In 2021, AAM worked with publishers and buyers on AAM’s news media committees to revise the rules for digital reporting to better align with the promotions and offerings publishers provide their readers. Since we often receive questions about how digital editions are qualified and reported, we thought it would be helpful to give an overview of the basics.
Here we look at the types of digital editions reported, how these editions are sold as subscriptions and when digital editions are counted as circulation units.
Digital replica: A digital edition that is consistent in character and editorial content with the print edition and is typically delivered as a PDF or formatted for an e-reader. It may include additive or updated editorial content but needs to contain the ROP (run of press) advertising as scheduled in the print edition.
Digital nonreplica: A digital edition that is similar to the print edition but may contain different content and ads. Content accessed via a restricted access website is one example of digital nonreplica.
News media companies sell digital-only subscriptions or combine digital subscriptions with print. Here are a few examples:
Bundled print and digital subscription: Print and digital editions are sold together at the same frequency (e.g. print and digital editions offered seven days a week).
Hybrid print and digital subscription: Print and digital editions are sold together at different frequencies (e.g. a daily digital edition and a print edition delivered three days a week).
Paid digital only subscription: Digital content that the subscriber accesses through a password-protected website.
Depending on the subscription program, publishers have options for reporting digital replica and nonreplica editions. Here are a few ways print and digital editions are commonly counted:
For bundled and hybrid subscriptions:
For digital-only subscriptions:
For more information about digital news media reporting, visit AAM’s support center.