Advertisers have asked that magazine publisher Media24 pay back the full amount for adverts placed in titles that were found to have inflated circulation figures, the Weekender reported on Saturday.
Michelle Brook, media director at OMD Media Direction, is quoted in the report as saying that her company had requested ”full compensation” for adverts paid for in some titles as well as a discount on any advertising that had been booked for future use.
Seven titles were suspended by the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) earlier this week, including True Love, True Love Babe, inStyle, Fair Lady, Leef and Sarie, the Weekender said.
After ABC uncovered that figures had been inflated by nearly 50% in some titles, it ordered a full audit of all the publisher’s titles.
When asked how this would affect Media24’s image, Brook told the Weekender: ”They not only misrepresented the figures, but they have misled advertisers.” — Sapa