More Circulation Data Questioned at Newsday

The Audit Bureau of Circulations has raised questions about Newsday’s circulation numbers for portions of 1999, 2000 and 2001, saying it could no longer vouch for them because of poor record-keeping by the Long Island newspaper and by its independent home-delivery distributors.

ABC’s move adds about two years to the period previously identified by the parent of the New York paper, Tribune Co., which also owns the Los Angeles Times, as encompassing questionable circulation practices.

ABC auditors said there were problems verifying numbers because “minimal” publisher records and no third-party records were available before March 31, 2002.