SPH Media finds inconsistencies in circulation figures after internal review
Yong Jun Yuan
SPH Media on Monday (Jan 9) said it has found inconsistencies in its circulation data, following a review of internal processes.
In response to media queries, SPH Media said examples of these inconsistencies included the inclusion of lapsed subscription contracts and destroyed copies, as well as the double counting of subscriptions.
In another instance, a project account took in additional funding over a period of time to purchase fictitious circulation. Certain circulation numbers were also arbitrarily derived.
The internal audit, initiated in March 2022, reviewed data between September 2020 and March 2022. The inconsistencies led to a discrepancy of 10 to 12 per cent, which amounted to about 85,000 to 95,000 daily average copies across all titles.
“As the organisation embarked on a new chapter, SPH Media initiated a review on internal processes in March 2022, including the reporting of circulation data,” an SPH Media spokesperson said.
“Some inconsistencies in the reporting of the data were discovered, and we have immediately taken steps to strengthen processes. The staff involved had been taken to task, or had left the organisation.”
In a statement by the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) on Monday, the ministry said it is aware of the inconsistencies in circulation data reporting. It has also asked SPH Media to share its full findings, and has received the company’s internal report on the matter.
“MCI will undertake our own review to determine if these inconsistencies in circulation data affect the decision to fund, and the amount the government committed to fund, SPH Media,” it said.
SPH Media, which took over Singapore Press Holdings’ media operations, was hived off as a company limited by guarantee in December 2021. The Business Times is an SPH Media publication.
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