Audit Bureau of Circulations
Encyclopedia
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 magazine
s, newspaper
s, and other publications produced by their members.
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.
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.
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 Arlington Heights, Illinois
, and additional offices in New York City
and Toronto
.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
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 magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
s, newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s, and other publications produced by their members.
ABC is a forum of the magazine and newspaper publishers, advertisers and advertising agencies, similar to BPA Worldwide
BPA Worldwide
BPA Worldwide audits the circulation of business-to-business and consumer magazines. It also provides audit services for newspapers, Web sites, events, email newsletters, digital magazines and other advertiser-supported media produced by its members. Membership comes from the media owners and...
. 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.
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.
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 Arlington Heights, Illinois
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Arlington Heights is a village in Cook and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. A suburb of Chicago, it lies about 25 miles northwest of the city's downtown. The population was 75,101 at the 2010 census....
, and additional offices in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Membership
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.See also
- Newspaper circulationNewspaper circulationA newspaper's circulation is the number of copies it distributes on an average day. Circulation 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 some newspapers are distributed without cost to the...
- Magazine circulation
- International Federation of Audit Bureaux of CirculationsInternational Federation of Audit Bureaux of CirculationsThe International Federation of Audit Bureaux of Circulations is an organisation founded in 1963 in Stockholm, Sweden.IFABC is a voluntary cooperative federation of industry-sponsored organizations established in nations throughout the world to verify and report facts about the circulations of...
- Audit Bureau of Circulations (UK)
- Audit Bureau of Circulations (India)Audit Bureau of Circulations (India)Audit Bureau of Circulations certifies and audits the circulations of major publications, including newspapers and magazines in India. “ABC” is a voluntary organization initiated in 1948 and is presently operating in different parts of the world...
- OJD MoroccoOJD MoroccoOJD Morocco is an audit bureau of circulations of the commercial print media in Morocco....