Annual Survey of Service Industries: Newspaper Publishers
Detailed information for 1999
Status:
Active
Frequency:
Annual
Record number:
4710
The survey collects financial and operating data needed to produce statistics for the Canadian newspaper publishers industry.
Data release - August 20, 2002
Description
This survey collects the financial and operating data needed to produce statistics on the Newspaper Publishing industry in Canada. These data are aggregated with information from other sources to produce official estimates of national and provincial economic production in Canada. The estimates are used by government for national and regional programs and policy planning and by the private sector for industry performance measurement and market development.
Statistical activity
The survey is administered as part of the Unified Enterprise Survey program (UES). The UES program has been designed to integrate, gradually over time, the approximately 200 separate business surveys into a single master survey program. The UES aims at collecting more industry and product detail at the provincial level than was previously possible while avoiding overlap between different survey questionnaires. The redesigned business survey questionnaires have a consistent look, structure and content. The unified approach makes reporting easier for firms operating in different industries because they can provide similar information for each branch operation. This way they avoid having to respond to questionnaires that differ for each industry in terms of format, wording and even concepts.
This survey is part of the Service Industries Program. The survey data gathered are used to compile aggregate statistics for over thirty service industry groupings. Financial data, including revenue, expense and profit statistics are available for all of the surveys in the program. In addition, many compile and disseminate industry-specific information.
Reference period: Calendar year
Collection period: January to August
Subjects
- Business, consumer and property services
- Business performance and ownership
- Financial statements and performance
- Information and culture
Data sources and methodology
Target population
The target population consists of all statistical establishments (sometimes referred to as firms or units) classified as Newspaper Publishers according to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) during the reference year.
Instrument design
The survey questionnaires comprise financial characteristics such as sources of revenue, details of expenses and employment characteristics. Based on contacts with respondents and data users, some modifications have been incorporated to the questionnaires in order to reflect the nature of the industry surveyed. The changes were field tested to ensure that they were reasonable and sustainable.
Sampling
This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.
The frame is maintained by Statistics Canada's Business Register and is updated using administrative data and survey feedback.
Prior to the selection of a random sample, establishments are classified into homogeneous groups (i.e., groups with the same NAICS codes, same geography (province/territory). Quality requirements are targeted, and then each group is divided into sub-groups called strata: take-all, must-take, take-some, and take-none.
The take-all stratum represents the largest firms in terms of performance, based on revenue, in an industry. The must-take stratum comprises units selected on the basis of complex structure characteristics, e.g., multi-establishment, multi-legal, multi-NAICS, or multi-province enterprises. All units in the take-all and the must-take stratum are selected to the sample. Units in the take-some strata are subject to simple random sampling. Units below specified revenue thresholds are not sampled (these thresholds vary across provinces and industries). These records fall into the take-none stratum, where estimates are based solely on administrative data.
Data sources
Data collection for this reference period: July to October 2000
Responding to this survey is mandatory.
Data are collected directly from survey respondents and extracted from administrative files.
Data are collected through a mail-out/mail-back process, while providing respondents with the option of telephone or electronic filing methods.
Follow-up procedures are applied when a questionnaire has not been received after a pre-specified period of time.
View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s).
Error detection
Data are examined for inconsistencies and errors using automated edits coupled with analytical review. Where possible, data will be verified using alternate sources.
Imputation
Where information is missing, imputation is performed using a "nearest neighbour" procedure (donor imputation), using historical data where available, using averages based on responses from a set of similar establishments, or using administrative data as a proxy for reported data.
Estimation
As part of the estimation process, survey data are weighted and combined with administrative data to produce final industry estimates.
Quality evaluation
Prior to dissemination, combined survey results are analyzed for overall quality; in general, this includes a detailed review of individual responses (especially for the largest companies), an assessment of the general economic conditions portrayed by the data, historic trends, and comparisons with other data sources.
Disclosure control
Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.
Data accuracy
The portion of total industry revenue represented by completed and weighted questionnaires was 72% in 1999.
The sample of Newspaper Publishers represented 98% of the estimated industry revenues. The remainder of the estimate was derived from administrative data sources.
Since this survey was based on probability sampling the potential for error caused by sampling can be measured. A standard measure of sampling error is the coefficient of variation (CV). The qualities of CVs are rated as follows:
. Excellent 0.01% to 4.99%
. Very good 5.00% to 9.99%
. Good 10.00% to 14.99%
. Acceptable 15.00% to 24.99%
. Use with caution 25.00% to 34.99%
. Unreliable 35.00% or higher
The CVs for this survey for reference year 1999 ranged from "Very good" to "Excellent" for Revenue, Expenses and Wages & Salaries variables.
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