The Alliance for Audited Media (formerly the Audit Bureau of Circulations) has endorsed new U.S. and Canadian guidelines for magazines that drop print from their distribution.

According to a release from AAM, the guidelines specify that subscribers "must be told about options that should include receiving the digital subscription, converting to another print publication, or receiving a refund for the remainder of the subscription."

But this is a guideline, not exactly the same as a rule, noted AAM.

"If a magazine were to make the print to digital transition, it would be expected to follow these guidelines," noted Susan Kantor, a spokesperson for the auditor. "As far as the driver behind these guidelines, the board recognizes that the publishing market is changing quickly... the board wanted to be prepared to address these types of transitions, should they happen again in the future."