the
recipients of the magazine including full particulars of the recipient namely, name, address,
telephone number etc. These details to be made available to the publisher so that
the same can be verified by the auditors. The upper limit for overall institutional subscription sales is
5% of the total Net Paid Sales
8. Banking of Cash Collections:
Cash collected from all sources is required to be banked intact by a publisher on the next working
day. Magazine Publisher Members who do not generate any cash receipts for sale of copies through
any means may be exempt from the above provision subject to a condition that such Publisher
should also not have any cash payments / cash reimbursements to agents.
9. Printing at Outside Press:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
164
News Media Management
Third party printing presses where magazines are printed are required to maintain and produce for
Bureau Auditors verification, production records pertaining to a Member Publisher. If no printing
activity is in progress at the time of Bureau Auditor’s visit to a third
party printing press then at least an “intent to publish” the magazine for the respective issue
should be made available to the Bureau Auditor e.g. printing plates, part pages printed, print
order, cover page, required newsprint, or any other verifiable evidence which the Bureau Auditors
could rely on which shows the “intent of the publisher” to print the relevant issue of
the magazine and the number of copies to be printed.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
165
News Media Management
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
166
News Media Management
List of magazines by circulationThis is a list of magazines by circulation. A magazine's circulation is the number of copies it
distributes, on average, for each issue. It is one of the principal factors used to set advertising rates.
Circulation is not always the same as copies sold, often called paid circulation, since many
magazines are distributed without cost to the reader. This is especially true for magazines dealing
with business and professional topics. Readership figures are usually considered to be higher than
circulation figures because of the assumption that a typical copy of the magazine is read by more
than one person. In many countries, circulation figures are audited by independent bodies, such as
the Audit Bureau of Circulations and BPA Worldwide, to assure advertisers that a given magazine
does indeed reach the number of people claimed by the publisher.
Lists by country/region
The following are lists of magazines in selected countries/regions, sorted by overall circulation, for
recent periods.
AsiaThis is a partial list of magazines from various Asian countries, sorted by their circulation, in Q1
2009.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
167
News Media Management
Rank Name Circulation Publisher
1 Her World 62,530 SPH Magazines
2 HWM 24,000 SPH Magazines
3SME & Entrepreneurship
Magazine7,804 AIC Media Group
4 HR Asia 2,730 AIC Media Group
Australia
This is a list of Australian magazines, sorted by their circulation, as of June 2009.
Rank Name Circulation Publisher
1Australian Women's
Weekly493,055 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
168
News Media Management
2 Woman’s Day 407,644 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
3Better Homes And
Gardens370,000
Pacific Magazines/Seven Media Group
4 New Idea 325,181Pacific Magazines/Seven
Media Group
5 Reader's Digest 325,028The Reader's Digest
Association
6 That’s Life! 302,137Pacific Magazines/Seven
Media Group
7 Super Food Ideas 271,376 News Magazines
8 Take 5 246,459 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
9 TV Week 223,643 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
10 Cosmopolitan 166,208 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
169
News Media Management
11 Australian Geographic 140,724 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
12 NW 140,283 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
13 Who 135,040Pacific Magazines/Seven
Media Group
14 Cleo 134,286 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
15 Recipes+ 134,251 Knockout Media
16 Woolworths Good Taste 134,003 News Magazines
17 Delicious 129,626 News Magazines
18 Dolly 125,169 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
19 OK! 120,219 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
20 Marie Claire 116,500 Pacific Magazines/Seven
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
170
News Media Management
Media Group
21 Zoo Weekly 112,311 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
22 Girlfriend 108,119 Pacific Magazines
23Australian House and
Garden96,554 ACP Magazines/PBL Media
24 Gardening Australia 94,868 News Magazines
25 Alpha 93,239 News Magazines
CanadaThis is a list of Canadian magazines, sorted by their circulation, as of the first half of 2009, according
to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Rank Name Circulation Publisher
1 Reader's Digest 851,096 The Reader’s Digest
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
171
News Media Management
Association
2 Chatelaine 551,871 Rogers Communications
3 Canadian Living 516,698 Transcontinental
4 Maclean’s 355,054 Rogers Communications
5 Style at Home 230,215 Transcontinental
6 Canadian House & Home 227,225 House & Home Media
7Sélection du Reader's
Digest 227,171The Reader’s Digest
Association
8 Coup de Pouce 205,801 Transcontinental
9 Canadian Geographic 204,611Royal Canadian Geographical
Society
10 Oxygen Women's Fitness 195,306 Robert Kennedy Publishing
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
172
News Media Management
11 Châtelaine 193,198 Rogers Communications
12 L'actualité 169,006 Rogers Communications
13 Clean Eating 161,638 Robert Kennedy Publishing
14 LOU LOU 147,347 Rogers Communications
15 Fashion 143,368 St. Joseph Communications
16 Canadian Gardening 142,912 Transcontinental
17 Flare 142,498 Rogers Communications
18 More 140,418 Transcontinental
19 Good Times 136,392 Transcontinental
20 Le Bel Age 135,980 Transcontinental
21 Today's Parent 132,368 Rogers Communications
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
173
News Media Management
22 Elle 128,681 Transcontinental
23 Best Health 123,629The Reader’s Digest
Association
24 Harrowsmith Country Life 120,257 Malcolm Publishing
25 Hello! 108,991 ¡Hola!
26 Money Sense 106,786 Rogers Communications
27 Canadian Home & Country 120,190 Transcontinental
28 Canadian Home Workshop 100,077 Transcontinental
29 TV Hebdo 98,138 TVA Publications
United KingdomThis is a list of British magazines, sorted by their circulation, as of the first half of 2009.
Rank Name Circulation Publisher
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
174
News Media Management
1 Skymag 7,545,510 British Sky Broadcasting
2 Sky Sports Magazine 4,197,870 Haymarket Group
3 Sky Movies Magazine 3,508,817 Future Plus
4 Asda Magazine 2,524,175 Publicis-Blueprint
5 Tesco Magazine 1,998,407 Cedar Communications Limited
6 Sainsbury's Fresh Ideas 1,998,407 Seven Squared
7 TV Choice 1,335,894 Bauer
8 What's On TV 1,270,032 IPC Media/Time Warner
9 The Somerfield Magazine 1,003,795 PSP Rare Publishing
10 Radio Times 961,114 BBC Worldwide
11 Morrisons Magazine 934,535 Result Customer
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
175
News Media Management
Communications
12 Take a Break 914,109 Bauer
13 Sense (RBS) 821,895 John Brown Group
14 Sky Kids 755,141 John Brown Group
15 Saga Magazine 652,055 Saga
16 Birds 625,553Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
17 OK! 551,765 Northern and Shell
18 Skymag Ireland 546,059 British Sky Broadcasting
19 Reader's Digest 540,074The Reader's Digest
Association
20 Pet People (Allianz Petplan) 524,476 Sunday Publishing
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
176
News Media Management
21 Closer 521,018 Bauer
22 Shortlist 510,720 Shortlist Media
23 Source (Greenbee) 491,120 John Brown Group
24 Glamour 474,228 Condé Nast Publications
25 ASOS.com Magazine 471,522 Seven Squared
26 Heat 437,425 Bauer
27 Chat 423,267 IPC Media/Time Warner
28Emma's Diary Pregnancy
Guide407,191 Lifecycle Marketing Ltd
29 Good Housekeeping 394,421 Nat Mags/Hearst
30 new! 388,971 Northern and Shell
31 That’s Life! 384,659 Bauer
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
177
News Media Management
32 Cosmopolitan 376,857 Nat Mags/Hearst
33 Now 376,612 IPC Media/Time Warner
34National Geographic
Magazine340,264 National Geographic Society
35 Hello! 339,973 ¡Hola!
36 Woman & Home 339,901 IPC Media/Time Warner
37 Woman 326,106 IPC Media/Time Warner
38 Pick Me Up 313,886 IPC Media/Time Warner
39 Look 313,176 IPC Media/Time Warner
40 Reveal 311,324 Nat Mags/Hearst
41 TV Times 310,066 IPC Media/Time Warner
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
178
News Media Management
42 Star 307,543 Northern and Shell
43 Love it! 305,784 Hubert Burda Media
44 Sport 305,341 Sport Media & Strategy
45 BBC Good Food 305,070 BBC Worldwide
46 Woman’s Weekly 303,746 IPC Media/Time Warner
47 Woman's Own 303,300 IPC Media/Time Warner
48 Sainsbury’s Magazine 301,540 Seven Squared
49 Yours 299,360 IPC Media/Time Warner
50 Best 291,566 Bauer
United StatesThis is a list of American magazines, sorted by their circulation, both paid and unpaid, as of the first half of 2009.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
179
News Media Management
Rank Name Circulation Founded Publisher
1 AARP The Magazine 24,554,819 1958 AARP
2 AARP Bulletin 24,305,715 1960 AARP
3The Costco Connection
8,217,269 - Costco
4 Reader's Digest 8,158,652 1922The Reader's Digest
Association
5Better Homes And
Gardens7,634,197 1922 Meredith Corporation
6 Food & Family 6,440,891 - Kraft Foods
7 National Geographic 4,708,307 1888National Geographic
Society
8 Good Housekeeping 4,630,397 1885 Hearst Corporation
9 Woman's Day 3,933,990 1931 Hachette Filipacchi Media
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
180
News Media Management
U.S. (Lagardère)
10 Family Circle 3,932,510 1932 Meredith Corporation
11 Ladies' Home Journal 3,842,791 1883 Meredith Corporation
12 Westways 3,831,215 1909American Automobile
Association
13 People 3,615,858 1974 Time Inc. (Time Warner)
14 Game Informer 3,601,201 1991 GameStop
15 MediZine 3,453,245 1995 MediZine Inc.
16 Time 3,372,240 1923 Time Inc. (Time Warner)
17 Prevention 3,312,624 1950 Rodale Inc.
18 HealthyPet 3,309,726 1999 Zoasis
19 Taste of Home 3,302,601 1993 Reiman Publications
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
181
News Media Management
20 Sports Illustrated 3,252,298 1954 Time Inc. (Time Warner)
21 NEA Today 2,941,953 1982National Education
Association
22 TV Guide 2,934,969 1953 OpenGate Capitol
23 Cosmopolitan 2,907,436 1886 Hearst Corporation
24 Southern Living 2,840,241 1966Southern Progress Corporation/Time
Inc. (Time Warner)
25 Via 2,783,833 -American Automobile
Association
26 Remedy/Remedy MD 2,652,320 - MediZine Inc.
27 Newsweek 2,646,613 1933The Washington Post
Company
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
182
News Media Management
28 Maxim 2,537,130 1997 Alpha Media Group
29 AAA Going Places 2,521,974 -American Automobile
Association
30 AAA Living 2,458,902 -American Automobile
Association
31 Playboy 2,453,266 1953 Playboy Enterprises Inc.
32O, The Oprah
Magazine2,397,697 2000 Hearst Corporation
33 Glamour 2,389,915 1939Condé Nast
Publications(Advance Publications)
34The American Legion
Magazine2,264,855 1926 American Legion
35 Redbook 2,223,195 1903 Hearst Corporation
36 Parents 2,205,343 1926 Meredith Corporation
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
183
News Media Management
37 Parenting 2,185,236 1987 Bonnier
38 FamilyFun 2,161,343 1991 The Walt Disney Company
39 AAA World 2,110,621 -American Automobile
Association
40 Seventeen 2,080,208 1944 Hearst Corporation
41 Guideposts 2,072,211 1945 Guideposts
42 ESPN The Magazine 2,059,269 1998 ESPN
43 Martha Stewart Living 2,030,844 1990Martha Stewart Living
Omnimedia
44 Smithsonian 2,024,733 1970 Smithsonian Institution
45 American Baby 2,002,693 1938 Meredith Corporation
46 Real Simple 1,976,821 2000 Time Inc. (Time Warner)
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
184
News Media Management
47 Us Weekly 1,945,831 1977 Wenner Media
48 Money 1,915,970 1972 Time Inc. (Time Warner)
49 Men's Health 1,859,643 1987 Rodale Inc.
50 Endless Vacation 1,845,297 1977RCI (Wyndham
Worldwide)
51Every Day With
Rachael Ray1,815,462 2005
The Reader's Digest Association
52 Entertainment Weekly 1,779,537 1990 Time Inc. (Time Warner)
53 Cooking Light 1,772,029 1987Southern Progress Corporation/Time
Inc. (Time Warner)
54 What's Cooking 1,759,898 - Kraft Foods
55 Birds & Blooms 1,757,601 1995Reiman Publications/The
Reader's Digest Association
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
185
News Media Management
56 InStyle 1,738,787 1994 Time Inc. (Time Warner)
57 Golf Digest 1,678,163 1950Condé Nast
Publications(Advance Publications)
58 Shape 1,676,323 1981 American Media
59 Diabetes Focus 1,652,800 2003 MediZine Inc.
60 Country Living 1,629,398 1978 Hearst Corporation
61 American Rifleman 1,561,746 1887 National Rifle Association
62 Fitness 1,555,217 - Meredith Corporation
63 Self 1,516,075 1979Condé Nast
Publications(Advance Publications)
64 Field & Stream 1,514,497 1895 Bonnier
65 Women’s Health 1,478,264 - Rodale Inc.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
186
News Media Management
66 Rolling Stone 1,476,399 1967 Wenner Media
67 Golf Magazine 1,427,225 1960 Time Inc. (Time Warner)
68 VFW Magazine 1,416,664 - Veterans of Foreign Wars
69 Health 1,378,395 1981Southern Progress Corporation/Time
Inc. (Time Warner)
70U.S. News & World
Report1,365,652 1933 U.S. News & World Report
71 Bon Appétit 1,352,658 1956Condé Nast
Publications(Advance Publications)
72Scholastic Parent &
Child1,344,908 1993 Scholastic
73 More 1,338,163 1998 Meredith Corporation
74 Popular Science 1,320,314 1872 Bonnier
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
187
News Media Management
75 Car and Driver 1,317,787 1955Hachette Filipacchi Media
U.S. (Lagardère)
76 Ebony 1,301,760 1945 Johnson Publishing
77 Vogue 1,298,480 1892Condé Nast
Publications(Advance Publications)
78 Weight Watchers 1,293,584 1968 Weight Watchers
79 Woman's World 1,280,899 1981 Bauer Publishing
80 First For Women 1,270,561 1989 Bauer Publishing
81 Country 1,251,168 -Reiman Publications/The
Reader's Digest Association
82National Geographic
Kids1,241,339 1975
National Geographic Society
83 Home & Away 1,232,258 - American Automobile
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
188
News Media Management
Association
84 Sunset 1,224,453 1898Southern Progress Corporation/Time
Inc. (Time Warner)
85 Popular Mechanics 1,207,256 1902 Hearst Corporation
86 Boys' Life 1,202,331 1911 Boy Scouts of America
87 Reminisce 1,194,701 -Reiman Publications/The
Reader's Digest Association
88 Star 1,157,921 1974 American Media
89 Realtor 1,157,493 -National Association of
Realtors
90 Vanity Fair 1,151,377 1983 Condé Nast Publications
91 Family Handyman 1,150,413 -The Reader's Digest
Association
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
189
News Media Management
92 Motor Trend 1,141,088 1949 Source Interlink
93 Where 1,136,539 - Morris Communications
94 Lucky 1,127,233 2000Condé Nast
Publications(Advance Publications)
95 Elle 1,105,456 1981Hachette Filipacchi Media
U.S. (Lagardère)
96 Allure 1,093,265 1991 Condé Nast Publications
97 Essence 1,092,721 1968 Time Inc. (Time Warner)
98 Everyday Food 1,085,032 1990Martha Stewart Living
Omni media
99 WebMD the Magazine 1,065,145 - WebMD
100 The New Yorker 1,048,782 1925Condé Nast
Publications(Advance Publications)
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
190
News Media Management
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
191
News Media Management
Updated: ABC Starts Releasing Jan-June Data; Greater
Mumbai Edition of TOI, ET, DipThe Audit Bureau Of Circulation has started releasing data for January-June 2009 and we are bringing
you a partial set of figures for prominent dailies.The Times of India and The Economic Times in
Mumbai registered a drop both sequentially and year-on-year. TOI’s circulation in Greater Mumbai
(ABC classification) dropped 0.37% year-on-year, while ET’s circulation dropped 13.88% y-o-
y. Deccan Chronicle grew 25.9% y-o-y, while HT Media’s Hindi daily Hindustan‘s Patna and Ranchi
edition grew 4.21% y-o-y. The data for other editions of these dailies as well as data for other dailies
will be gradually available within the next fortnight or so and we will keep you
updated.Update: Bennett, Coleman’s VP for circulation, Vikesh Wallia, wrote in to say that our post
was misleading about TOI’s figures in Mumbai. BCCL publishes both TOI and ET. The clarification
hinges on the distinction between circulation figures for Greater Mumbai Edition and Greater
Mumbai.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
192
News Media Management
From his email: ABC clearly differentiates between the Edition circulation numbers and the City circulation numbers. The top line certificate is for the Edition which always serves more than the city of publication. In case of TOI you have rightly quoted the Greater Mumbai Edition figures but have ignored the Greater Mumbai figures.
You will observe from the ABC certificate table below that although there is miniscule decline of 0.37
% i.e. 2,724 copies in the edition sales, TOI Greater Mumbai sales has grown Y-o-Y by 1.88 % i.e
12,288 copies. The reason for edition sale decline is the fall in Upcountry, due to Goa copies (5,671
copies) appearing in the previous corresponding period certificate. We have since started our Goa
edition wef May 08. Copies of some other areas also have been realigned due to recent printing
location addition /changes reasons at Nagpur, Chennai and Surat etc. that reflect decline in
upcountry copies.
* JJ 08 TOI includes 5671 Copies of
Mumbai edition printed at GOA in
Upcountry figures
DC: THE KING OF SOUTH
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
193
News Media Management
Deccan Chronicle is the largest circulated English newspaper in all of South India. An analysis of
figures put out recently by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, the industry body that audits
newspapers sales, shows that Chronicle is the clear leader in the south.
The competition? There is The Hindu that sold 14,53,405 copies daily in the July-December 2008
period. And Chronicle sold 13,33,668 every day in that period. So how does that make Chronicle the
southern superstar?
Here is how. The Hindu sold 1,16,851 copies in Delhi. That means its south editions, minus the Delhi
circulation, sold 13,36,554. Isn’t that still more than the Chronicle total?
Yes it is, but there is a caveat. The Hindu sold 2,30,688 copies in schools. These copies could be
priced differently. In some instances, a separate newspaper is made for the schools. But all the
copies are included in the ABC audit, albeit under a separate heading but sum up to the total
circulation.
Minus the school copies from the southern circulation, The Hindu totals 11, 05,866 copies in the
south. Deccan Chronicle sells 13,33,668 copies in the south, all sold directly to subscribers. Another
dimension that makes us the leader is that The Hindu sells 1, 93,115 in Kerala. Factor that in, and
Chronicle is miles ahead.
What about The Times of India? The Times does not submit all its editions to audit every time,
something we at Chronicle do religiously.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
194
News Media Management
The Times of India’s Bengaluru edition is audited but not its Chennai edition. So there is no figure to
go by, and it is best to drop it for comparison. There’s also Deccan Herald in Karnataka but they are
far behind our Bengaluru edition in sales.
Dear reader, know that you are with the King of the South. It means you are with the paper that has
been brought out with painstaking effort. Because we know what it means to be the leader to the
reader.
We are the paper that the AP reader, the Tamil Nadu reader and the Karnataka reader, as different
as can be, want with their chai, with their kafi. And we manage to be all this without losing our
southern spice.
DC sets record in Bengaluru
Deccan Chronicle, Bengaluru, is the fastest growing newspaper to the Advertiser in Indian history. In
just seven months since its launch, the newspaper has notched a daily average circulation of
2,43,147 copies, certified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, an independent auditor of newspaper
circulation figures.
Chronicle was launched in Bengaluru on May 26, 2008, and the ABC figures pertains to daily average
sales between July and December 2008. For the record, Chronicle sold a daily average of 1,06,717
copies in the first 36 days of launch.
The newspaper from all its editions added 2,61,440 copies over the last six months, growing at about
24.38 per cent. That means the Chronicle family grew by 43,573 buyers every month. In Hyderabad
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
195
News Media Management
alone, Chronicle sells 5,26,382 copies, and 7,84,062 in all of AP. That indicates a gain of 36,266 over
the previous six months in the state. The Chennai edition sold 3,06,432 copies in the July-December
2008 period, and is logging gains.
All of this has not been easy. You, our reader and our advertiser, demand only the best. Naturally,
that is Deccan Chronicle. We promise to keep that in mind as we go forward.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
196
News Media Management
VERIFICATION OF CIRCULATION
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
197
News Media Management
As per the present advertising policy of the Government of India, for release of Government
advertisements, a newspaper should have a minimum circulation of 2000 copies, subject to
relaxations in certain cases.
Under the PRB Act, the Press Registrar or any gazette officer authorised by him can have access to
any premises and to any relevant records or documents relating to a newspaper for obtaining any
information regarding the newspaper. Thus, the Press Registrar is empowered to verify the
circulation claims of any newspaper.
The verification will be done either on-the-spot or by obtaining the prescribed
documents/records/information in the office of the RNI. Initially a notice is issued to the publisher
asking for the required documents within 21 days of notice. If the advice is not complied with, two
more notices are sent asking the publisher to furnish the documents within 15 and 10 days
respectively. In case the documents are not received within the stipulated time or if the documents
received are incomplete, the circulation claim for the concerned year is declared as un established,
rendering the newspaper ineligible for government advertisements, and other concomitant
disabilities.
The documents required to be submitted are listed below:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
198
News Media Management
a. A Photostat copy of the annual statement for the year _____ Publishers of daily newspapers
may also send statement of Daily Press in form as prescribed in Annexure-X .
b. Seven issues of each month of the calendar year ____ for the dates ____ in the case of dailies
and one set of all issues in the case of other periodicities. One copy of the latest issue may
also be sent.
c. Details of printing machinery i.e., make, size, speed per hour, etc. of each machine, printing
schedule (pagewise) and details of other printing jobs, if any, along with Photostat copies of
print orders, printing charges bills and payees receipts as proof of payment for the month of
___.
d. Particulars of newsprint with opening balance as on the first day, quantity purchased during
the year ___ total consumption during the year and closing balance as on the last day of the
year under check.
e. Photostat copies of the paper purchase bills for the year under check along with copies of
the payees receipts as proof of payment.
f. Photostat copies of the bills in respect of carrying the newsprint from the source of supply
to the place of publication.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
199
News Media Management
g. A statement giving details about the distribution of copies such as name of the
agent/hawker, station, number of copies sent, mode of dispatch i.e., by rail, road, post etc.,
payment received, mode of dispatch along with Photostat copies of agency bills, payment
receipts issued to agents/hawkers, dispatch receipts etc. for the month of ____.
h. Permanent income-tax number of owner, if any.
Note: Please note that copies of the documents including Photostat copies are to be sent duly
attested by a Gazetted Officer. Unattested copies, if received, will not be entertained.
The results of the circulation check will be intimated to the publisher as far as possible within 30
days of the date of receipt of all requisite documents in the offices of RNI, or the date of on-the-spot
inspection, whichever is later. Any objections to the results can be submitted within one month of
the date of such intimation. The results, after consideration of objections if any, will be intimated to
DAVP, concerned State Governments, and other such agencies after two months of the date of
intimation to the publisher, but before expiry of three months from the said date.
In addition to the circulation verification either suo-moto or as referred by DAVP, State Governments
or any other public body, RNI may also entertain requests from any publisher desirous of verification
of circulation of his/her newspaper, along with a copy of the latest annual statement and latest issue
of the newspaper. However such requests will be entertained at the sole discretion of RNI subject to
availability of resources and other constraints.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
200
News Media Management
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
201
News Media Management
Registrar of Newspapers for India
AUDIT BY CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS FIRMS ON BEHALF OF
REGISTAR OF NEWSPAPERS FOR INDIA (RNI)
I OBJECTIVE OF AUDIT
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
202
News Media Management
The Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) receives circulation data from the publications in the
prescribed annual returns which is filed by the publishers on periodical basis. The said circulation
data is used by various Government departments, for example by DAVP for allotment of government
advertisements and by RNI for allotment of quota for purchase/import of newsprint etc. These
returns/reports are to be certified by the auditors/Chartered Accountants of publisher.
RNI now intends to carry out the sample verification of the circulation data submitted by the
publishers from their own panel auditors (i.e. Chartered Accountants firms) to be appointed by RNI.
The objective of the said audit shall be to reconfirm the correctness and geniuses of the circulation
data/figures submitted by the publications in their returns/report.
II SCOPE OF WORK/AUDIT
The scope of work to be followed by the RNI panel auditors while verifying these returns to ensure
correctness and genuineness of the data furnished by publisher is outlined in brief as under. These
are only suggestive guidelines and the auditor shall have access to all the relevant data and records
maintained by the publisher. The publisher shall extend full support to auditors. Further, the Auditor
shall maintain the confidentially of the records and data and it should not be shared with any party/
person.
A) VERIFICATION OF PRINTING
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
203
News Media Management
i) The printing capacity of the publisher(s) and/or the printer of publication should be examined
keeping in view the level of printing achieved by the publisher.
ii) Printing facility owned by the publisher:-
a) Print Order/ Daily Press Statement:
The print order which contains the number of copies edition/city-wise printed for each day/ period
shall be test verified by auditors. Further, the supporting document such as indent etc. based on
which the print order is prepared by publisher shall be verified and any significant variation in the
number of copies be enquired so as to establish the correctness of the print order based on which
the number of copies printed are mentioned in the annual statement.
b) Machine Room Return
The Machine Room Return/record which contains the details of the printing is to be maintained by
the publisher.
The auditor shall test verify the Machine Room Returns/records and Print orders in original. (These
must be signed by some responsible officer of the publication).
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
204
News Media Management
c) The details given in the annual return should be in consonance with the daily print order and
MRR maintained by the publisher. Variation if any should be enquired from publisher and if required
adjustment be made in the return to give the correct data.
iii) Printing at outside press:
Where a publication is printed from outside press not owned by the publisher, printers bills showing
number of copies printed and the rate per form maintained by the publisher shall be verified by the
auditor.
Where the printing press is an associate concern, or subsidiary company, printing records
maintained by such printers shall be verified by the auditor.
iv) The auditors may visit the printing press of the publisher to verify the actual printing at the
press where the printing is owned by the publisher or at the press of the outside printing press.
B DESPATCH AND DISTRIBUTION OF COPIES:
i) The actual dispatches of the copies shall be verified by the auditor firm at the time of visit to
the press with the dispatch challans, transporters GRN etc. In the cases where the copies are
dispatched through road and where the copies are dispatched through railways air and by post
parcel etc. the supporting proof for such dispatch shall be verified during their morning visit to the
printing press. Further the reconciliation of the copies printed as per MRR/PO with the number of
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
205
News Media Management
copies dispatched should be carried out on the day of visit to the press and also for some of the
earlier days based on the records available in the office of the publisher.
ii) The distribution/sale of publication be physically verified by visiting the distribution centers
where the copies are distributed/sold. On visit to the centre the copies dispatched from the press
and received at the centre should be verified and actual distribution being made by the agents to
the hawkers/sub-agents etc. should also be verified. Any variation in copies sold or % of commission
paid be reported. If any copies are sold for which no money is received the same be enquired.
iii) Where the copies are sold by the publisher through its sole/principle agent the distribution
centre of the agents be visited and auditors can verify the distribution record of such agent.
(Agent who are selling more than 10% of the total supply of the publisher subject to minimum of
15,000 copies per day should be considered as the principle/sole agent for this purpose)
C) NEWSPRINT CONSUMPTION:
i) Receipt of Newsprint
The purchase/receipt of newsprint be verified by auditor with reference to invoice, transporter GRN,
delivery/dispatch documents, packing list, bank statement and correspondence of suppliers etc. If
required direct confirmations from the newsprint suppliers may also be obtained by the auditor.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
206
News Media Management
ii) In case a publication has been issued Eligibility Certificate for import of newspaper, the relevant
vouchers/bills and receipts in original be verified and quantity purchased should tallied with
consumption.
iii) Physical verification of newsprint stocks may be carried out to ensure its conformity with the
records at the time of visit to publisher's office.
iv) The summary reconciling acquisition with consumption of newsprint and other paper with
reference to the copies printed be carried out to ensure the consumption of newsprint vis--vis the
actual copies printed.
v) Verification of newsprint consumption with reference to Print Orders, Machine Room returns,
stock Register and/ or periodic newsprint consumption statements received from outside press.
vi) Verify the quantitative records of newsprint stock, receipt and issue etc. in respect of newsprint
consumption and wastage to facilitate reconciliation of newsprint issued for printing and consumed.
D) COPIES SOLD THROUGH AGENTS/ SUBSCRIBERS:
Copies sold through agents/ subscribers to be verified with the following:-
i) The sale to agents should be verified with the agents bills/ sale register, railway/ road/ air / posted
delivery book etc.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
207
News Media Management
ii) The unsold copies received from the agents be verified with the credit notes issued by the
publisher. Further, the accounts of the agents be received to ascertain the cases of unsold copies as
these shall not be included in sold copies column.
iii) Copies sold through subscriptions be verified with the subscribers register, postage book and
delivery book etc. The records should be maintained in such a manner that the subscriber-wise and
dispatch details thereof is verified.
iv) In the return submitted to 'RNI' by publisher the average number of copies 'sold' per publishing
day is to be disclosed. The sold copies here shall imply those copies for which the payment has
been received within a period of two months. In case the payment is not received from agent within
2 months the copies equivalent thereto shall be reduced from sold copies however the publisher can
take the benefit of such copies deducted in the next period when actual payment is received from
agent. Further the concept of Net Paid Sales as formulated by Audit Bureau of Circulation shall be
applied to sold copies figures being submitted by the publisher.
v) The billing of the copies of the agents is normally carried out at the net amount after
deduction of commission. The billing be verified to ascertain the cases where the commission being
allowed appears to be unreasonable and which loses the significance of paid copies. The copies sold
at the commission in excess of 40% shall not be included in sold copies.
E) OTHER FINANCIAL RECORDS:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
208
News Media Management
Financial and other records connected with printing, distribution and sale etc. of the publication will be reviewed by the auditors.
F) REPORT/ CONCLUSION:
Based on the verification of printing, distribution and circulation records of the publication as
detailed above the auditor shall draw a conclusion keeping in view the materiality of observation,
whether the circulation figures as reported in the returns submitted by the publishers to RBI are
correct or not. Wherever variations or inconsistency is observed with respect to printing, distribution
and circulation etc, the auditors shall carry out adjustments in the circulation figures as reported by
publishers in their returns and the returns will be revised and signed by the auditor and sent to RNI
along with their report.
III AUDIT PLAN:
The RNI will issue the appointment letter to the auditors along with the authority letter or the
concerned publisher authorizing them to visit to their press, distribution center and office. As per
the appointment letter the time period will be specified during which the audit is to be completed
and report submitted normally a time frame of 4-6 weeks will be allowed. Based on this
appointment letter the audit will be carried out by the auditor at any time in a surprise manner by
visit to printing press, distribution centers and office of the publisher.The audit team will be formed
keeping in view the number of copies printed by the publisher e.g. in case the number of copies are
upto 75,000 the audit team will consist to two persons (one qualified/ senior assistant and one
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
209
News Media Management
articled clerk) and in case the copies are more than 75,000 the team will consist of three persons
(one qualified/ senior assistant and two articles/ paid assistants). The audit will be monitored and
finalized by one partner/ Senior consultant, who will be visiting the office of the publisher for one or
two days depending on the copies printed and volume of transactions.
IV AUDIT REPORTS:
Audit observations arising from the audit will be initially discussed by the partner with the publisher during his visit to the office of the publisher at the time of finalization of the audit. Based on these discussions the audit reports along with the annual return duly signed by the auditors will be finalized and sent to the concerned officials of the RNI. The necessary discussions if any required.
V) FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES TO AUDITORS:
A) FEES PAYABLE TO AUDITORS
The fees to the Chartered Accountant firms will be paid based on the number of copies printed by
the publisher in the same manner as the fees is pain the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) to their
surprise/ recheck auditors. The fees prescribed by ABC for surprise/ recheck audit is based on the
parameter that the audit of publisher is also carried out by their own empanelled auditor who are to
certify the figures based on the detailed audit programme laid down by ABC. The fees for publisher
Audit is not prescribed by ABC but fixed between the auditors and publisher. The fees for Surprise/
recheck audit has been kept considering that substantial procedures are followed by publisher's
auditors who also issue a separate report confirming that all the prescribed guidelines of ABC have
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
210
News Media Management
been followed. Considering the above the auditors have represented that their fees may be
increased at least by 100% of the prescribed fees by ABC as detailed below since RNI has not have a
established procedure which the auditors is to follow while certifying the Annual Report of RNI.
No. of copies printedAudit fees as per
ABC
Audit fees suggested for RNI keeping in view the
100% increase in the fees offered by ABC
Upto - 25,000 6,500 13,000
25,001 - 75,000 7,500 15,000
75,001 - 1,50,000 8,600 17,200
1,50,001 - 2,50,000 9,700 19,400
2,50,001 - 3,50,000 10,800 21,600
3,50,001 - 4,50,000 12,100 24,200
4,50,001 - 5,50,000 13,500 27,000
5,50,001 - 10,00,000 15,000 30,000
10,00,001 - above 18,000 36,000
The above level of fees suggested for carrying out the audit on behalf of RNI is substantially lower as
compared to level of fee as recommended by the ICAI for carrying out such special assignment.
B) REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES TO AUDITORS BY PUBLISHERS:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
211
News Media Management
The auditors are reimbursed traveling, halting and other out of pocket expenses as actually incurred
and supported by original bills by ABC for carrying out surprise/ recheck audits. Further, in the case
of appointment of bank Auditors by 'Reserve Bank of India' the level of traveling lodging and
boarding expenses has been fixed. Keeping in view the expenses being reimbursed by 'ABC' and
Reserve Bank of India the expenses may be reimbursed to the Chartered accountant fir4ms as
under:
i. Traveling Expenses:
Partner / Assistant Class of Travel
Partner
First Air-conditioned Railway, Air (economy class) where the distance of
place to be visited is reasonably more or by A/c Taxi if the route is not
served by Rail/ Air
Qualified AssistantA/C II Tier Railway Fare or by Non-A/C Taxi if the route is not served by
Rail/Air
Unqualified AssistantA/C II Tier Railway Fare or by Non-A/C Taxi if the route is not served by
Rail/Air.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
212
News Media Management
The daily conveyance expenses for residence/ hotel to/fro railway station/ airport and hotel to/fro
office/ press of the publisher will be paid at actual by Taxi in the case of partners and by Auto in the
case of assistants.
ii. Lodging and boarding expenses (Lump Sum)
ParticularsLodging/ boarding expenses to be paid in lump-sum per day of
stay (Rs. Per day)
Major 'A' Class
citiesOther places
Partners 5000 4000
Qualified Assistant 4000 3000
Unqualified
Assistant2500 2000
Note: 'A' cities to include Metro Cities and State Capitals.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
213
News Media Management
Chairman’s AddressDear Friends,
On behalf of your Council of Management and on my own, it gives me great pleasure to extend a
very warm welcome to you all at the 61st Annual General Meeting of Audit Bureau of Circulations,
this afternoon.
Bureau’s Annual Report and Audited Accounts for the year ended 31st March 2009 were circulated
earlier. I presume you must have had an opportunity to go through the details. We shall be pleased
to answer any points that you may have on the annual report and audited accounts.
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Mr. Anil Kapoor, Chairman of your Council during the previous year 2007-2008 has desired not to
seek re-election following the long standing tradition maintained by past Chairmen of the Bureau.
Mr. Romit Chaterji, advertiser representative on the Council from the Tata Group also resigned from
the Council following his retirement from the Tata Group. Mr. Amitabha Datta, representing publisher
members on the Council also resigned from the Council following his retirement from the ABP
Group.Your Council will certainly miss their balanced views on difficult issues that were discussed at
the Council meetings. Your Council wishes to place on record its appreciation and gratitude to them
for devoting their time and effort towards the progress of the Bureau.
GENERAL OVERVIEW:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
214
News Media Management
The past one and half year has been a difficult period for most of the industries and specially so for
the print media industry. Most of the publishing houses have taken individual steps to cut costs
without affecting their quality and content. Advertising industry on the whole had also slowed down
in the wake of the general economic recession. Most of the publishers faced these market conditions
head on by taking several steps including increasing cover price and / or reducing pagination.
However, international newsprint prices did reduce during this period providing some relief to the
publishers.
THE BUREAU:Over the last many years since I am on the Council, I have come across many complaints /
grievances of publisher members regarding their competitors which normally pertains to certification
of their circulation figures or that of their competitors, compliance with publicity rules, Bureau’s audit
guidelines, market practices etc. Most of the complaints were resolved by your Council within the
frame work of Bureau’s guidelines. Competition exists in almost all market places for newspapers as
well as magazines. I request all my fellow members to observe healthy norms to increase their
circulation figures. It is also pertinent to note that Bureau has been formed many years ago so that
publisher members, advertisers and advertising agencies could avail an independent third party
certificate of circulation which is based on an acceptable, prescribed audit guidelines. One should
not forget that the Bureau is an auditing organization and not a policing or an investigative body.
You would appreciate Circulation audit is no different than a financial audit undertaken by statutory
auditors.It is the Bureau’s endeavour to move with the times and market practices adopted by
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
215
News Media Management
Publishers and smoothen the audit process for Publisher members. It will also be Bureau’s endeavour
to strengthen the first stage of audit carried out by publisher appointed auditors so that at the first
stage itself the circulation figures certified by Publisher Auditors comply with all the existing audit
guidelines thereby quickening the process of issuing ABC Certificate of circulation to publisher
members.
PUBLISHER MEMBERS NOT FILING THEIR CIRCULATION FIGURES:
One more important point which I desire to touch upon is the “facility available to publisher
members of not filing their circulation figures for any reason for one or maximum two consecutive
audit periods”. This practice of not filing circulation figures by publisher members needs to be looked
into and discussed thoroughly. By not filing the circulation figures regularly with the Bureau every six
months, publisher members are denying the advertising community the most current circulation
data. Comparison between publications then gets vitiated, as the advertising fraternity then has to
depend on the previous certified circulation figures for those publications.When a Publisher desires
to enroll as a member of the Bureau, then it is incumbent upon the Publisher member to file the
circulation figures at all times for all audit periods. Publishers voluntarily enroll as members of the
Bureau in order to get their circulation figures audited. By not filing the circulation figures, the very
purpose of becoming a member is defeated.
READERSHIP & CIRCULATION FIGURES:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
216
News Media Management
Many a times, a point for discussion has emerged requesting the Bureau to provide circulation
figures and readership estimates side by side for the benefit of the advertising fraternity. This would
be an ideal situation. However, whilst in case of readership estimates, all editions of a title are
covered on an All India basis whilst in comparison, in respect of circulation data, it has been
observed that all editions of a title are in many cases not members of the Bureau and therefore the
circulation figures available for a title with the Bureau are incomplete and not comparable with the
total readership estimates of a title.
This being one of the principal reasons why certified circulation figures of a title cannot be compared
with the readership estimates of a title. In some cases, where circulation figures of a particular
edition of a title is either “not accepted” for certification or “not filed” with the Bureau on time, then
under such circumstances comparison between certified circulation figures and readership estimates
is vitiated.
Principally, due to these reasons, we have not found it appropriate to project the certified circulation
figures and readership estimates side by side.
AMENDMENTS TO AUDIT GUIDELINES FOR MAGAZINE PUBLISHER MEMBERS:
During the year, Bureau’s audit guidelines pertaining to magazine publisher members were revised
in line with the market practices. The magazine publishing industry is going through a difficult
period. It will be the endeavour of the Bureau to assist all magazine publisher members during this
period. We are also happy to report that the new concept of certification of Daily and Weekly
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
217
News Media Management
newspapers i.e. Net Realisation Rate (NRR) concept has been well accepted by the newspaper
industry since the last three audit periods.
CONDOLENCE:
On behalf of your Council, I wish to deeply condole the sad demise of Secretary, Mr. Shailesh Sheth
who had devoted 28 years in the service of the Bureau. As you are aware, Mr. Sheth expired
suddenly on 5th June 2009 in Mumbai. On your behalf and my own behalf, I wish to offer our deepest
condolences and sympathies to his wife, children and mother. May his soul rest in peace
COLLEAGUES:
Before I conclude, I wish to thank all my colleagues on the Council for their guidance in dealing with
various issues discussed at the Council.
I also wish to thank Mr. Sam Balsara, Hony. Treasurer and Mr. Shashidhar Sinha, Hony. Secretary
who willingly shared the responsibility in administering the Bureau.
I also thank all Members of the Bureau for their unstinted support during my tenure as your
Chairman. I also wish to compliment the Secretariat headed by Secretary General, Mr. Masani for the
efficient manner in which the Secretariat has been functioning. The next Chairman of your Council
would be from amongst the non-publisher representatives of the Council.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the incoming Chairman and his team a very successful
year.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
218
News Media Management
Thank you,
Place : Hyderabad
Date : 14th September, 2009
Ch Kiron
Chairman
Audit Bureau of Circulations
Founder Member: International Federation of Audit Bureau of Circulations
Wakefield House, Sprott Road, Ballard Estate, Mumbai – 400 001
Tel: 2261 18 12 / 2261 90 72 ._ Fax: 2261 88 21
E-mail : [email protected] _ Web Site : httpp://www.auditbureau.org
CONFIDENTIAL
[For information of Members only]
Not to be reproduced or publicized
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
219
News Media Management
24th July, 2009
TO,
ALL MEMBERS
NOTIFICATION NO. 799
PART – I) SURPRISE CHECKS – JANUARY-JUNE 2009
1) Aajkaal (Bengali Daily), Kolkata
2) Sandhya Aajkaal (Bengali Daily), Kolkata
3) Aj (Hindi Daily), Patna
4) Amar Asom (Assamese Daily), Guwahati edn printed at Jorhat
5) Purvanchal Prahari (Hindi Daily), Guwahati edn printed at Jorhat
6) Amar Ujala (Hindi Daily), Dharmsala
7) Amar Ujala (Hindi Daily), New Delhi
8) Amar Ujala (Hindi Daily), Aligarh
9) Amar Ujala (Hindi Daily), Gorakhpur
10) Annadata (Telugu Monthly), Hyderabad
11) Chatura (Telugu Monthly), Hyderabad
12) Vipula (Telugu Monthly), Hyderabad
13) Bismoi (Assamese Monthly), Guwahati
14) Priyo Sakhi (Assamese Monthly), Guwahati
15) Business Standard (English Daily), Chandigarh
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
220
News Media Management
16) Business Standard (English Daily), Pune
17) Daily Desher Katha (Bengali Daily), Agartala
18) Daily Sakal (Marathi Daily), Kolhapur
19) Dainik Agniban (Hindi Daily), Indore
20) Dainik Bhaskar (Hindi Daily), Hisar
21) Dainik Bhaskar (Hindi Daily), Panipat
22) Diamond Cricket Today (Hindi Monthly), New Delhi
23) Grehlakshmi (Hindi Monthly), New Delhi
24) Hari Bhoomi (Hindi Daily), Bilaspur
25) Hari Bhoomi (Hindi Daily), Raipur
26) Hari Bhoomi (Hindi Daily), Rohtak
27) Hitavada (English Daily), Nagpur
28) Mumbai Choufer (Marathi Daily), Aurangabad,
29) Punya Nagari (Marathi Daily), Aurangabad
30) Punya Nagari (Marathi Daily), Nashik
31) Punya Nagari (Marathi Daily), Pune edn. printed at Kolhapur
32) Punya Nagari (Marathi Daily), Pune edn. printed at Pune
33) Yeshobhumi (Hindi Daily), Mumbai edition printed at Pune
34) Nandini (Assamese Monthly), Guwahati
35) Poknapham (Manipuri Daily), Imphal
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
221
News Media Management
36) Roopatara (Kannada Monthly), Manipal-Udupi
37) Taranga (Kannada Weekly), Manipal-Udupi
38) Tushara (Kannada Monthly), Manipal-Udupi
39) Udayavani (Kannada Daily), Bangalore,
40) Udayavani (Kannada Daily), Manipal-Udupi
41) Sambad (Oriya Daily), Bhubaneswar,
42) Sambad (Oriya Daily), Cuttack
43) Sambad (Oriya Daily), Sambalpur
44) The Sanghai Express (English Daily), Imphal
45) The Shillong Times (English Daily). Shillong
The above mentioned publications were surprise checked by Bureau’s Auditors during the audit
period January-June 2009 result of which was satisfactory.
Sd/-
Secretary General
COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE AND NOT HAVING A
SHARE CAPITAL
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
222
News Media Management
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
OF
AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS
1. The name of the Company (hereinafter called “The Association” is “*AUDIT BUREAU OF
CIRCULATIONS”.
2. The registered office of the Association will be situated in the Province of Bombay.
3. The objects for which the Association is established are:
a) To secure accurate circulation figures and data relating to all periodicals and media that sell
advertising space and in regard to such publications to obtain information as to area of distribution
and fix standard forms and methods for ascertaining the net sales figures and generally all
information that will be of assistance to advertisers in estimating the value of any publication for
advertising purposes and to record such information and circulate it to members of this Association
and generally to establish a bureau of information in regard to all publications and the circulation of
them for the benefit of members of this Association such service to be known as the “A.B.C.” service
or by such other name or description as the Council of this Association may determine from time to
time.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
223
News Media Management
b) To collect and distribute amongst members of this Association information relating to all forms
and methods of advertising.
aa) To set up a new division of the Bureau to be known as ‘National Readership Studies Council’ in
the field of Readership Studies for carrying out Readership Surveys covering all major publications
published in India, whether or not such publications are audited by the Bureau or are publications of
Bureau’s members, and to record, collect and distribute such readership surveys and all information
relating thereto to all users thereof who may require the same for estimating the value of such
publications published in India, irrespective of whether or not such users are members of the Bureau.
b) To secure, collect, circulate and distribute information relating to all or any of the matters
specified in the preceding three Sub-Clauses (a), (aa) and (b) amongst any Government in India or
abroad or any statutory authority constituted by any such Government interested, directly or
indirectly in advertising, and amongst associations, bureau, societies, institutions and federations,
whether in India or elsewhere and whether or not members of this Association, having objects similar
to those of this Association.
bbb) To promote, join as member, associate, or otherwise be interested in, and take hold and
dispose of shares in, any other company, association, bureau, society, institution, federation or
other organisation, whether in India or elsewhere, having objects similar to those of this Association,
or otherwise in any manner concerned with advertising or carrying on any business capable of being
conducted so as directly or indirectly to benefit this Association.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
224
News Media Management
c) To puchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any real or personal property
and any rights or privileges which the Association may think necessary or convenient for the
promotion of its objects, and to construct, maintain and alter any buildings or erections necessary or
convenient for the work of the Association.
d) To sell, let, mortgage, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the property or assets of the
Association as may be thought expedient with a view to the promotion of its objects.
e) To undertake and execute any trusts which may law-fully be undertaken by the Association and
may be conducive to its objects.
f) To borrow or raise money for the purposes of the Association on such terms and on such security
as may be thought fit.
g) To invest the moneys of the Association not immediately required for its purpose in or upon such
investments, securities or property as may be thought fit.
h) To establish and support or aid in the establishment and support of any charitable or benevolent
associations or institutions and to subscribe or guarantee money for charitable or benevolent
purposes in any way connected with the purposes of the Association or calculated to further its
objects.
i) To do all such other things as are incidental as the Association may think conducive to the
attainment of the above objects or any of them.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
225
News Media Management
j) To pay all the expenses connected with the formation and incorporation of the Association.
k) Except as otherwise expressly stated to do all or any of the foregoing things anywhere.
PROVIDED that the Association shall not support with it funds any object or endeavor to impose on
or procure to be observed by its members or others, any regulation, restriction or condition which if
an object of the Association would make it a Trade Union.
4. The income and property of the Association, whomsoever derived, shall be applied solely towards
the promotion of the objects of the Association as set forth in this Memorandum of Association and
no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or
otherwise howsoever by way of profit to the members of the Association.
PROVIDED that nothing herein shall prevent the payment, in good faith, of reasonable and proper
remuneration to any officer or servant of the Association, or to any members of the Association in
return for any services actually rendered to the Association, nor prevent the payment of interest at a
rate not exceeding 6 percent per annum on money lent or reasonable and proper rent for premises
demised or let by any member of the Association; but so that no member of the Council of
Management or Governing Body of the Association shall be appointed to any salaried office of the
Association paid by fees, and that no remuneration or other benefit in money or money’s worth shall
be given by the Association to any member of such Council or Governing Body except repayment of
out-of-pocket expenses and interest at the rate aforesaid on money lent or reasonable and proper
rent for premises demised or let to the Association provided that the provision last aforesaid shall
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
226
News Media Management
not apply to any payment to any gas, electric lighting, water or cable company of which a member of
the Council of Management or Governing Body may be a member, or any other company in which
such member shall not hold more than one hundredth part of the capital, and such member shall not
be bound to account for any share of profits he may receive in respect of any such payment.
5. (a) One half of the members for the time being of the Council of Management of the
Association (hereinafter called “the Council”) shall consist of proprietors or publishers of newspapers
or other periodicals which carry advertising and who are members of the Association or their
representatives.
(b) The other half of the members for the time being of the Council, shall consist of and include both
(i) members of the Association who advertise commodities or services in any newspaper or
periodical, or their representatives and (ii) members of the Association who are advertising agents or
their representatives.
5-A No alteration shall be made to the Memorandum of Association or to the Articles of Association of
the Association which are for the time being in force, unless the alteration has been previously
submitted to and approved by the Central Government.
6. The liability of the members is limited.
7. Every member of the Association undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Association, in the
event of the same being wound up during the time that he is a member, or within one year
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
227
News Media Management
afterwards, for payment of the debts and liabilities of the Association contracted before the time at
which he ceases to be a member, and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up the same,
and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories amongst themselves, such amount as may
be required not exceeding Rupees Fifteen.
8. If upon the winding up or dissolution of the Association there remains after the satisfaction of all
its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among
the members of the Association, but shall be given or transferred to some other institution or
institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Association, and which shall prohibit the
distribution of its or their income and property among its or their members to an extent at least as
great as is imposed on the Association under or by virtue of Clause 4 hereof, such institution or
institutions to be determined by the members of the Association at or before the time of dissolution,
or in default thereof by the High Court of Bombay and if and so far as effect cannot be given to such
provision then to some charitable object.
9. True accounts shall be kept of the sums of money received and expended by the Association, and
the matters in respect of which such receipts and expenditure take place, and the property, credits
and liabilities of the Association; and, subject to any reasonable restrictions as to the time and
manner of inspecting the same that may be imposed in accordance with the regulations of the
Association for the time being, such accounts shall be open to the inspection of the members. Not
later than eighteen months after the date of incorporation of the Association and thereafter once at
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
228
News Media Management
least in every year the accounts of the Association shall be examined and the correctness of the
balance sheet ascertained by one or more properly qualified Auditor or Auditors. Copies of the
accounts shall be sent to all members.
COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE AND NOT HAVING A SHARE CAPITAL
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS*
PRELIMINARY
1. Subject to the provisions of Section 29 of the Companies Act, 1956 (hereinafter referred to as
“The Act”), these Articles of Association shall apply to the Association in so far as they are not
contrary to, or inconsistent with, the Regulations contained in Table ‘C’ in
Schedule 1 to the Act. In these Articles words importing the singular shall include the plural or vice
versa.
MEMBERS
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
229
News Media Management
2. For the purpose of registration the number of members of the Association is declared to be
unlimited.
3. i. The Members of the Association shall be:
a) the signatories to the Memorandum of Association; and
b) such persons being (i) subject to the provisions of clauses (ii) and (iii) of this
Article, proprietors or publishers of newspapers or other periodicals which carry advertising, (ii)
Advertisers of commodities or services in any newspapers or periodicals, and (iii) Agents and firms of
Agents representing overseas manufacturers, (iv) Advertising agents, and (v) Associations, Societies,
Institutions or Organisations any other corporate or statutory body or authority, or any Government
in India, whether Central or State, dealing in, or in any manner concerned with, advertising and/or
publishing in newspapers, periodicals and magazines and/or other publications of a like nature, as
may be proposed and seconded by a member and admitted to membership by the
Council.
ii. The membership of any person of the class referred to in Article 3(i) (b) (i) hereof shall for all
purposes be treated as separate membership in respect of each individual newspaper or other
periodical owned and/or published by him and in respect of each of which he is separately registered
as a member.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
230
News Media Management
iii. The membership of persons of the class referred to in clause 3 (i) (b) (i) of the Articles of
Association is conditional upon such members granting facilities for consultations or conferences at
any time should the necessity arise between their circulation auditors and the consultative
accountants of the Association. If in the opinion of the Council it should be necessary to investigate
or enquire into any figures of any such member then the Council shall be entitled to appoint auditors
for as may be considered necessary such purpose and such auditors shall examine any and all
records of the member concerned as may be considered necessary. In the event of any such
facilities as aforesaid or the examination of all or any records being refused or not afforded within
such reasonable time as the council may determine after notice to member concerned then the
council shall be entitled by notice in writing to terminate the membership of such member.
4. Every person admitted to membership shall sign an authority authorizing his enrolment as a
member in the Register of Members and agreeing to be bound by the Memorandum and Articles of
Association. Every member shall on admission pay such entrance fee as shall at the time of such
admission be payable as hereinafter provided and shall during the continuance of his membership
duly pay all annual and other subscriptions as shall from time to time be fixed by the Council under
the powers hereinafter conferred.
5. The privileges of membership shall not be transferable; every member shall cease to be a
member on death or retirement or if in the opinion of the Council (which opinion shall be conclusive)
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
231
News Media Management
he shall cease to be a person qualified to be admitted to membership under Article 3 (i) (b) hereof or
in the event of the Council proceeding under Article 44 hereof.
5A. Notwithstanding, anything inconsistent herewith contained in any other article hereof, the
Council shall, by notice in writing, terminate the membership of any member of the class referred to
in Article * 3 (i) (b) (i) hereof, in the event of such member failing to submit to the Association in the
prescribed form the circulation figures of his newspaper or periodical concerned for two consecutive
audit periods, within one month of the due date fixed for the purpose in respect of the second of
such consecutive audit periods, or in the event of such member failing to obtain from the Association
the ABC Certificates of Circulation in the prescribed form in respect of his newspaper or periodical
concerned for three consecutive audit periods, for any reason whatsoever for which such member is
himself to blame or is otherwise responsible.
6. The Association shall cause to be kept a Register and Index of Members in accordance with the
provisions of Sections 150 and 151 of the Act.
6A. In the event of any difference or disputes of any kind or nature whatsoever at any time arising
between a Member on the one hand and the Association and/or its Council of Management on the
other, whether during the period of membership of a member or at any time after the cessation of
such membership, the same shall be referred to and decided by only such competent Court in
Bombay as shall have jurisdiction in the matter; and all such differences or disputes shall accordingly
be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent Court in Bombay only.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
232
News Media Management
GENERAL MEETINGS
7. An Ordinary General Meetings of the members of the Association shall be held within eighteen
months of the date of incorporation and thereafter at least once in every calendar year and not more
than fifteen months after the date of the last preceding Ordinary General Meeting. Subject as
aforesaid such meetings shall be held at such time and place as the Council may determine.
8. The Council may whenever they think fit convene an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held at
such time and place as they may determine.
9. Subject to the provisions of Section 189(2) of the Act relating to Special Resolutions, at least
twenty-one day’s notice in writing of every General Meeting specifying therein the place and the day
and the hour of the meeting, and containing a statement of the business to be transacted thereat,
shall be given in any manner authorised by Section 53 of the Act, to every member of the
Association, and to the auditor or auditors for the time being of the Association. A General Meeting
may, however, be called after giving shorter notice than that specified above, if consent is accorded
thereto in the case of an Annual General Meeting, by all the members of the Association entitled to
vote thereat; and in the case of any other General Meeting, by members of the Association having
not less than 95 per cent of the total voting power exercisable at that meeting. The accidental
omission to give notice to or the non-receipt of notice by, any member of the Association or other
person to whom it should be given shall not invalidate the proceedings at such meeting.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
233
News Media Management
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
10. No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum is present when the
meeting proceeds to business, save as herein otherwise provided, twenty members present in
person shall be the quorum for a meeting of the Association.
11. If within half an hour from the time appointed for holding a meeting of the Association, a quorum
is not present, the meeting, if called upon the requisition of members, shall stand dissolved. In any
other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same time
and place, or to such other day and at such other time and place as may be determined by the
Council of Management; and if at such adjourned meeting also, a quorum is not present within half
an hour from the time appointed for holding the meeting, the members present shall be a quorum.
12. With the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present, the Chairman may adjourn a
meeting from time to time, and from place to place, as the meeting shall determine, whenever a
meeting is adjourned for twenty-one days or more, seven day’s notice of the adjourned meeting
shall be given in the same manner as of an original meeting. Save as aforesaid, the members shall
not be entitled to any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned
meeting. No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business which
might have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
13. The Chairman of the Council shall preside at every General Meeting, but if there be no such
Chairman, or if at any meeting he shall not be present within fifteen minutes after time appointed for
holding the same, or shall be unwilling to preside, the members present shall choose some member
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
234
News Media Management
of the Council, or if no such member be present, or if all the members of the Council present
declined to take the Chair, they shall choose some member of the Association, who shall be present,
to preside.
14. At all General Meetings a resolution put to vote of the meeting shall be decided on show of hands
by a majority of the members present in person and entitled to vote, unless before or upon the
declaration of the result of the show of hands a poll be demanded in writing by the Chairman or by
atleast five members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, and unless a poll be so
demanded, a declaration by the Chairman of the meeting that a resolution has, on a show of hands
been carried or carried unanimously or by particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect in
the book of the proceedings of the Association shall be conclusive evidence thereof, without proof of
the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against, such resolution.
15. If a poll be demanded in manner aforesaid, it shall be taken at such time and place, and in such
manner, as the Chairman of the meeting shall direct and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be
the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.
16. No poll shall be demanded on the election of a Chairman of a meeting or on any question of
adjournment.
17. The Chairman of the meeting shall not be entitled to a further or casting vote.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
235
News Media Management
18. The demand for a poll shall not present the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any
business other than the question on which poll has been demanded.
VOTES OF MEMBERS
19. Subject to the provisions of the Act no member shall be entitled to be present or to vote or speak
on any question either personally or by proxy or as a proxy for another member, at any General
Meeting or upon a poll or to be reckoned in quorum, whilst any money due from him (alone or
jointly) to the Association remains unpaid.
20. Every member not disqualified by the preceding Article shall be entitled to be present in person
or by proxy and to speak and to vote at every General Meeting. On a show of hands and on a poll
every member present in person or by proxy shall have one vote.
21. (a) The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointer or of
his attorney duly authorized in writing or if the appointer is a Corporation either under the Common
Seal or under the hand of an officer or an attorney so authorised.
21. (b) The instrument appointing a proxy, and the power of attorney or other authority (if any)
under which it is signed or a notarially certified copy of that power or authority, shall be deposited at
the registered Office of the Association not less than forty-eight hours before the holding of the
meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote; and in default thereof the
instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
236
News Media Management
22. The Chairman of any meeting shall be the sole judge of the validity of every vote tendered at
such meeting. The Chairman present at the taking of a poll shall be the sole judge of every vote
tendered at such poll.
COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT
23. Until otherwise determined by the Association in General Meeting, the number of members of
the Council of Management shall be not less than eight and not more than sixteen.
24. The first members of the Council shall be nominated in writing by the majority of the subscribers
to the Memorandum of Association subject nevertheless to the provisions of Clause 5 of the
Memorandum of Association.
25. The Council may from time to time and at any time appoint any member of the Association or a
representative of any such member as a member of the Council, either to fill a casual vacancy or by
way of or addition to the Council subject nevertheless to the provisions of Clause 5 of the
Memorandum of Association and so that the total number of members of the Council shall not at any
time exceed the maximum number fixed. Any person so appointed shall retain his office only upto
the date upto which the member in whose place he is appointed would have held office if it had not
been vacated. He shall then be eligible for re-election.
26. At the first ordinary meeting of the Association, the whole of the Council shall retire from office,
and at the ordinary meeting in every subsequent year, one-half of the members of the Council for
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
237
News Media Management
time being or if their number is not a multiple of two, then the number nearest to one-half shall retire
from office.
27. The members of the Council to retire in every year shall be those who have been longest in office
since their last elections but as between persons who became members of the Council on the same
day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot.
28. A retiring member of the Council shall be eligible for re-election. The Association at the General
Meeting at which a member of the Council retires in manner aforesaid may fill up the vacated office
by electing a person thereto, but subject nevertheless as aforesaid.
29. If at any meeting at which an election of members of the Council of Management ought to take
Place, the Place of any retiring or vacating member is not so filled up, the meeting shall stand
adjourned till the same day the next week, at the same time and place, or if that day is a public
holiday, till the next succeeding day which is not a public holiday, at the same time and place; and if
at the adjourned meeting also, the place of the retiring or vacating member of the Council is not
filled up and that meeting also has not expressly resolved not to fill the vacancy, then, subject to the
provisions of Clause 5 of the Memorandum of Association, the retiring or vacating member of the
Council shall be deemed to have been re-appointed at the adjourned meeting, unless – (i) at that
meeting or at the previous meeting a resolution for the re-appointment of such member of the
Council has been put to the meeting and lost; (ii) the retiring member of the Council has, by a notice
in writing addressed to the Association or its Council of Management, expressed his unwillingness to
be so re-appointed; (iii) he is not qualified or is disqualified for appointment; or a resolution, whether
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
238
News Media Management
special or ordinary, is required for his appointment or re-appointment by virtue of any provisions of
the Act.
30. The continuing members of the Council may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their body,
provided always that in case the members of the Council shall at any time be reduced in number to
less than the number fixed by these Articles as the necessary quorum of members of the Council it
shall be lawful for them to act as the Council for the purpose of filling up vacancies in their body, or
of summoning a General Meeting, but not for any other purpose.
31. The Association may by an extraordinary resolution remove any member of the Council before
the expiration of his period of office and may by an ordinary resolution appoint another person
instead, the person so appointed shall be subject to retirement by rotation at the same time, as if he
had become a member of the Council on the day on which the member of the Council in whose place
he is appointed was last elected as such member. A member of the Council so removed shall not be
re-appointed a member of the Council by the Council at any meeting of the Association at which an
extra ordinary resolution is proposed for the removal of a member of the Council. The member of the
Council concerned shall be entitled to be heard after such resolution is proposed and before any
decision be reached on such proposal; the Chairman of the meeting shall be the sole judge as to the
period to be allowed for such hearing.
32. The office of a member of the Council shall be vacated if:
a) he is found to be of unsound mind by a Court of competent jurisdiction; or
b) he is adjudged insolvent; or
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
239
News Media Management
c) he or any firm of which he is a partner or any private company of which he is a director without
the sanction of the Association in General Meeting accepts or holds any office of profit under the
Association other than that of a Manager or a Legal or Technical Adviser or Banker; or
d) he absents himself from three consecutive meetings of the Council or from all meetings of the
Council for a continuous period of three months, whichever is longer, without leave of absence from
the Council; or
e) he or any firm of which he is a partner or any private company of which he is a director accepts a
loan from the Association in contravention of Section 295 of the Act; or
f) he acts in contravention of Section 297 of the Act; or
g) if he fails to pay any money’s payable by him under his guarantee within 3 months of a demand
being made for the purpose; or
h) if by notice in writing to the Association he resigns his office;
i) if he ceases to be the representative of a member of the Bureau.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL
33. The Council may meet together for the despatch of business, adjourned and otherwise regulate
their meetings as they think fit. Unless and until the Council otherwise decide all meetings of the
Council shall be held in Bombay; questions arising at any meetings shall be decided by a majority of
votes.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
240
News Media Management
34. The Secretary upon the request of atleast three members of the Council shall convene a meeting
of the Council; in the event of the Secretary failing to convene a Meeting of a Council within eight
days of the receipt of any such request as aforesaid then the three members of the Council making
such request shall be entitled to convene the Meeting. The omission to give notice of any such
meeting to a member of the Council who is not in Bombay shall not invalidate any resolution passed
at any such meeting.
35. The quorum at meeting of the Council shall be as may be determined from time to time by the
Association in General Meeting but unless otherwise determined three members of the Council shall
be a quorum.
36. (a) The Council shall elect a Chairman annually who shall preside at all meetings of the Council at
which he shall be present but if no such Chairman be elected, or if at any meeting the Chairman be
not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding a Meeting, the members of
the Council present shall choose some one of their number to be Chairman of the Meeting.
(b) The Chairman to be elected by the Council in the year 1948 and in each alternate year thereafter
shall be elected from the half of the members of the Council mentioned in paragraph (a) of Clause 5
of the Memorandum of Association, and the Chairman to be elected by the Council in the year 1949
and in each alternate year thereafter shall be elected from the half of the members of the Council
mentioned in paragraph (b) of the same Clause.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
241
News Media Management
37. A meeting of the members of the Council for the time being at which a quorum is present shall
be competent to exercise all the authorities, powers and discretions by or under the regulations of
the Association for the time being vested in the Council generally.
38. The Council may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of such member or
members of the Council as they think fit and any committee so formed shall conform to any
regulations imposed on it by the Council. The meetings and proceedings of any such committee shall
be governed by the provisions of these presents for the regulating of the meetings and proceedings
of the Council so far as applicable and so far as the same shall not be superseded by any regulations
made by the Council as aforesaid.
39. All acts bonafide done by any meeting of the Council or of any committee of the Council, or by
any person acting as a member of the Council shall, not withstanding it be afterwards discovered
that there was some defect in the appointment of any such member or person acting as aforesaid or
that they or any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly
appointed and was qualified to be a member of the Council.
40. The Council shall cause proper minutes to be made of the proceedings of all meetings of the
Association and of the Council and of committees of the Council, and all business transacted at such
meetings, and any such minute of any meetings, if purporting to be signed by the Chairman of such
meetings, or by the Chairman of the next succeeding meeting, shall be conclusive evidence without
any further proof of the facts therein stated.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
242
News Media Management
41. A resolution in writing signed by all members for the time being of the Council or of any
Committee of the Council for the time being in India shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been
passed at a Meeting of the Council or of such Committee duly convened, and constituted.
POWERS OF THE COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT
42. The business of the Association shall be managed by the Council who may pay all expenses
incurred in promoting and registering the Association and who may exercise all such powers of the
Association as are not, by the Act, or any statutory modification thereof for the time being in force,
or by these Articles, required to be exercised by the Association in General Meeting, subject
nevertheless to any regulation of these Articles to the provisions of the Act, and to such regulations
being not inconsistent with the aforesaid regulations, or provisions as may be prescribed by the
Association in General meeting but no regulation made by the Association in General Meeting shall
invalidate any prior act of the Council which would have been valid if that regulation had not been
made.
43. In furtherance of and without prejudice to general powers conferred by or implied in the last
proceeding Article and other powers conferred by these Articles it is hereby expressly declared that
the Council may make, vary and repeal bye-laws for the proper conduct, control and management of
the Association provided that such bye-laws shall not be inconsistent with any of these Articles and
may fix increase and decrease the entrance fees and annual and other subscriptions for the time
being payable by members and may engage and dismiss a Secretary and other officers and servants
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
243
News Media Management
and determine their respective powers and duties and fix their wages or remuneration, and to buy ,
sell, pledge, endorse, assign, transfer or in any other manner negotiate, dispose of or deal in any
securities including securities, warrants, bonds and promissory notes of the Governments of India,
Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon and of the State Governments in India.
44. (a) The Council shall be entitled without assigning any reason to terminate at any time the
membership of any member by resolution passed on a majority or not less than three-fourths of the
Council present at a special meeting of the Council at which not less than half the members thereof
shall be present. A member whose membership has been terminated under this clause shall forfeit
all rights in and claims upon the Association and its property and shall not be entitled to a refund of
any proportion of his subscription.
(b) If any member shall fail to pay any entrance fee, annual or other subscription or other sum
payable to the Association within two months of the date when the same became payable then upon
the expiration of such two months such member shall cease to be a member of the Association,
provided, nevertheless that if such member should subsequently seek re-election and shall pay up
all arrears and other monies due by him to the Association the Council shall be entitled to re-elect
him as a member, if still eligible, without requiring payment of any entrance fee which might
otherwise be payable.
And if such member so re-elected is a member of the class referred to in Article 3 (i) (b) (i) hereof,
the Council may in its discretion, but without being under any obligation so to do, issue to such
member on his re-election as aforesaid the appropriate A.B.C. Certificate or Certificates of Circulation
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
244
News Media Management
in the prescribed form in respect of his newspaper and/ or periodical, as the case may be, even
though such Certificate or Certificates may include or cover the period from the date of cessation of
previous membership of such member to the date of his re-election as a member under this Article.
ACCOUNTS
45. The Council shall cause proper books of accounts to be kept with respect to:-
(a) the assets and liabilities of the Association;
b) all sums of money received and expended by the Association and the matters in respect of which
such receipts and expenditure take place; and
(c) all sales and purchases of goods by the Association.
46. The books of account shall be kept at the registered office of the Association or at such other
place or places as the Council shall think fit, and shall be open to the inspection of the members of
the Council during business hours.
47. The Council shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and
places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books of the Association or any of
them shall be open to the inspection of Members not being members of the Council, and no member
(not being a member of the Council) shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or
document of the Association except as conferred by law or authorised by the Council or by the
Association in General Meeting.
48. At every Annual General Meeting of the Association held in pursuance of Section 166 of the Act,
the Council of Management of the Association shall lay before the Association – (A) a balance sheet
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
245
News Media Management
as at the end of the period beginning with the day immediately after the period for which the
account was last submitted and ending with a day which shall not precede the day of the meeting by
more than six months, or in cases where an extension of time has been granted for holding the
meeting under the second proviso to Sub-section (I) of Section166 of the Act, by more than six
months and the extension so granted; and (B) an income and expenditure account for that period.
Subject to the Provisions of Sections 219 and 222 of the Act, a copy of every balance sheet
(including the income and expenditure account, the auditors’ report and every other document
required by law to be annexed or attached, as the case may be to the balance sheet) which is to be
laid before the Association in General Meeting shall, not less than twenty-one days before the date of
meeting, be sent to every member of the Association and to all persons other than such members
who are entitled to have notices of General Meeting of the Association sent to them.
AUDIT
49. Once at least in every year the accounts of the Association shall be examined and the
correctness of the income and expenditure account and balance sheet ascertained by one or more
properly qualified auditor or auditors.
50. Auditors shall be appointed and their powers and duties shall be regulated in accordance with
the provisions of Sections 224, 225, 226, 227, 229 and 231 of the Act.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
246
News Media Management
NOTICES
51. (1) A notice may be given by the Association to any Member either personally or by sending it by
post to him to his registered address or (if he has no registered address in the Republic of India) to
the address, if any, within the Republic of India supplied by him to the Association for the giving of
notices to him.
(2) Where a notice is sent by post, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly
addressing, pre-paying and posting a letter containing the notice, and, unless the contrary is proved,
to have been effected at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of
post. A certificate in writing signed by the Secretary or such other person as the Council may
authorise for the purpose that the letter containing the notice was so addressed, prepaid and posted
shall be conclusive evidence thereof.
52. If a member has no registered address in the Republic of India and has not supplied to the
Association an address within the Republic of India for the giving of notices to him, a notice
addressed to him and advertised in a newspaper circulating in the neighborhood of the registered
office of the Association shall be deemed to be duly given to him on the day on which the
advertisement appears.
53. Notice of every General meeting shall be given in same manner hereinbefore authorised to every
Member except those members who (having no registered address within the Republic of India) have
not supplied to the Association an address within the Republic of India for the giving of notices to
them.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
247
News Media Management
ADVERTISING POLICY OF
THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
(Revised)
ADVERTISEMENT POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AND
GUIDELINES FOR EMPANELMENT OF NEWSPAPERS WITH DAVPThe Directorate of Advertising & Visual Publicity (DAVP) is the nodal agency of the Government of
India for advertising by various Ministries and organisations of Government of India including public
sector undertakings and autonomous bodies. The primary objective of the Government in advertising
is to secure the widest possible coverage of the intended content or message through various
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
248
News Media Management
newspapers and journals of current affairs as well as science, art, literature, sports, films, cultural
affairs, etc. which are published daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly. In releasing advertisements to
newspapers/journals the DAVP does not take into account the political affiliation or editorial policies
of newspapers/journals. However, DAVP would avoid releasing advertisements to
newspapers/journals, which incite or tend to incite communal passion, preach violence, offend the
sovereignty and integrity of India or socially accepted norms of public decency and behaviour.
2. Government advertisements are not intended to be financial assistance to newspapers/journals.
DAVP maintains a list of newspapers/journals approved for release of advertisements by empanelling
acceptable newspapers/journals. DAVP will empanel only such newspapers/journals as are required
for issuing advertisements of the Government of India. Care is taken to empanel
newspapers/journals having readership from different sections of the society in different parts of the
country.
Panel Advisory Committee
3. There is a Panel Advisory Committee (PAC) for considering applications of newspapers/journals for
being empanelled for receiving Government advertisements. This Committee is headed by Director
General, DAVP/Director, DAVP and it includes Addl. Principal Information Officer in the PIB, Press
Registrar, RNI and Deputy Secretary/Under Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
dealing with Print Media. The Committee will also have one representative each from the Association
of big, medium and small newspapers. The recommendations of the Panel Advisory Committee as
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
249
News Media Management
accepted by the DG/Director, DAVP regarding empanelment of a newspaper is usually final. The PAC
also has the power to consider de-empanelment of a newspaper/journal where warranted.
4. In pursuance of broad social objectives of the Government and for ensuring fairness among
various categories of newspapers/journals, the PAC considers empanelment of newspapers/journals
belonging to the following categories on priority:
a) Small and medium newspapers/journals
b) Language newspapers
c) Newspapers/journals published in backward, remote and border areas.
5. Newspapers/journals are classified into three categories, namely
i) Small, with a circulation of up to 25,000 copies per publishing day.
ii) Medium, between 25,001 and 75,000 copies per publishing day, and
iii) Big, with a circulation of above 75,000 copies per publishing day.
Criteria for Empanelment
6. All newspapers/journals seeking empanelment for the first time should have been uninterruptedly
and regularly under publication for a period of not less than 12 months and should comply with the
provisions of the Press & Registration of Books Act, 1867. Fresh applications for empanelment may
be made any time during the year. However, each case will be considered once in a year only. For
renewal of rate contract, the newspapers are to submit applications in prescribed format by 31st
May of the year to DAVP. The details of the paper like size, language, periodicity, print area and
details of printing press etc. as asked for in empanelment form may be given. Further it must be
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
250
News Media Management
substantiated that the paper is being published at a reasonable standard. Reasonable standard, inter
alia, means that
a) The print matter and photographs should be legible, neat, clear and without smudges,
overwriting, and tampering.
b) There should be no repetition of news items or articles from other issues.
c) There should be no reproduction of news items or articles from other newspaper/journals without
credit line.
d) Masthead on its front page should carry the title of the newspaper, place, date and day of
publication; it should also carry RNI Registration Number, volume & issue number and price of
newspaper/journal;
e) The newspaper should carry imprint line as required under PRB Act; and
f) Inner pages must carry page number, title of the paper and date of publication.
7. A daily newspaper should furnish issues for preceding four months and weeklies & fortnightlies
must furnish issues of proceeding six months and monthlies should furnish latest 12 months issues.
Regularity
8. The applicant should have published the newspaper on at least 25 days in each month during
preceding 12 months. Weeklies should have published 46 issues during the preceding year,
fortnightlies 24 issues and monthlies 10 issues during the preceding year to be considered being
brought out regularly. The applicant should also furnish a copy of the Certificate of Registration
issued by the RNI in the name of the publisher.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
251
News Media Management
9. Newspapers/journals having established circulation of more than 75,000 copies per publishing
day, as certified by Audit Bureau of Circulation(ABC) can seek empanelment of their fresh edition
from a new place without having any regular publication for preceding 12 months, but in such cases
empanelment of fresh edition will be only in the lowest slab of circulation. New Editions of small and
medium newspapers will also be empanelled similarly.
10. A newspaper/journal should have a minimum paid circulation of not less than 2000 copies for
being considered eligible for empanelment. However, newspapers/journals in Sanskrit,
newspapers/journals published in backward, border or remote areas or in tribal languages or those
published in J&K need to have substantiated minimum paid circulation of only 500 copies per
publishing day.
11. A newspaper/journal should have the following minimum print area:
Periodicity Print area not less than
Dailies 1520 Std. Col. Cms.
Weeklies, Fortnightlies 700 Std. Col. Cms.
Monthlies 960 Std. Col. Cms.
Exceptions may, however, be made by PAC in the case of newspapers/journals belonging to the
above mentioned category in Sanskrit etc.
12. The empanelment already granted by the DG/Director, DAVP earlier will remain valid for the
duration for which empanelment has been made.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
252
News Media Management
13. The applicant newspaper/journal should furnish authenticated figures of circulation of ABC, RNI
or Chartered Accountant. However, Chartered Accountant Certificate will be accepted only up to
25,000 copies per publishing day for up to one year only. DAVP will take average circulation for the
preceding one year as certified by ABC, RNI failing which CA (whichever is less).
14. RNI circulation check will be valid for three years unless paper is suspended or declared un
established by RNI. During this period paper seeking renewal of empanelment in the same slab need
not furnish any fresh authentication of circulation. Rate renewal cases showing increase in
circulation warranting higher slab of rate will need to furnish ABC/RNI circulation check certification.
DG/Director, DAVP reserves the right to have figures of circulation checked through its
representatives or through RNI where he/she may so decide.
In rate renewal/empanelment cases, where a three year contract is offered, publishers should submit
to DAVP on or before 31st May each year an Affidavit to the effect that they have submitted Annual
Return to RNI. In the affidavit the latest figures as certified by ABC/RNI/CA will also be indicated.
15. A newspaper if declared unestablished by RNI will be suspended from DAVP empanelment and
recovery will be effected. Resumption will be considered only on receipt of the RNI certifying
circulation.
A newspaper/journal once declared unestablished by RNI will be considered established only from
the year RNI declares it established. The circulation certified by RNI/ABC if found lower than the
claimed circulation will be taken into consideration for recovery.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
253
News Media Management
Advertising Rate
16. The rate structure for payment against advertisements released by DAVP will be worked out on
the basis of laid down principles. DAVP will work out advertisement rates as per the Government of
India rate structure formula devised by the Rate Structure Committee.
The rates will be related to circulation of a newspaper and will apply uniformly to all newspapers.
The newspaper will enter into rate contract with DAVP accepting the DAVP rates and other terms and
conditions as laid down from time to time to ensure publication of DAVP advertisements as and when
issued to a newspaper.
Renewal of Rate Contract
17. Application for renewal must be submitted to DAVP, complete in all respects, by the due date,
which would be the last day of May of the calendar year in which the empanelment expires failing
which DAVP, may not consider the newspaper for renewal of rate for the concerned year. DAVP will
convey its decision on renewal by 30th September of the relevant year. DAVP will place the rate
renewal application proforma on its Web site http://www.davp.nic.in and newspapers may download
the proforma from internet to apply for renewal of rate contract of their newspaper.Alternately,
newspapers may collect the application proforma from DAVP headquarters or from PIB offices in the
country on their own, well in time. DAVP will make available the application proforma for rate
renewal/fresh applications to associations of big, medium and small newspapers as recognised by
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
254
News Media Management
the Press Council of India. Rate renewal contract will be awarded to newspapers for three years if
circulation for previous year is supported by RNI or ABC.
However, if any newspaper claims increase in circulation with latest RNI or ABC certificate, upward
revision may be considered. The revision of rate (upward/downward) will be considered yearly.
Payment of Advertisement bills
18. DAVP will release payment of advertisement bills in the name of the payee and at the address
given by the newspaper in the application form for renewal of rate contract or fresh application for
empanelment, as the case may be. No change in the payee’s name or adddress will be entertained
during the year of empanelment unless it is justified and found unavoidable or compelling.
19. Every newspaper will be obliged to send one copy of the newspaper on their own carrying DAVP
advertisements, to the client at the address mentioned in the Release Order, failing which payment
for the advertisement may not be considered.
20. Every newspaper will be obliged to submit its advertisement bills, complete in all respect, and
supported with relevant documents, within 30 days of the publication of the advertisement. DAVP
will make every effort to pay the advertisement bill within 60 days of receipt of bill.
21. No newspaper will publish DAVP advertisement without receipt of the relevant Release Order.
Request for a duplicate Release Order by publications will be entertained on merits and on case to
case basis.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
255
News Media Management
22. The newspaper will be obliged to strictly adhere to the date of publication of DAVP
advertisements as given in the Release Order. Publication of advertisement on dates other than that
given in the Release Order will not be regularised with revalidation of Release Order and no payment
will be made in such cases.
Suspension of newspaper for DAVP advertisements
23. A newspaper will stand suspended with immediate effect if found to have submitted wrong
information in his application or rate renewal proforma; or if found to have discontinued its
publication, changed its periodicity or its title or have become irregular or suspected to have been
indulging in unethical or antinational activities as found by the Press Council of India or if convicted
by a court of law for such activities.
24. Before suspension of a newspaper for DAVP advertisements on grounds of unethical practices,
anti-national activities, violation of the norms of decency as prescribed by the Press Council of India,
such newspapers will be given due hearing by the DAVP and a final view will be taken by DAVP.
25. If a newspaper refuses to accept and carry an advertisement issued by DAVP on behalf of the
Ministries/Departments of Government of India, public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies
on persistent basis, the newspaper may be suspended for a period up to six months by DG/Director,
DAVP.
Release of Advertisements
26. As soon as requisitions for release of advertisements are received from various Ministries and
Departments as also from public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies, DAVP will prepare a
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
256
News Media Management
suitable media list keeping in view the content, the target audience or the advertisement and
availability of funds after consideration of the recommendations of the client.
27. DAVP will ensure availability of funds before the advertisements are released, especially in the
case of paying clients. The Ministries and Departments, which are required to pay advance deposit
for release of their advertisements, will be requested to do so by depositing the required funds as
per extant orders of the Government in this regard.
Exceptions
28. Notwithstanding any of the provisions mentioned above, DG/Director, DAVP, as Chairman of the
Panel Advisory Committee, will have discretion to grant provisional empanelment to a newspaper,
subject to approval of the PAC, for a period of six months or till the next meeting of the PAC if the
newspaper has completed all the formalities required for empanelment and otherwise found suitable
for issue of Government advertisements.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
257
News Media Management
RULES &
RESOURCES
BYLAWS & RULES
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
258
News Media Management
ABC Bylaws
INDEX
ARTICLE 1 — ObjectsARTICLE 2 — Membership Qualifications and Obligations
2.1 Classes and Obligations of Membership
2.2 Eligibility for Membership
2.3 Forced Combinations
2.4 Periodicals Selling Advertising as a Unit
2.5 Member Representative, Proxy Execution
2.6 Application for Membership — All
2.7 Application for Publisher Membership
2.8 Publisher Duty to Install and Maintain Records
2.9 Transfer Between Divisions
2.10 Notice of Changes
2.11 Paid Circulation Defined
2.12 Calculating Percentage of Paid Circulation
2.13 Provisional Membership
2.14 Publisher's Statements - Filing and Certification
2.15 Access to Records
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
259
News Media Management
2.16 Suspension of Publisher's Statement and Audit Report Service
2.17 Membership Certificates
2.18 Waiver of Damages and Indemnification
ARTICLE 3 — Dues and Service
3.1 Dues Obligation
3.2 Dues by Classification
3.3 Report Service and Audit Costs
3.4 International Publications
3.5 Publications Indebted to ABC
3.6 Adjustment of Dues
3.7 Ownership of Copyright and Indemnification
ARTICLE 4 — Board of Directors
4.1 Responsibility, Vacancies
4.2 Membership Representation
4.3 Nomination and Election
4.4 Powers
4.5 Meetings, Quorum, Attendance
4.6 Committees
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
260
News Media Management
4.7 Special Investigation
4.8 Indemnification
ARTICLE 5 — Officers
5.1 Board Officers
5.2 Chair of the Board
5.3 Secretary
5.4 Treasurer
5.5 President and Managing Director
5.6 Bonding Officers or Employees
5.7 Removal from Office
ARTICLE 6 — Membership Meetings
6.1 Time and Place of Annual Meeting
6.2 Votes, Proxies
6.3 Quorum
6.4 Resolutions
6.5 Reports
6.6 Special Meetings
6.7 Procedures
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
261
News Media Management
ARTICLE 7 — Offenses and Punishments
7.1 Vote Required for Censure, Probation, Expulsion, or Readmission
7.2 Offenses
7.3 Charges by a Member
7.4 Charges by the Managing Director
7.5 Probation
7.6 Sanctions
7.7 Censure
7.8 Expulsion
7.9 Appeal of Board Decisions
ARTICLE 8 —Appeals
8.1 Appeal to Board of Directors
8.2 Procedure
ARTICLE 9 — Resignations
9.1 Publisher
9.2 Non-Publisher
9.3 Release of Right to Assets
9.4 Reinstatement of Membership
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
262
News Media Management
ARTICLE 10 — Exceptions
10.1 To Bylaws and Rules
10.2 Procedure
10.3 Vote Required
ARTICLE 11 — Amendments
11.1 Bylaws in Force
11.2 Change in Bylaws and Rules
ARTICLE 12 — Applicable Law
12.1 Choice of Law
12.2 Choice of Forum
12.3 Severability
12.4 Compliance with Law
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
263
News Media Management
Article 1 - Objects
The objects of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (alternatively, the "Bureau" and "ABC") shall be to
issue standardized statements of circulation data or other data reported by a member; to verify the
figures shown in these statements by auditors' examination of any and all records considered by the
Bureau as necessary; and to disseminate data for the benefit of advertiser members, advertising
agency members and other members interested in facts on the advertising and publishing industry.
Each member's Statement and each Audit Report issued by the Bureau shall embrace figures and
facts bearing on the quality as well as the quantity of circulation data or other data reported. The
figures in the Audit Report shall be those verified by Bureau auditors. Facts, without opinion, to be
reported
Article 2 - Membership Qualifications and Obligations
2.1 Classes and Obligations of Membership
(a) There shall be seven classes of membership as follows:
Advertisers.
Advertising Agencies.
Associates.
Business Publication Publishers.
Farm Publication Publishers.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
264
News Media Management
Magazine Publishers.
Newspaper Publishers.
(b) Members shall abide by all of the published by laws, rules, policies and practices of the Bureau.
Associate members do not have voting rights.
2.2 Eligibility for Membership
(a) Advertisers: Any individual or entity that advertises shall be eligible for membership.
(b) Advertising Agencies: Any individual or entity that conducts an advertising agency or media
buying service shall be eligible for membership.
(c) Associates: A parent company of an ABC publisher member or any individual or entity that
requires circulation information or other ABC data or services from ABC's subsidiaries may apply for
associate membership.
(d) Publisher Classes: Any individual or entity that publishes a publication eligible for membership in
one of the publisher classes under subparagraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection shall be eligible
for membership. Except in the case of publications admitted to associate membership by the Board
of Directors, a publication otherwise eligible to membership shall not be admitted to membership
except as a publisher member, and a publication ineligible for a membership as a publisher shall not
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
265
News Media Management
be eligible to membership in any other class. All reference to a publisher member or membership for
a publication in these bylaws shall mean the legal entity holding membership.
Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, a separate membership shall be taken out by a
publisher member for each publication
(1) Business Publication Publishers - Any individual or entity that publishes a business publication
shall be eligible for membership.
To qualify for regular membership:
(a)Publications reporting on the Paid Circulation Form shall have 70 percent or more of the
total circulations qualify as paid circulation.
(b)Publications reporting on the Paid and Qualified Non-Paid Circulation Form shall not be
required to have a minimum amount of paid and/or non-paid direct request circulation. The
provisions of Bylaw 2.13 Provisional Membership do not apply to publications reporting on
this form.
(2) Farm Publication Publishers — Any individual or entity that publishes a farm publication shall be
eligible for membership. The provisions of Bylaw 2.13 Provisional Membership do not apply.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
266
News Media Management
(3) Magazine Publishers — Any individual or entity that publishes a magazine shall be eligible for
membership. The Bureau shall determine the manner and form in which magazine publishers shall
report and analyze their circulation.
The provisions of Bylaw 2.13 Provisional Membership do not apply.
(4) Newspaper Publishers — Any individual or entity that publishes a newspaper with paid circulation
as defined by these bylaws shall be eligible for membership.
A newspaper that meets the requirements of Bylaw 2.13 may be a provisional member.
(e) Transfer of membership: Membership shall be nontransferable.
(f) Revision of membership eligibility requirements:
(1) Membership eligibility requirements may be determined only by the Board of Directors.
(2) Prior to any revision of the membership eligibility requirements of a publisher division, the Board
of Directors shall submit the proposed revision in writing to the members of the division affected for
an advisory vote by mail ballot or at an annual divisional meeting.
(3) If an advisory vote by mail ballot does not favor the proposed revision, the proposed revision will
be scheduled for discussion at the next annual meeting of the division affected.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
267
News Media Management
2.3 Forced Combinations
A newspaper, selling national advertising or subscriptions in forced combination with another
newspaper or newspapers in the same city of publication or city zone, shall not be admitted to or
continued in membership in the Bureau unless a membership is taken out and maintained for each
of said newspapers regardless of frequency of publication.
2.4 Periodicals Selling Advertising as a Unit
When all advertising in two or more periodicals owned by the same person or entity is sold as a unit,
such periodicals may be admitted under one membership. When all advertising in two or more
periodicals owned by different persons or entities is sold as a unit separate memberships will be
required. In the case of separate memberships, each of said members shall be jointly and severally
liable to discharge the combined obligations incident to the membership of each of them in the
Bureau. In both cases a combined Publisher's Statement and a combined Audit Report shall be
issued and the dues shall be computed upon the combined distribution.
2.5 Member Representative, Proxy Execution
(a) Any individual or entity admitted to membership in the Bureau shall, at the time of admission,
designate in writing and file with the Bureau on forms to be furnished by the Bureau the name of a
member representative, who shall, at the time of appointment and so long as being the member
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
268
News Media Management
representative, is employed by, and actively engaged in the operation of the member. The member
representative shall be authorized and empowered to act in all dealings with the Bureau as well as to
vote membership at all annual or special meetings of the Bureau. A member may change the
member representative at any time by filing with the Bureau a certificate canceling the authority of
such member representative, and designating some other person to act as member representative.
(b) Nothing contained in this bylaw shall be considered to limit the right of a member to execute a
proxy to any person other than the member representative to vote at any meeting of the Bureau,
but in the absence of such proxy such member representative shall be deemed to have full voting
rights.
2.6 Application for Membership-All
Application for membership shall be made on forms provided by the Bureau and all applicants shall
therein agree to abide by the published bylaws, rules, policies and practices of the Bureau and all
amendments and additions that may in due form be made thereto. An affirmative vote of at least a
majority of all members of the Board of Directors shall be required to elect an applicant to
membership. This vote may be taken by mail ballot or at any regular or special meeting of the Board
of Directors.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
269
News Media Management
2.7 Application for Publisher Membership
(a) Each applicant for publisher membership shall, with the application, deposit with the Bureau a
sum of money equivalent to the estimated cost of the initial audit. The estimated cost shall be
determined by the managing director. Within a reasonable time, the managing director shall present
the application to the board for election and shall cause a preliminary examination of the books and
records of the applicant to be made. After election, the release of an initial audit shall constitute
qualification and acceptance of membership of the applicant. A publication applicant, upon
acknowledgment by ABC of the receipt of both the application and the initial audit deposit, may
publicize the fact of application only. If, within one year from date of application an initial audit has
not been completed and released, the managing director may cancel the application, and
communicate the cancellation to ABC's membership.
(b) The cost of preliminary examinations shall be included in the cost of the initial audit.
(c) If books and records are inadequate at time of the preliminary examination, the applicant shall
agree to immediately install and maintain records adequate in accordance with the Bureau's
requirements. If the applicant refuses to make such agreement or the agreement has not been
carried out at the time of the next attempt at audit, the application shall be rejected and deposit
made with the application shall be forfeited.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
270
News Media Management
2.8 Publisher Duty to Install and Maintain Records
(Also see Rule C 5.19/Rule C 105.19 Hawker (Street) Sales.)
It shall be the duty of each publisher member to install, maintain and make available to the Bureau
auditors at all times, true and correct records of circulation and other data, capable of being audited
in accordance with the established auditing practices of the Bureau.
Publisher members may sell copies in quantities through agents, distributors and wholesalers,
independent contractors or other third-parties, however, the publisher shall remain responsible for
the accuracy, completeness and accessibility of the records maintained by such organizations as
though the records were maintained by the publisher.
Circulation data reported in Publisher's Statements that cannot be substantiated because of the
absence or unavailability of adequate records shall be subject to deduction in the Audit Report.
2.9 Transfer between Divisions
(a) Any member publication seeking transfer to another publisher division shall submit a written
request for transfer to the managing director. The request shall include special reasons for the
transfer, such as (but not limited to): change of format; change of nature of type of publication;
change in editorial or advertising policy.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
271
News Media Management
(b) The request shall be presented to the Board of Directors for approval, accompanied by a
recommendation of the managing director for such terms and conditions as may be deemed
desirable.
2.10 Notice of Changes
Where a change occurs in a publication for which a publisher holds a membership, such as (but
without limitation to the following): change of name; change of format; change of the nature or type
of publication, and similar changes which result from merger with another publication, acquisition of
one or more other publications, being acquired by one or more other publications; or otherwise, the
managing director shall be notified thereof in writing by the publisher member. If, after investigation,
the managing director determines that the changes are not substantial, it shall be so reported, and
Publisher's Statements and Audit Reports of the publication shall continue without interruption or
change in the membership. If the managing director determines that the change or changes are
substantial, he shall so report to the publisher of the publication involved. Thereupon the procedure
for application for membership in Bylaws 2.6 and 2.7 shall be followed. No Publisher's Statements or
Audit Reports shall be released; no claim of membership shall be made by the publication, until the
release of the initial audit.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
272
News Media Management
2.11 Paid Circulation Defined
Future Bylaw Change Alert:
As of October 1, 2010, Bylaw 2.11 Paid Circulation Defined will contain updated rule language.
A publication with paid circulation is hereby defined to be one of which 70 percent or more of the
total distribution during a regular six-month Publisher's Statement period (ended March 31 or
September 30 for all newspapers and June 30 or December 31 for all magazines and farm
publications published outside of Canada) (ended March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31
for farm publications published in Canada and all business publications) qualifies as paid circulation
under the standards of the Bureau. For newspapers, third party sales are to be excluded from paid
circulation for membership eligibility purposes but should be included in the calculation as an
element of total distribution. For business publications also see Bylaw 2.2(d)(1)(b).
2.12 Calculating Percentage of Paid Circulation
For purposes of calculating the percentage of paid circulation, checking copies to advertisers and
advertising agencies, plus an average of not to exceed 500 copies per issue for promotion copies to
advertisers, prospective advertisers and advertising agencies, shall not be included in the total
distribution.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
273
News Media Management
2.13 Provisional Membership (Newspapers Only)
No newspaper shall be admitted to or retained in publisher membership in the Bureau unless it has
and maintains paid circulation in accordance with the bylaws and rules of the Bureau except as
follows:
(a) Any applicant for newspaper membership whose paid circulation is at least 50 percent but less
than 70 percent of the total distribution as defined in Bylaw 2.11 may be admitted to provisional
membership on the affirmative vote of the Board of Directors. During the period of provisional
membership the Publisher's Statements and Audit Reports shall indicate the provisional
membership. Such provisional membership shall have all the privileges and obligations of a regular
member. Such provisional member must agree, as a condition of admission to provisional
membership, that the publication will qualify for regular membership under the definition in Bylaw
2.11 not later than the period covered by the sixth regular six-months' Publisher's Statement filed by
the publication following the date of admission to provisional membership, or that in the event the
publication does not qualify for regular membership under the definition in Bylaw 2.11 as provided
above, the provisional membership in the Audit Bureau of Circulations will thereupon terminate
without further action.
(b) Any newspaper that has maintained a paid circulation of 70 percent as defined in Bylaw 2.11 for
at least one complete audit period and subsequently drops below 70 percent paid circulation in
either a Publisher's Statement or an Audit Report but has at least 50 percent paid circulation, shall
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
274
News Media Management
immediately upon notification in writing by the managing director, without the requirement of any
action by the Board of Directors, cease to be a member and shall become a provisional member as
defined in subparagraph (a) of this section. Such provisional member may qualify for regular
membership by maintaining 70 percent of its total distribution as paid circulation for a period of not
less than three months, but must qualify not later than the sixth regular six-months' Publisher's
Statement. If the publication does not so qualify or if the publication drops below 50 percent paid
circulation in either a Publisher's Statement or an Audit Report, membership in the Audit Bureau of
Circulations, provisional or otherwise, shall thereupon terminate, without further action.
(c) Any of the foregoing provisions of this section to the contrary notwithstanding if a former
newspaper member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations reapplies for membership as a publisher
member within a three year period after termination of the former membership, such former
member shall be required to have a paid circulation as defined in Bylaw before being readmitted to
membership.
(d) The membership of a publisher member qualifying as an association publication under the rules
and standards; or a publisher member which fulfills subscriptions to members of an association,
organization or society under the rules and standards, shall be automatically terminated without
further action, if full compliance with the applicable rules and standards is not effected on the date
of commencement of the second membership year following the period covered by the initial audit.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
275
News Media Management
2.14 Publisher's Statements-Filing and Certification
Publisher members shall file with the Bureau for prompt release by the Bureau true statements of
circulation in accordance with the ABC bylaws and rules for semi-annual or such other periods as
may be determined by the Bureau.
These statements must be signed by and certified by the senior circulation executive and by the
publisher or an individual in executive management (e.g., President, CEO, etc.) as follows, "We
certify that to the best of our knowledge all data set forth in this Publisher's Statement are true and
report circulation in accordance with Audit Bureau of Circulations Bylaws and Rules." These
Publisher's Statements shall be audited by the Bureau in accordance with its rules.
2.15 Access to Records
For the purpose of accomplishing the objects of the Bureau, the Bureau and its subsidiaries shall
have the right of access to all books and records of publisher members deemed necessary by the
Bureau. This right of access may be exercised at any time not only for the purpose of making an
audit but also for the purpose of verifying a detail or details of a Publisher's Statement submitted to
the Bureau, whether that Publisher's Statement has been released or not; or for the purpose of
investigating the accuracy of an Audit Report already released; or for obtaining information which, in
the opinion of the managing director, may be pertinent to a future Publisher's Statement or Audit
Report. Publisher members shall also be responsible for maintaining the Bureau's right of access to
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
276
News Media Management
records required for the purposes listed above that is maintained by other organizations used by the
member to sell and distribute their publications. All such information so obtained, together with
transcripts of any such books and records, work sheets, memoranda, communications to the Bureau
and its subsidiaries, and other information in the possession of the Bureau and its subsidiaries
pertaining to an Audit Report or Publisher's Statement, shall be confidential and used solely for the
above purposes, and shall not be available or used for any other purpose except by authority of the
Board of Directors.
2.16 Suspension of Publisher's Statement and Audit Report Service
(a) No Publisher's Statement shall be released nor shall an audit be made when it has been
determined by the auditors of the Bureau that the necessary books and records of a publisher
member are not accessible to the auditors are incomplete or inaccurate that an audit cannot be
made in accordance with the established auditing practices of the Bureau.
(b) If, owing to the absence, incompleteness or inaccuracy of publisher's records, an audit cannot be
made, or a Publisher's Statement filed, service on the publication shall be suspended and the
publisher shall be required to sign an agreement substantially as follows:
Owing to the condition of the circulation records of ..... making an audit (or filing of a Publisher's
Statement) for the ..... months ended ..... impossible, we, the undersigned, agree to install and
maintain records according to ABC requirement.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
277
News Media Management
We further agree to continue the payment of our dues during the period of suspension of service. It
is our understanding that the Bureau will make an audit (provided proper records have been
maintained for a period of at least ..... months ended with a calendar quarter) in accordance with an
auditor's regular itinerary for the area.
It is understood that, because an audit cannot be made at this time (or records are not available to
permit the filing of a Publisher's Statement), all report service will be suspended until the
Reinstatement Audit has been made and released.
(Signed).........................................Publisher
Should publisher refuse to sign this agreement, the publication shall be subject to such penalty as
may be determined by the Board of Directors.
(c) When service on a publication is suspended under the provisions of Paragraph (b) of this section,
audit shall be attempted at the earliest date practicable under the terms of the agreement made by
the publisher. If, at that time, audit is again impossible, the situation shall be reported to the Board
of Directors for such action as the board may deem proper.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
278
News Media Management
2.17 Membership Certificates
The Bureau shall issue a membership certificate to each member. The certificate shall show the date
of admission to membership and in case of loss or destruction of such certificate a new certificate
may be issued. When a membership is terminated the certificate shall be returned to the Bureau.
2.18 Waiver of Damages and Indemnification
(a) Purpose and Scope. To maintain the economic well-being of the Bureau for the benefit of the
membership as a whole, the following provisions shall constitute a condition of membership, shall
bind each member (and successor) and shall be for the direct protection of the Bureau (including its
directors, officers, employees and agents).
(b) Limited Damage Waiver. Each member waives any right to assert claims for money damages
against the Bureau or its subsidiaries for any action, negligence or breach relating to its performance
or nonperformance of its activities or services, except that this waiver shall not apply to damages
that are determined by final adjudication to have arisen from intentional misconduct on the part of
the Bureau or its subsidiaries in verifying and disseminating erroneous circulation data or other data.
In no event, without limiting the foregoing waiver, shall the Bureau or its subsidiaries be liable for
damages which are punitive or multiplied. This provision shall be without prejudice to members
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
279
News Media Management
seeking damages against other individual members or third parties, but members are expected to
act with diligence to assert any grievances promptly so as to avoid incurring any substantial losses.
(c) Member Suits. Members may assert claims or actions for nonmonetary relief against the Bureau
or its subsidiaries, but each member shall exercise the rights and remedies provided in the bylaws
and rules. A member shall not make or bring any claim, suit, or proceeding against the Bureau or its
subsidiaries until after the member has exhausted all rights and remedies provided under the bylaws
and rules. Any member who brings an action against the Bureau or its subsidiaries or whose actions
cause action to be taken against the Bureau of its subsidiaries shall fully reimburse the Bureau and
its subsidiaries for all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) that the Bureau or
its subsidiaries incurs, unless the member's action is successful in establishing a right to the relief
sought.
(d) Indemnification. A member shall fully reimburse and indemnify the Bureau and its subsidiaries
for all costs and expenses the Bureau and its subsidiaries incurs, including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys' fees and all sums paid by way of settlement, judgment, or other disposition, if
the Bureau or its subsidiaries are named as a defendant, are required to respond to discovery, or are
otherwise required to participate in litigation, disputes, investigations, regulatory actions, regulatory
compliance, or any other proceedings relating to such member.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
280
News Media Management
(e) Enforcement. Any costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by the
Bureau or its subsidiaries to successfully enforce these provisions against any member shall be
reimbursed by the member of the Bureau.
(f) Existing legal rights. The provisions of this bylaw shall supplement whatever rights and
protections, including common law rights to contribution or indemnification, that the Bureau and its
subsidiaries may otherwise have by separate agreement or operation of law, but in no event shall
the Bureau and its subsidiaries be entitled to more than a full recovery in any claim for
reimbursement for a loss, cost or expense.
Article 3 - Dues and Service
3.1 Dues Obligation
Members of each class shall pay dues computed on an annual basis as well as the cost of the
services each member receives on the basis hereinafter specified in this Article.
3.2 Dues by Classification
(a) Dues for each class of members shall be set by the Board of Directors, subject to the following
provisions:
(1) Advertisers
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
281
News Media Management
Separate annual dues may be set for National and Regional Advertiser members.
(2) Advertising Agencies
Annual dues for Advertising Agency members, including media buying services, shall be based either
on the total print media billings during the preceding calendar year, or an estimate of total print
media billings in the year to which dues billings apply, at the option of the member.
(3) Publishers
Annual dues for publishers shall be payable quarterly in advance, with the exception of dues of
newspapers audited every other year, in which case the dues shall be payable semi-annually in
advance, based on total distribution as shown in the latest released regular Publisher's Statement.
(4) Newspapers Audited Every Other Year
The yearly dues of newspapers audited every other year shall be one-half of the yearly dues for
newspapers audited every year.
(5) Weekly Newspaper Group Audit Plan
The yearly dues of urban weekly newspaper members of a group audit plan shall be one-half of the
yearly dues for weekly newspapers audited every year. Yearly dues of nonurban newspaper
members of a group audit plan shall be one-quarter of the yearly dues for weekly newspapers
audited every year.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
282
News Media Management
(6) Associate Members
The annual dues of Associate Members may be set at different amounts, depending upon the nature
of the activities of such members.
(b) A schedule of dues shall be on file at the offices of the Audit Bureau.
3.3 Report Service and Audit Costs
(a) Standard Report Service. Members shall receive reports and services, as follows:
(1) Advertiser, Advertising Agency and Associate Members shall be entitled to receive service
in accord with the schedule on file at the office of the Bureau.
(2) Publisher Members shall receive report service provided for in B 4.10 of the rules.
(3) Newspaper Supplements.
Publications qualifying for associate membership as newspaper supplements shall receive semi-
annual Newspaper Supplement Statements which shall report only a summary of the average total
paid circulation and the average unpaid distribution of member newspapers of the Bureau with
which the supplement is distributed and as reported in the distributing newspapers' Publisher's
Statements. The records of newspaper supplement associate members shall be subject to audit at
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
283
News Media Management
any time and to the extent determined necessary by the Bureau's management or the Board of
Directors.
(4) Consolidated Newspaper Groups for which consolidated newspaper statements are issued
under C 6.2/C 106.2, shall receive the same service as that of publisher members under B 4.10.
(b) Additional Report Services. In addition to the annual dues paid, each member of the Bureau
may purchase reports and services at rates that may be established by the Bureau from time to
time.A schedule of the cost of reports and services shall be on file at the office of the Bureau.
(c) Audits. In addition to annual dues, each publisher member shall pay the cost of the audit and
such other costs as may be required by the rules and standards of the Bureau. The hourly rates to be
used in computing the costs of audits to publishers shall be established by the Bureau from time to
time. An amount comparable to the cost of the last audit, based on the hourly field and house
auditing rates in effect at the time of billing, shall be payable in advance, this amount to be applied
against the cost of the next audit. For purposes of this payment, all publication members other than
weekly newspapers audited every other year and weekly newspapers participating in a group audit
plan shall be billed quarterly for advance audit cost deposits. Weekly newspapers audited every
other year shall be billed semi-annually for advance audit cost deposits. Individual newspaper
members of weekly newspaper group audit plans shall be billed semi-annually for advance audit cost
deposits until they have been billed four times subsequent to the date of the most recently released
audit. Such billings will be discontinued until the release of their next audit. Any difference between
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
284
News Media Management
the amount paid and the actual cost of the audit will be adjusted after the audit is released and
whenever a final audit is made following a resignation under Bylaws Article 9. Any direct auditing
cost paid by the resigning member but not actually incurred in such final audit will be refunded to
such resigning member, provided all other charges and dues have been paid to the Bureau.
3.4 International Publications
Publications outside the United States and Canada shall pay the extra cost involved over the amount
of dues applicable to auditing service, prorated among the publications in the respective localities.
3.5 Publications Indebted to ABC
No Publisher's Statement shall be released or audit made of a publication delinquent in dues or
otherwise indebted to the Bureau.
3.6 Adjustment of Dues
When, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, the regular dues from the members for any fiscal
period are in excess of, or less than, the amount necessary for the operation of the Bureau, exclusive
of the cost of services and audits, the Board of Directors may, for the succeeding fiscal period, revise
the schedule of dues to meet more nearly the actual cost of the operation of the Bureau, taking into
account the excess or deficiency, as the case may be, of dues previously paid.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
285
News Media Management
3.7 Ownership of Copyright and Indemnification
(a) The members agree that title to all data which the members supply to the Audit Bureau of
Circulations is assigned to and becomes the property of ABC. The Bureau shall obtain and retain
ownership of its copyright and its copyrighted materials in whatever form disseminated, or from
whatever source the copyrighted data was originally acquired.
(b) Any member furnishing circulation and other data to ABC, as is periodically required under the
terms of being a member, or, to the Bureau's Data Bank, or any member being furnished, supplied or
sold, with or without compensation, any data from the Bureau's Data Bank, is subject to the following
provisions:
(1) ABC obtains legal title to all data supplied by members by an automatic assignment of title to the
data from each member to ABC. ABC shall retain legal title to all data furnished to members.
(2) Members are granted the non-exclusive legal right to use any data or other publication protected
or owned by ABC only in accordance with the terms set forth specifically in the Publicity Rules and
only in accordance with all other bylaws, rules and policies. ABC shall retain the exclusive copyright
to such data. The Publisher's Statements, Audit Reports and any report furnished to a member or
members that is published by ABC incorporating data from any source shall bear at least the first
sentence of the following inscription:
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
286
News Media Management
Copyright, Year (of publication) Audit Bureau of Circulations. All rights reserved. No part of this
report, whether in written form or on magnetic tape or transmitted electronically, may be
reproduced, used or transmitted in any form or by any means, without express written permission of
the publisher, Audit Bureau of Circulations, 900 North Meacham Road, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173-
4968.
(3) Members either supplying or receiving data agree to indemnify ABC against all loss, liability,
damage and expense arising out of any claim of inaccuracy or error in such information, including
but not limited to a claim by any other member reported in any form or by any other user of data
from the ABC Data Bank.
Article 4 - Board of Directors
4.1 Responsibility, Vacancies
The control and management of the Bureau shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of 36
members who shall be individuals employed by and actively engaged in the operations of a member.
These directors shall serve without salary and shall be elected for a term of two years and until the
election and qualification of their successors. Any vacancy occurring may be filled by a majority vote
of the directors present at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors. The director so
elected or chosen to fill the vacancy shall serve until the next annual meeting of the Bureau. At such
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
287
News Media Management
annual meeting the unexpired term, if any, of the vacant directorship shall be filled in accordance
with the provisions of Bylaw 4.3.
4.2 Membership Representation
For carrying out the objects of the Bureau, the different classes of voting members will be divided
into the following divisions:
Advertiser Division; Advertising Agency Division; Newspaper Publisher Division; Magazine Publisher
Division; Farm Publication Publisher Division; and Business Publication Publisher Division
The Board of Directors shall consist of representatives from each division as follows:
Advertiser & Advertising Agency Divisions: 19 members
Advertiser Division — at least eight members.
Advertising Agency Division — at least seven members.
There shall be a combined total of sixteen U.S. Advertiser and Advertising Agency member
representatives and three Canadian Advertiser and/or Canadian Advertising Agency member
representatives on the ABC Board of Directors.
Publisher Divisions: 17 members
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
288
News Media Management
Newspaper Publisher Division — eight members.
Magazine Publisher Division — five U.S. members.
Farm Publication Publisher Division — one U.S. member.
Business Publication Publisher Division — two U.S. members.
Magazine Publisher Division, Farm Publication Publisher Division, and Business Publication
Publisher Division, jointly — one member identified as the Canadian Periodical Publisher
Director (who shall be a Canadian member of one of these three divisions).
For the purpose of choosing the eight newspaper directors to the Board of Directors, the following
classes of newspaper membership shall exist:
Class 1 — All Newspapers published in Canada.
Class 2 — Daily Newspapers at-large published in the U.S.
Class 3 — Daily Newspapers at-large published in the U.S.
Class 4 — Daily Newspapers having 250,000 or more net paid circulation published in the U.S.
Class 5 — Daily Newspapers having from 100,000 to 250,000 net paid circulation published in
the U.S.
Class 6 — Daily Newspapers having from 25,000 to 100,000 net paid circulation published in
the U.S.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
289
News Media Management
Class 7 — Daily Newspapers having less than 25,000 net paid circulation published in the U.S.
Class 8 — All Weekly Newspapers excluding newspapers published in Canada (newspapers
published less than four times a week).
One director shall be from each of the above classes. Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 directorship positions expire
on even years; while class 5, 6, 7 and 8 directorship positions expire on odd years.
4.3 Nomination and Election
(a) Nominations Generally. At or prior to the annual meeting, the members shall meet, and voting
members shall nominate and elect candidates to succeed the directors described in Bylaw 4.2 whose
respective terms will expire.
(1) All nominations shall be made by the members of the respective divisions or special nomination
groups in either one of the following ways:
(a) In writing addressed to the secretary at Bureau headquarters and received not later than 60 days
prior to the opening session of the annual meeting, stipulating the name of the nominee, the
directorship for which the nomination is made, and bearing the signatures of the nominator and a
seconder, both eligible to vote at the group or divisional meeting at which the vote on the
nomination shall be taken.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
290
News Media Management
The secretary shall notify all members eligible to vote at each divisional meeting in the notice of the
annual meeting to be sent to said members as hereinafter required by Bylaw 6.1 of the name of
each nominee so nominated, along with biographical data of each nominee.
(b) From the floor of the divisional or group meeting from members of the respective division or
special nomination group present in person or by proxy and who are eligible to vote. All nominations
shall stipulate the directorship for which the nomination is made.
(2) All of the members of each respective membership division or group present in person or by
proxy and eligible to vote, shall be eligible to nominate and vote on the election of all of the directors
to be elected to represent their respective division or group, except:
(b) Exceptions.
(1) Class 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 Newspaper Publisher Directors constitute separate nominating
groups within the Newspaper Division, and shall be eligible to nominate and to vote on the
nomination of the directors representing their respective class.
(2) Weekly Newspaper Director. Only weekly Newspaper Publisher members (Class 8), who shall
constitute a separate nominating group within the Newspaper Division, shall be eligible to nominate
and vote on the nomination of the Weekly Newspaper Publisher director. Weekly Newspaper
Publisher members shall not be eligible to nominate or to vote on nominations of the other directors
representing the Newspaper Publisher Division.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
291
News Media Management
(3) Canadian Advertiser, Advertising Agency, and Newspaper Publisher Directors. Only the
Canadian members of the Advertiser, Advertising Agency and Newspaper Publisher Divisions,
respectively, who shall constitute separate nominating groups within each of their respective
divisions, shall be eligible to nominate and vote on the nomination of the Canadian directors
representing their respective divisions. Canadian Advertiser, Advertising Agency and Newspaper
Publisher members shall not be eligible to nominate or vote on the nomination of the other directors
representing their respective divisions.
(4) Canadian Periodical Publisher Director. Only the Canadian members of the Magazine
Publisher Division, Farm Publication Publisher Division and Business Publication Publisher Division,
who shall collectively constitute a separate nominating group, shall be eligible to nominate and vote
on the nomination of the Canadian director to represent those divisions jointly who shall be referred
to as the Canadian Periodical Publisher director. The Canadian members of the Magazine Publisher
Division, Farm Publication Publisher Division and Business Publication Publisher Division shall not be
eligible to nominate or vote on the nomination of any other directors.
(c) Designated Election. Each director's position to be elected shall be identified by the secretary
as a particular directorship. Each nomination made by the membership shall indicate the
directorship for which the nomination is placed. Elections for each directorship shall be held between
only those candidates nominated for the particular directorship.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
292
News Media Management
(d) Election Standard. The candidate or candidates nominated as hereinabove provided receiving
the highest number of votes from the members eligible to vote, shall be declared the elected
representative of each respective division or separate nominating group.
4.4 Powers
The Board of Directors shall have the power to make, publish and enforce such rules and standards
as they may deem necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Bureau. Such rules and
standards shall be in full force and effect until repealed, modified, altered or amended by the Board
of Directors. Any such rule or standard may also be repealed, modified, altered or amended by a
majority of the members present in person or by proxy, by written ballot, at any regular meeting of
the members of the Audit Bureau of Circulations or at any special meeting called for that purpose,
provided that the proposed repeal, modification, alteration or amendment is set forth in the notice of
the meeting, sent to all members as required by Bylaws 6.1 and 6.7.
4.5 Meetings, Quorum, Attendance
The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately following the adjournment of
the annual meeting of the members. Regular and special meetings of the board shall be held upon
the call of the chairman of the board or of any five members of the Board of Directors. Ten days
notice of the time and place shall be given in writing by the secretary to all directors of the holding
of any board meeting. A majority of all members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Any director
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
293
News Media Management
who shall fail to attend at least two meetings during any 12-month period following election to the
board shall be dropped from membership on the board by board action unless the director petitions
the board for an exception to the application of this bylaw and such petition for an exception is
approved by the board. Any director who shall cease to be employed by and actively engaged in the
operations of a member, shall be dropped from membership on the board by board action. Directors'
meetings, either regular or special, may be held within or without the State of Illinois.
4.6 Committees
The Board of Directors shall create such committees as may be necessary for carrying on the work
and accomplishing the objects of the bureau, the members of such committees and chair thereof to
be appointed by the chair of the board subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. The
members of any special investigation committee, as referred to in Bylaw 4.7, shall be appointed and
the chair thereof designated by the chair of the board
4.7 Special Investigation
(a) When and as a special investigation of the circulation covered by a Publisher's Statement or an
Audit Report is requested by a member or when the managing director is of the opinion that a
special investigation of the circulation covered by a Publisher's Statement or Audit Report is
advisable or necessary, then and in either of such events it shall be the duty of the managing
director to advise the chair of the board that such request has been made or that such special
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
294
News Media Management
investigation is advisable or necessary. The chair of the board shall forthwith appoint a committee to
be designated as a special investigation committee consisting of three members. The chair of the
committee shall be a member of the Board of Directors and the other two may be selected from
either the Board of Directors or from the membership outside the Board of Directors. It shall be the
duty of such committee to consult with and advise the managing director as to whether or not in any
particular case a special investigation shall be made and to fix and determine the terms and
conditions under which it shall be made.
(b) Each publication which requests an investigation shall make an advance deposit against the cost
of the special investigation, in the amount determined by the special investigation committee.
(c) The direct and indirect costs of the special investigation shall be allocated as follows:
(1) If the deductions made are less than 1% of the publication(s) on which the investigation is being
requested, the publication(s) that requested the investigation shall bear the entire cost.
(2) If the deductions made are more than 1% but less than 3% on this publication(s) on which the
investigation is being requested, the publication(s) that requested the investigation shall bear 50%
of the audit cost of the other publication(s) plus the entire cost of their own audit.
(3) If the deductions made are 3% or more on the publication(s) on which the investigation is being
requested and 3% or more on the publication(s) that made the request, each publication will be
charged for the audit hours required on the investigation of their respective publication(s).
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
295
News Media Management
(4) If the deductions made are 3% or more on the publication(s) on which the investigation is being
requested and less than 1% on the publication(s) that made the request, the publication(s) on which
the investigation was first requested shall bear the entire cost.
(5) If the deductions made are 3% or more on the publication(s) on which the investigation is being
requested and between 1% and 3% on the publication(s) that made the request, the publication(s)
on which the investigation was first requested shall bear 50% of the audit cost of the other
publication(s) plus the entire cost of their own audit.
(d) No publicity shall be given to a special investigation either by the publication(s) being
investigated or the Bureau until the special investigation is completed and the results issued either
in the form of an Audit Report and/or Publisher's Statement at which time the provisions of Chapter
A, Publicity Rules shall apply.
(e) Upon completion of the special investigation, the managing director shall make a report thereon
to the Board of Directors.
4.8 Indemnification
(a) The Bureau shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Bureau) by reason of
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
296
News Media Management
the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Bureau, or who is or
was serving at the request of the Bureau as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Bureau,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner
reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Bureau, and, with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe the subject
conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create
a presumption that a person did not act in good faith and in a manner which reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Bureau, and with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the subject conduct was unlawful.
(b) The Bureau shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Bureau to
procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Bureau, or is or was serving at the request of the Bureau as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another Bureau, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if such person acted in good faith
and in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Bureau,
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
297
News Media Management
and except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person has been adjudged to have been liable for negligence or misconduct in the
performance of duty to the Bureau, unless, and only to the extent that the court in which such action
or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in
view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity
for such expenses as the court shall deem proper.
(c) To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Bureau has been successful, on
the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Bylaw 4.8(a)
and (b), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.
(d) Any indemnification under Bylaw 4.8(a) and (b) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the
Bureau only as authorized in the specific case, upon a determination that indemnification of the
director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in Bylaw 4.8(a) and (b). Such determination shall be made:
a) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not
parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or; b) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if
obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a
written opinion.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
298
News Media Management
(e) Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the
Bureau in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, as authorized by the
Board of Directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director,
officer, employee or agent to repay such amount, unless it shall ultimately be determined that such
person is entitled to be indemnified by the Bureau as authorized by this Bylaw 4.8. Such expenses
(including attorney's fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents
may be so paid on such terms and conditions, if any, that the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted under the other
sections of this Bylaw 4.8 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any Bylaw, agreement, vote of
disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in such person's official capacity and as to
action in another capacity while holding such office.
(g) The Bureau shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Bureau, or who is or was serving at the
request of the Bureau as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Bureau, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred in
any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the Bureau would
have the power to indemnify against such liability under the provisions of this Bylaw 4.8.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
299
News Media Management
(h) If the Bureau has paid indemnity or has advanced expenses to a director, officer, employee or
agent, the Bureau shall report the indemnification or advance in writing to the Board of Directors
with or before the notice of the next Board of Directors' meeting.
Article 5 - Officers
5.1 Board Officers
(a) The officers of the Bureau shall consist of a chair of the board, four vice chairs (who may at the
option of the board be designated first, second, third and fourth vice chair respectively), a secretary
and a treasurer. One of the vice chairs shall be a representative of a publisher division. The other
three vice chairs shall be representatives of either the advertiser division or advertising agency
division. These officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors from the members of the Board of
Directors and shall hold office for a period of one year and until the election and qualification of their
successors.
(b) No person shall be elected chair of the board who is not employed by or actively engaged in the
operation of an advertiser or advertising agency member. The chair shall not serve for more than
two consecutive terms.
(c) The Board of Directors shall elect a president who shall serve as chief executive and managing
director of the Bureau; and also, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, one or more vice
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
300
News Media Management
presidents whose function shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The president and vice
presidents shall not be members of the Board of Directors. The president shall be responsible to the
Board of Directors. The election of the president and the vice presidents, if any, shall be for a term of
not more than 3 years or such shorter term as may be fixed for a nonprofit corporation by the laws
of the State of Illinois from time to time in effect.
(d) The Board of Directors shall elect the President and Managing Director and any salaried officers
and determine the term for which the individuals are elected.
5.2 Chair of the Board
(a) The chair of the board shall be the presiding officer at all meetings of the Bureau and of the
Board of Directors. The chair shall appoint the members of such committees, designating the chairs
thereof, as may be created by the Board of Directors for carrying on the work and accomplishing the
objects of the Bureau, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, and shall also be an ex
officio member without vote, of all committees. The chair of the board shall also have the
responsibility for calling regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors.
(b) In the absence or incapacity of the chair of the board, the vice chairs, in their successive order,
shall perform the chairman's duties, and shall also perform such other special duties as may from
time to time be delegated to them by the Board of Directors.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
301
News Media Management
5.3 Secretary
The secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Bureau and of the Board of Directors and of
any of the committees having authority of the Board of Directors.
5.4 Treasurer
The treasurer shall supervise the accounts of the Bureau, receive all monies, pay bills when properly
approved and preserve vouchers for all payments. The treasurer shall render a report at the annual
meeting of the Bureau and such other reports as may be required from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
5.5 President and Managing Director
(a) The president in the capacity of managing director, and hereinafter referred to in this section and
in the rules as the ''managing director," shall, subject only to the general supervision of the Board of
Directors, be charged with the responsibility for directing all operations of the Bureau required for
carrying on the work and accomplishing the objects of the Bureau as authorized by the Board of
Directors. He/she may, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, appoint and designate two
assistant managing directors and define their duties and fix their compensation.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
302
News Media Management
(b) It shall be the duty and responsibility of the managing director to interpret and enforce the rules
and standards fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors for the members of the Bureau, to
investigate charges or accusations against members under Article 7 of the bylaws, and to conduct
the special investigations and make reports and recommendations thereon as provided in Bylaw 6.7.
He/she shall make all necessary contracts on behalf of the Bureau subject to the approval of the
Board of Directors.
(c) He/she shall have the authority to employ, discharge, and fix the compensation of such
employees as may be reasonably required for carrying on the general operations of the Bureau.
He/she may appoint and employ such assistants under such designations as he may deem advisable
and fix their compensation. He/she shall attend all regular and special meetings of the Board of
Directors, and make a report annually to the Board of Directors, or more frequently if required by
them, setting forth the progress and results of the operations under his charge, together with
suggestions tending to improve the work of the Bureau.
(d) On behalf of the secretary and under his/her supervision the managing director shall keep and
maintain at the registered office of the Bureau a record giving the names and addresses of the
members entitled to vote and in the absence of the secretary, the managing director, the assistant
managing director, or such individual on his staff as may be designated by him, shall perform the
duties of acting secretary at regular or special meetings of the Board of Directors or of the
membership, or at such other times as may be required for carrying on the work of the Bureau.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
303
News Media Management
(e) The managing director shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may require
and he shall be responsible to the Board of Directors for all matters that may be necessary for the
proper operation of the Bureau.
5.6 Bonding Officers or Employees
Such officers or employees as may be designated by the Board of Directors may be bonded for such
sums as may be determined by the Board of Directors, the premiums on such bonds to be paid by
the Bureau.
5.7 Removal from Office
Any officer may be removed from office by affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of
the Board of Directors whenever in their judgment the best interests of the corporation will be
served thereby. The removal of an officer shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of
the officer so removed.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
304
News Media Management
Article 6 - Membership Meetings
6.1 Time and Place of Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the members of the Bureau shall be held at a time and place in the United
States or Canada as determined by the Board of Directors. Notice in writing shall be given by the
secretary to all members not less than 10 days nor more than 40 days prior to the date of such
meeting.
6.2 Votes, Proxies
(a) For purposes of voting at annual or special meetings of the members of the Bureau, members
may cast their vote or votes on each proposition, nomination or election brought before any sessions
of the meeting, or before the divisional meeting of the membership division to which the member is
designated. There shall be no cumulative voting. Each proposition or directorship to be elected may
receive only those votes to which the member would be entitled if only one proposition or
directorship were being voted upon.
(b) Each national advertiser member, each advertising agency member and each publisher member
(except provisional publisher members) shall have one vote, except newspaper publisher members
audited every other year and the individual newspapers participating in a weekly newspaper group
audit plan, who shall have a fractional vote of one-half; each regional advertiser member shall have
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
305
News Media Management
a fractional vote of one-half. Votes may be cast in person or by proxy. Associate members do not
have voting rights.
(c) A Credentials Committee shall be selected by the President and Managing Director and approved
by the Chair of the ABC Board of Directors. The Credentials Committee shall consist of at least five
members, one of whom shall be designated as chair, and three members shall constitute a quorum.
This committee will be charged with the duty of receiving and passing upon the credentials and
proxies of members for the annual meeting and shall report to the chair of the meeting the number
of votes present in person and by proxy eligible to vote at the annual meeting and the respective
divisional meetings. The committee may act upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members
present at any meeting duly called at which a quorum is present. Information contained in the
proxies will be deemed confidential until the convening of the respective meetings unless otherwise
authorized by the Board of Directors. When more than one individual is named in a proxy, the
decision of the individual first designated on the proxy and present at the meeting shall control.
(d) Proxies must be filed at the office of the managing director not later than the close of business
on the Friday of the week preceding the first day of the meeting at which they are to be voted. The
Credentials Committee shall recognize no proxies filed after that time.
(e) The proxy of a member must be executed by an officer of the corporation/member or publisher
or member representative of such member. Substitution of a recorded proxy signed by the original
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
306
News Media Management
proxy or one of them, if more than one, and identifying the original proxy, must be filed with the
managing director or his representative either at his office or at the place of the annual meeting not
later than noon on the first day of the meeting at which such proxy is to be voted.
(f) The proxy of each division or group member eligible to vote on the election of its group or
division's directors may be designated by the eligible member to be cast in favor of, or against, or
left blank without designation, one of the eligible nominees, whose names have been placed in
nomination for each directorship position to be elected in accordance with the bylaws.
(g) Any members in arrears for more than one quarter's dues or otherwise in arrears of
indebtedness to the Bureau, shall not have the right to vote in person or by proxy at any regular or
special meeting of the Bureau until such arrearage of dues or indebtedness is paid.
6.3 Quorum
At any meeting of the Bureau members holding one-tenth of the full votes entitled to be cast,
represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and a
majority vote shall decide all questions, unless otherwise provided by the bylaws.
6.4 Resolutions
All resolutions must be submitted in writing to the chair before being put to vote.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
307
News Media Management
6.5 Reports
At the annual meeting the chair of the board shall report upon the activities of the Bureau and the
treasurer shall submit a financial report.
6.6 Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Bureau may be called by the chair of the board or by the Board of Directors.
A special meeting may also be called by members having one-twentieth of the full votes entitled to
be cast at such meeting. Special meetings shall be held at a place to be designated by the Board of
Directors. Notice of the date and purpose of such meeting shall be sent by the secretary to all
members at least 10 days prior to the date of such meeting.
6.7 Procedures
Except as expressly provided herein, the procedure at all meetings of the Bureau, divisional
meetings and committee meetings, shall be governed by ''Robert's Rules of Order."
Article 7 - Offenses and Punishment
7.1 Vote Required for Probation, Sanctions, Censure, or Expulsion
The penalties of probation, sanction, censure, or expulsion may be imposed by the affirmative vote
of a majority of all members of the Board of Directors.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
308
News Media Management
7.2 Offenses
Should any member be found by the Board of Directors to have committed any of the following
offenses, the Board must consider whether to invoke any of the provisions of this Bylaw with regard
to the imposition of probation, sanctions, censure, or expulsion:
(a) failing to file Publisher's Statements as required by the rules;
(b) filing a false or fraudulent Publisher's Statement with the Bureau;
(c) refusing to allow an auditor of the Bureau full access at any time to all records as provided by the
bylaws;
(d) failing to pay dues or other indebtedness as required by the bylaws;
(e) violating any bylaw or rule of the Bureau;
(f) violating any agreement made with the Bureau or its subsidiaries;
(g) dishonest, fraudulent or dishonorable conduct in dealings with the Bureau or its subsidiaries;
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
309
News Media Management
(h) any act deemed by the Board of Directors to be detrimental to the interests or welfare of the
Bureau or its subsidiaries; such member may be censured, placed on probation or expelled by the
Board of Directors;
(i) release of an audit of a daily newspaper with circulation of 25,000 or more, or the release of two
consecutive audits of weekly newspapers, daily newspapers with less than 25,000 circulation and
periodicals wherein the auditor adjusted the Publisher's Statement claims of circulation by 5% or
more.
7.3 Charges by a Member
(a) Any member may file with the Board of Directors charges against any other member. Charges so
filed shall be in writing; they shall specify the offense with reasonable detail and shall be signed by
the person or persons making the charge or charges. A copy of such charge or charges shall be
served by the managing director upon the accused member, either personally or by leaving the
same at the member's business address as registered with the Bureau, during business hours or by
mailing it to said members at said registered business address.
(b) Said member shall have 10 days from the date of such service to answer the same or such
further time as the board in its discretion may deem proper. The answer shall be in writing, signed
by the accused member, and filed with the managing director. A copy of said letter shall be sent to
the member making the charges.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
310
News Media Management
(c) Upon the answers being filed, or if the accused shall refuse or neglect to make answer as
hereinbefore required, the board shall, at a regular or special meeting subsequent to the close of the
10-day period in which the answer is due, proceed to consider the charge or charges. Reasonable
notice of such meeting shall be sent to the accused member; who shall be entitled to be personally
present thereat and shall be permitted to examine and cross-examine all the witnesses produced
before the board and also to present such testimony defense or explanation as the member may
deem proper. After hearing all the witnesses and the member accused, if the member desires to be
heard, the board shall determine whether or not the accused member has committed the offense or
offenses charged. If it determines that the accused has committed the offense or offenses charged,
the board may censure, place on probation or expel such member.
7.4 Charges by the Managing Director
If at any time the managing director shall have reason to suspect that any member has committed
an offense, as defined in Bylaw 7.2, and no action has been taken by any member in accordance
with Bylaw 7.3, the managing director shall investigate whether or not there is just ground for such
suspicion. If there is just ground for such suspicion, the managing director is authorized to file with
the board a written accusation against the suspected member stating specifically the acts or
omissions charged. A copy of said accusation shall be served upon such member, who shall be
required to answer and a hearing shall be held as provided in Bylaw 7.3.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
311
News Media Management
7.5 Probation
When any member shall have been found by the Board of Directors to have committed an offense as
defined in Bylaw 7.2, and placed on probation, the term of probation shall be fixed by the Board of
Directors. All Publisher's Statements and Audit Reports released after the date such member is
placed on probation and during the term of probation shall contain in a prominent place thereon a
statement that said member is on probation. The statement and the form in which it is made is to be
determined by management and shall set forth the designated sections of the bylaws or rules
against which offense has been committed and the term for which probation has been fixed. During
any period of probation, any use of the ABC insigne must be accompanied by a statement that the
publication is on probation.
7.6 Sanctions
When any member shall have been found by the Board of Directors to have committed an offense,
as defined by Bylaw 7.2, the Board of Directors may impose any one or more of the following
sanctions:
(a) a notice of application of sanctions may be distributed to the entire membership, indicating the
sanctions imposed by the Board of Directors.
(b) circulation data may be excluded from the ABC FAS-FAX report for a period of one year.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
312
News Media Management
(c) the publication may be required to undergo six-month audits for a period of two years following
the imposition of sanctions.
(d) the first audit to be released following the imposition of sanctions may be accompanied by a
'resumption of report services' notice, and, if applicable, such notice may make reference to the
status of previously released Publisher's Statements and Audit Reports.
(e) a cash fine may be levied against the member.
(f) the member may be required to submit a ‘plan for corrective action,’ to be reviewed by ABC staff,
and approved by the Board of Directors.
7.7 Censure
When any member shall have been found by the Board of Directors to have committed an offense,
as defined by Bylaw 7.2, and is censured the following will occur:
(a) a notice of suspension of report services will be distributed to the entire membership, indicating
that the member is censured.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
313
News Media Management
(b) circulation data for a censured member will be excluded from the ABC FAS-FAX report for a
period of one year immediately following the vote to censure.
(c) all censured publications must undergo six-month audits for a period of two years following the
vote to censure.
(d) the first audit to be released following the vote to censure will be accompanied by a 'resumption
of report services' notice, and, if applicable, such notice may make reference to the status of
previously released Publisher's Statements and Audit Reports.
(e) a cash fine may be levied against the member.
(f) the member will be required to submit a ‘plan for corrective action,’ to be reviewed by ABC staff,
and approved by the Board of Directors.
7.8 Expulsion
When any member shall have been found by the Board of Directors to have committed an offense,
as defined in Bylaw 7.2, and expelled, a favorable vote of a majority of all members of the Board of
Directors shall be required to readmit an expelled member. An expelled member shall not be
readmitted to membership until all indebtedness to the Bureau existing at the time of the expulsion
is paid; a readmission fee, to be fixed by the Board of Directors in each case, shall be required.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
314
News Media Management
7.9 Appeal of Board Decisions
Any member who has been censured, placed on probation or expelled by the Board of Directors may
appeal the decision to the membership at the next meeting thereof. The decision of the Board of
Directors shall remain in full force and effect until reversed by the membership.
Article 8 - Appeals
8.1 Appeal to Board of Directors
Any member shall have the right to appeal to the Board of Directors any decision of the managing
director interpreting or enforcing the rules and standards fixed from time to time by the Board of
Directors for the members of the Bureau and the bylaws or from any action by the management
affecting such member.
8.2 Procedure
An appeal from a decision by the managing director or from any action by the management must be
filed in writing at the headquarters office of the Bureau not less than 10 days before the meeting of
the Board of Directors at which the appeal is to be considered and the facts in support of the appeal
must be embodied in the communication submitted by the member.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
315
News Media Management
Article 9 - Resignations
9.1 Publisher
A publisher member may tender resignation from the Bureau by giving notice of such intention to
the Bureau in writing prior to the end of the regular statement period covered by the class of
membership. Such resignation shall be accepted, provided all indebtedness to the Bureau is paid in
full; and an audit of all released Publisher's Statements subsequent to the last released Audit Report
is completed.
If a resigning member complies with all requirements stated above, or if a ''Termination Audit" has
not been started within three months following the end of the Publisher's Statement period covered
by the resignation for any reason other than those which may be caused by acts or omissions of the
resigning member, and if all charges and dues have been paid, the resignation shall automatically
take effect and all amounts previously paid by said resigning member as advance audit costs shall
be adjusted between the resigning member and the Bureau.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
316
News Media Management
If a publisher does not comply with the resignation requirements of this section, the Board of
Directors may waive compliance of the requirements or may, pursuant to the provisions of Article
7 of the bylaws, terminate the membership of the publication.
If an audit covering the publication's most recently released Publisher's Statement has not been
completed and an Audit Report released, all amounts previously paid by said resigning member as
dues and advance audit costs may be retained by the Bureau.
9.2 Non-Publisher
A member, other than a publication member, may resign by giving the Bureau notice, in writing, of
such intention. Such resignation shall be accepted provided dues for the quarter during which the
resignation is tendered and all other indebtedness to the Bureau are paid in full.
9.3 Release of Right to Assets
Termination of membership, for any cause whatsoever, shall operate as a release of all right or title
to or interest in the property and assets of the Bureau.
9.4 Reinstatement of Membership
A member, whose membership is terminated by the Board of Directors, or for any other reason, or
by resignation, may be reinstated upon such conditions as may be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
317
News Media Management
Article 10 - Exceptions
10.1 To Bylaws and Rules
The Board of Directors may at any time and from time to time grant a member an exception to the
rules, standards or bylaws of the Bureau. Such exceptions may be granted when in the opinion of the
Board it would be equitable considering the circumstances of the requesting member and other
members who are similarly situated or when, in the opinion of the Board, the circumstances peculiar
to the requesting member are such that enforcing the rule, standard or bylaw will not accomplish the
intended purpose or will work a substantial hardship on the requesting member.
10.2 Procedure
A request for an exception to the rules, standards or bylaws of the Bureau must be filed in writing by
the requesting member at the headquarters of the Bureau not less than 14 business days before the
meeting of the Board of Directors at which the request is to be considered, and shall include facts
and circumstances supporting the request. The request must be signed by the publisher or an
individual in executive management (e.g., president, CEO, etc.) other than the circulation executive.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
318
News Media Management
10.3 Vote Required
An affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the directors then present and voting on the resolution at the
Board meeting at which it is presented shall be required to grant any requested exception to the
bylaws, rules or standards of the corporation.
Article 11 - Amendments
11.1 Bylaws in Force
These bylaws shall be and remain in full force and effect unless repealed or amended by the Board
of Directors.
11.2 Change in Bylaws and Rules
No change in the bylaws or rules shall be adopted by the Board of Directors at the meeting at which
the change is first proposed, except upon unanimous consent of the members of the board present.
From time-to-time technical corrections or other edits to bylaws or rules may become necessary so
as to correct a printing error, amplify, clarify, or otherwise bring rules in conformance with current
industry terms and vernacular. In these cases ABC staff is authorized to amend Bureau rules
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
319
News Media Management
provided that the spirit or intent of the rule is not altered and the ABC Board of Directors is given 30
days notice of such changes.
Article 12 - Applicable Law
12.1 Choice of Law
The laws of the State of Illinois shall govern the validity, interpretation, construction and effect of
any and all bylaws and rules of the Bureau. Any litigation between the Bureau and its members shall
be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois.
12.2 Choice of Forum
Any and all claims or suits involving the Bureau shall be adjudicated in the Circuit Court of Cook
County, Illinois, or the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Each member
consents to and submits to the jurisdiction of these courts for this purpose.
12.3 Severability
If any term or provision of these bylaws is held to be void or unenforceable, such term or provision,
at the option of the Bureau, shall be deemed omitted and these bylaws with such terms or provision
omitted shall remain in full force and effect.
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
320
News Media Management
12.4 Compliance with Law
All members shall have exclusive responsibility to abide by all national, federal, state, provincial and
any other governing law. No Bureau bylaw, rule, policy, or practice shall be construed as requiring a
member to take any action that conflicts with any governing law. The Bureau shall have no
obligation to issue statements of circulation data or other data that do not comply with the
governing laws and the Bureau's bylaws, rules, policies and practices.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49
321
News Media Management
I have referred the following secondary sources have been used by me as dated
between 1st December, 2009 till 31st December, 2009 for the successful completion of
this project. They are as follows:
Websites
www.google.com
www.wikipedia.com
www.yahoo.com
___________________________ ___________________________
Abhilasha Yadav Dr. C V Hari Narayan
Roll No.49 (Professor-in-charge)
Miss Abhilasha Yadav Roll No. 49