AF&PA April Statistics-Containerboard/Kraft/Paperboard

http://www.afandpa.org/media/news

Containerboard production dropped 1.5 percent over March 2013 but rose 4.2 percent over the same month last year.  The month-over-month average daily production increased 1.8 percent.  The containerboard operating rate for April 2013 gained 1.5 points from March 2013, from 92.8 percent to 94.3 percent.

Total Kraft paper shipments were 133 thousand tons, an increase of less than 1 percent compared to the prior month. Bleached Kraft paper shipments increased year-over-year 10.3 percent, but the 3.1 percent year-over-year decline in the larger category of Unbleached Kraft paper shipments was enough to bring overall Kraft paper shipments down 1.2 percent year-over-year. Total month-end inventory decreased 7.1 percent to 66.5 thousand tons this month compared to March 2013 month-end inventories.

Total boxboard production increased by 1.7 percent compared to April 2012 and increased 2 percent from last month. Unbleached Kraft Boxboard production decreased over the same month last year but increased compared to last month. Total Solid Bleached Boxboard & Liner production increased compared to April 2012 and increased compared to last month. The production of Recycled Boxboard increased compared to April 2012 but decreased when compared to last month.

Fortress Paper To Stop Dissolving Pulp Project

Fortress Paper to stop dissolving pulp project  Due to changing market conditions

Fortress Paper plans to halt its dissolving pulp conversion project of a pulp mill in Québec (Lebel-sur-Quévillon), due to changing market conditions and higher capital expenditure. "Due to changing economics and market conditions, there is no assurance that the FGC mill project will proceed to completion as previously planned," Fortress Paper said in the presentation of its first quarter results. A decision on the final strategic direction of the FGC project is expected early in the third quarter. Fortress Paper purchased the idle 300,000 tpy NBSK Lebel-sur-Quévillon pulp mill from Domtar in June 2012. The goal was to convert the facility into a 250,000 tpy dissolving pulp mill. Estimated capital and start-up costs were CAD222m, with the Quebec Government financing CAD132.4m, according to Fortress Paper. 

Norske Skog: New Long-Term Energy Contract

Norske Skog: New long-term energy contract for Saugbrugs: Norske Skog Saugbrugs AS has signed a long-term agreement with Statkraft for the supply of electricity for the paper mill in Halden.The new agreement with Statkraft secures an annual supply of 1.0 TWh up to 31 December 2020. The agreement shall enter into force on 1 May 2013. The new agreement ensures almost full energy coverage for Saugbrugs over the next few years.Norske Skogindustrier ASA has terminated its long-term group agreement from 1998 that applied to supply of energy in Southern Norway. Norske Skog Saugbrugs AS employs around 530 people. The mill has an annual production capacity of 530 000 tonnes of magazine paper (SC/super calendered), with Germany and the United States as the largest single markets.

Mohawk + DODOcase Launch DODOnotes

DODOcase Partners with Mohawk to Launch DODOnotes: The First iPhone Compatible Paper Notebook: Mohawk and DODOcase join forces and re-envision the relationship between paper and pixels. DODOcase today announced the launch of DODOnotes, an entirely new product category that for the first time re-envisions the notebook to include the iPhone. In partnership with Mohawk, North America’s largest privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers, DODOcase continues to take a unique approach to its product offerings by blending modern technology with traditional craftsmanship to meet practical modern needs. DODOnotes offers the classic DODOcase book-like exterior style and features a custom die-cut ‘nest’ on the cover with a colorful elastic strap to hold an iPhone in place.  Inside, the DODOnotes interior notebook features 30 tear-out pages of Mohawk Superfine paper.Completely made in the USA, the paper in DODOnotes interior notebook is manufactured in Mohawk’s New York state paper mills, where generations of papermakers have honed their craft since 1931, with the book-bound exterior and all assembly taking place in DODOcase’s San Francisco bookbindery using traditional craft techniques. A true collaboration, DODOnotes innovative design introduces an entirely new type of paper notebook.

Hearst ELLE Now Offering Google Glass Apps

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130516-913302.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Hearst Corporation today introduced the ELLE Glassware created exclusively for Google Glass at Google I/O 2013. Hearst is the first magazine media company to develop and launch Glassware, with ELLE as the first Hearst brand included in the device's initial gallery of services. The Glassware is now available to early users as part of the device's Explorer launch. The teams from Hearst Corporation, ELLE and Google worked together on this launch of the world's top fashion magazine as Glassware. The partnership is a result of Hearst's ongoing research and development efforts, many of which are focused on building new mobile experiences. The launch of the ELLE Glassware is seen as an example of how Hearst plans to deliver content across its diverse properties -- whether fresh, lifestyle perspectives from magazine brands, breaking news from Hearst newspapers and TV stations or essential business information from Hearst Business Media's financial, healthcare and automotive companies -- in new ways on both emerging and existing mobile devices.

http://www.digiday.com/publishers/why-hearst-wants-in-on-google-glass/

Why Hearst Wants in on Google Glass

Google Glass has already gotten a reputation as a geek-guy thing, but Hearst doesn’t think that’s going to be the case in the long run. The publisher is the first magazine to have a Google Glass app. Elle will join The New York Times, CNN and Mashable as the first publishers to build for the wearable computer. The gamble is that Google Glass will become a mainstream product, or at the very least, Hearst will learn important lessons about the future direction of mobile content consumption. “It’s early and it’s experimentation, but it’s in line with the overall approach to what Hearst is taking in mobile,” said Phil Wiser, Hearst’s CTO. “To understand where tech and product and consumers are going, you have to learn by doing, not researching. That’s where we are right now.”

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/devices/article/57277-google-glass-no-you-can-t-read-a-book-on-it.html

Google Glass: No, You Can’t Read A Book On It

No, it's not “Augmented Reality” (at least most of the time) and no it doesn’t record video of everything you see, nor can it be used to play games or run apps. But it—that would be Google Glass, Google’s much anticipated wearable computing headset—is still pretty cool. Along with a number of media and digital publishing vendors, PW was invited to participate in a hands-on demonstration of the new device organized by Layar, an augmented reality firm whose technology can be used to embed interactive services into print publications. Google Glass can take a photo or video, it can do a Google search, it can send and receive messages (text or e-mail, though for best results it should be connected to your cellphone like a blue-tooth though it can work by itself), it can call up maps and give directions (it shows a GPS map and talks to you) and it can be used with Google services like Google Hangouts, which allows the user, for instance, to do live video chats. As most know, it’s a wearable device that fits on your head like eyeware—which it is not. And while it accommodates eyeware—sort of, if you don’t mind looking a little cock-eyed—the current model works best if the user is not wearing glasses. Everything starts in a little screen situated just above your right eye, offering a small and odd but fairly easy-to-decipher home screen that sits suspended just out of the way of your general view. The device can be turned on by tilting your head upwards; it responds to voice commands (saying “OK Glass” will engage the device and show a menu of options) and a touchpad mounted on the side allows the user to scroll through photos, see the time and date, weather and a history of stuff you’ve already done on Google Glass. It also talks to the user (to give directions for instance) via a tiny speaker set near your ear.

The Economist Extends Print Contract

The Economist Extends Print Contract with Wyndeham:Wyndeham Group has continued to strengthen its market position by extending the print contract with The Economist for an additional three years and means that the title will continue to be produced by Wyndeham Peterborough until at least April 2017. The Economist has an ABC circulation of 210,386 copies and is printed weekly. Simon Maggs, Production Manager at The Economist Group, commented: “I’m very pleased to have been able to extend our contract with Wyndeham Group. The Economist demands high standards in print and production whilst achieving a very challenging distribution schedule. Our colleagues at Peterborough have an unrivalled understanding of our requirements and I expect they will continue to deliver to our high expectations.”

J.C.Penney Is Fighting For Survival

http://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2013/05/17/j-c-penney-ullmans-fight-for-survival-activists-can-not-help-him/?utm_campaign=forbestwittersf&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

J.C.Penney just reported 1Q13 sales and earnings. They were previewed in part on May 7, 2013. Now we know the facts – sales were lousy, they dropped 16.4% over the previous year’s horrible figures when sales dropped 20.1%. The company now has an annual revenue run rate of $12.5 billion, a drop of 36% since January 2012. A net loss of $348 Million ($1.58 a share) was reported in the first quarter, a cumulative loss of $1.3 Billion since Ron Johnson took over. Mike Ullman, who returned to save the company, has an urgent need to preserve cash. In the first quarter the company burned through $970 million in cash pursuing completion of some of the projects already underway such as the home store (to be opened June 6 in 505 stores) and home boutique shops like Michael Graves, Bodum and Design by Conran.  I believe the company was not far from declaring bankruptcy without the recent $1.75 Billion senior loan facility and the revolving credit line that was drawn down, There is about $531 Million left on the asset backed loan. It is Mike Ullman who is convincing investors, suppliers, and associates that his plan will bring the company back to a financially strong position. The need for a strong marketing program is evident. Ullman’s first strategic step to beef up marketing and promotions can be seen in recent ads that have a stronger promotional flavor and include coupons.   Promotional circulars available in some cities, like New York, communicate an urgent message to shop.  One thing I do not understand is why some large markets like Boston and Washington do not have these circulars inserted in their leading newspapers.  I assume that eventually they will.  

British Young People 'Prefer To Read On Screen'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-22540408

Young people are now much more likely to prefer to read on a computer screen rather than a printed book or magazine, according to a UK survey. The National Literary Trust studied almost 35,000 eight- to 16-year-olds. Its findings suggest a picture of young people who are now immersed in a screen-based culture. As well as social networking and browsing websites, the study indicates almost a third of youngsters read fiction on online devices. Screen-agers, The study suggests high levels of access to mobile phones, computers and tablet devices now mean that reading is an activity more likely to be on screen than on the printed page. Of those surveyed, 52% preferred to read on screen compared with 32% who preferred print, with the remainder having no opinion or preferring not to read at all. "Not only are children and young people more likely to read on electronic devices than they are to read paper-based materials but they also do it more often," said the study. Researchers found that 39% of the young people read every day on computers and screens, compared with 28% who read each day using printed materials. Technology is central to the lives of these youngsters - 97% reported having access to a computer and the internet at home, 77% said they had their own computer. National Literacy Trust director Jonathan Douglas said: "Our research confirms that technology is playing a central role in young people's literacy development and reading choice. "While we welcome the positive impact which technology has on bringing further reading opportunities to young people, it's crucial that reading in print is not cast aside."

Book Pubs Discuss Digital-First And Digital-Only

http://paidcontent.org/2013/05/17/when-can-a-book-be-digital-only-and-when-does-it-need-to-be-print-too/ Book publishers are increasingly experimenting with digital-first and digital-only initiatives, where they publish a book only as an ebook and then publish a print edition later, or never. It’s a good way to take a chance on unknown authors, but it also means that a book is not available in all the formats that a customer might want it. At the Book Industry Study Group’s Making Information Pay conference on Wednesday, publishers discussed print versus digital — “p. versus e.” — strategy.Rachel Chou, the chief marketing officer at Open Road Media, noted that the company only publishes between twelve and fifteen front-list (new) titles per year; everything else is back-list. Most of the titles are available only as ebooks, but Open Road makes some available through print-on-demand (POD), and will do short print runs if a book is really taking off. “There are certain books that really need to be in a [physical] bookstore,” she told moderator Phil Olila, chief content officer at Ingram Content Group. “They deserve that table up front, they have that reader that really wants to hand out a gift.” Open Road starts print runs at 500 copies, and the largest print run they have done is 15,000 copies. “If we’ve done a print run and we find that it’s really taking awhile to get through the inventory,” she said, “we can switch it back” to POD.

Group Launches Effort To Buy Tribune Co.

http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/blog/2013/05/group-launches-660m-crowdfunding.html

A nonprofit group called the Other 98% says it has launched a $660 million crowdfunding campaign to buy the Tribune Co., the corporate parent of the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune and several other daily newspapers.The group says the move is designed to keep the newspapers “out of the hands of Rupert Murdoch and the Koch brothers.” If the group’s name didn’t clue you in to the group’s political leanings, that line should. Charles and David Koch, owners of Wichita-based Koch Industries Inc., have been rumored to be interested in buying Tribune Co., though the company has repeatedly said such talk is pure speculation. Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. owns, among other things, Fox News, and he too has been rumored as a possible bidder. The Other 98% has launched its campaign on the crowdfunding site Indiegogo.com, and it says that if the efforts result in the purchase of Tribune that it would be run as a publicly owned nonprofit. As of late Thursday morning, it has raised $3,265 of its stated goal of $660 million. There has also been talk of what it could mean for the newsrooms at Tribune papers, given the Koch’s political advocacy. But Tribune Media Services columnist Cal Thomas wrote last week that a Koch purchase could not only revive the papers financially, but also win back some readership among more conservative-minded folks.