Conde Nast Offers Metrics for Digital

Conde Nast to Issue Ten-Week Digital Edition Readership Metrics: While tablet editions clearly present a bright opportunity for magazine publishers and their advertisers alike, the value has been difficult to quantify. Now, Conde Nast will begin to offer its advertisers readership reports on a 10-week cycle, as first reported by Ad Age.

NA Ad Spending Forecast Up

North American advertising spend to increase in 2012: North American advertising spend is projected to increase 3.6% to $171 billion in 2012, said Jonathan Barnard, head of publications at ZenithOptimedia.

Encyclopedia Britannica Ends Print Version

Encyclopedia Britannica to Stop Printing Books: Encyclopedia Britannica will cease production of its iconic multi-volume book sets after 244 years. Britannica usually prints a new set of the tomes every two years, but 2010's 32-volume set will be its last. Instead, the company will focus solely on its digital encyclopedia and education tools.

NewPage Reports 2011 Results

http://investors.newpagecorp.com/index.php?s=43&item=211

Net sales for 2011 were $3,502 million compared to $3,596 million for 2010, a decrease of $94 million or 3%. Net sales were affected primarily by higher paper prices, more than offset by lower sales volume. Net income (loss) was $(524) million in 2011 compared to $(693) million in 2010.

Strong Support for UFS Price Increase

Suppliers accounting for more than 80% of North American uncoated freesheet (UFS) paper capacity have set $30-60/ton price increases mainly on offset rolls and envelope paper effective in April.

AF&PA Reports February P&W Shipments

According to the American Forest & Paper Association's February 2012 Printing-Writing Preliminary Shipments Report, total printing-writing paper shipments increased 2% in February compared to February 2011. Coated mechanical paper shipments increased the most out of the four grades, up 4% compared to last February.

2011 U.S. Ad Spending Up 0.8%

U.S. ad spending increased 0.8% in 2011: Advertising spending in the U.S. totaled $144.0 billion last year, an increase of 0.8% over the previous year, according to data released by Kantar Media. Ad spending declined in the fourth quarter, dipping 1.0%, Kantar said.

The Return of Collier's

Collier’s Attempts Comeback: Despite a perilous publishing environment, John Elduff purchased shuttered print property Collier’s Magazine at an auction two years ago. The magazine returned with a February/March 2012 edition.

Transcontinental Reports Q1 Results

Transcontinental Releases First Quarter Results: MONTREAL—March 13, 2012—Transcontinental’s Inc. revenues decreased by four percent in the first quarter, from $514.8 million to $495.9 million.

Flint Announces Price Increase

Flint Group Raises Prices on Coldset Black Inks: Flint Group North America has announced a price increase on black coldset inks, effective April 1, 2012, subject to existing contracts. Prices will increase by US$0.04 per pound (CAD$0.09 per kilo) for black coldset inks used to print newspapers, directories, books and web-coldset commercial applications.

CMOs See Rebound

CMOs: U.S. Economy on the Rebound: Chief marketing officers are overwhelmingly optimistic about the U.S. economy's outlook with the optimists outweighing the pessimists 8 to 1.

Fibrek/Resolute Forest Product Update

Fibrek wins appeal, Resolute extends its offer for Fibrek:

The Court of Québec has overturned on appeal the decision of the Bureau de décision et de révision (Québec) granting an order to cease trade the proposed private placement of 32,320,000 special warrants to purchase common shares of Fibrek Inc. to Mercer International Inc. further to an application filed by AbitibiBowater Inc.

Meanwhile, AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products, has announced that it has applied for leave to appeal the Court of Québec’s decision reversing the cease trade order on Fibrek Inc.’s private placement. Resolute has extended its offer date to March 19.

Catalyst Paper Reports Agreement

Catalyst Paper enters into Restructuring and Support Agreement:
Catalyst Paper Corporation has announced that the company has entered into an agreement with certain holders of its 11% senior secured notes due 2016 (Senior Secured Notes) and 7 3/8% senior notes due 2014 (Senior Notes) with respect to a plan of arrangement under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA).

Flint Group Lends Insight on Costs

Flint Group provides insight into expected raw material cost: “There is a misplaced view that raw material costs for the graphic art industry are coming down” says Jan Paul van der Velde, SVP Procurement of Flint Group. Jan Paul continues: “The reality is that, with the exception of Gum Rosin which dropped a bit in Q4 and Q1 but is now already on the way back up, hardly any materials dropped significantly in price.

Manroland Web Systems Buys UK Business

Manroland Web Systems acquires Manroland's UK web business: Possehl-owned Manroland Web Systems has acquired the Manroland GB web business out of administration.

Sappi NA Makes Leadership Changes

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/03_09_2012sappi_na_leadership.html

Sappi Fine Paper North America today announced several changes in responsibility amongst its leadership team. Jennifer Miller has been named Executive Vice President - Coated Business and Chief Sustainability Officer. Annette Luchene, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will assume responsibility for the company's Lean Six Sigma program. Deece Hannigan, formerly Vice President - Fiber Resources, has been named Vice President - Procurement and Fiber Resources.

NewPage Still Confident of Future

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20120308/CWS03/303080112/NewPage-officials-optimistic-about-future?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

Officials from NewPage on Wednesday said while the company has faced some tough decisions in the past few years, they believe the company will be a major part of Stevens Point area for years to come.

Stora Enso Taking Downtime

Stora Enso will take downtime at its Oulu coated woodfree mill in Finland in early April. Production will stop the 580,000 tonne/yr PM 6 from April 3-9, and on the 505,000 tonne/yr PM 7 on April 6-11.

Cenveo's Cadmus Closing

http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-cenveo-plant-closing-easton-20120228,0,5059048.story

The historic Cadmus Communications printing plant, in Wilson, PA will close in two months, putting about 200 people out of work and highlighting the ongoing difficulties in the commercial printing market. Cadmus is owned by the Stamford, Conn. printing company Cenveo.


 

The New Republic Sold

The New Republic Sold to Facebook Co-Founder:
The New Republic has been sold again. Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes has taken a majority stake in the almost 100-year-old magazine, reports the New York Times' Media Decoder.

Websites & Subscription Fees

Media websites increasingly charging for content:

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.'s Press+ released statistics highlighting growth in the efforts of media websites to begin charging for content. The average monthly price for digital-only users is $6.50 per month. For print subscribers, the average monthly price for digital access is $2.

Time Hires Bain, Two Exec.s Leaving

http://adage.com/print/233200

Time Inc., which publishes magazines from People to Sports Illustrated, has hired consultant Bain & Co. to help it find ways to grow. Two top executives are also leaving Time Inc.: Steve Sachs, the exec VP in charge of consumer marketing, and Chief Marketing Officer Stephanie George.

Still Working on Sale of St. Mary's

http://www.saultthisweek.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3492769

A sales process to find a new buyer or sell off assets for bankrupt St. Marys Paper is still underway although the final closing date to finalize the process passed by on Friday, March 2.

Alex Morrison, court appointed receiver for Ernst and Young said from Toronto Monday: “All I can tell you is we are still involved with the sales process..."

Appleton CEO on Cut Backs

http://www.daytondailynews.com/business/ceo-no-veto-power-for-appleton-union-1339478.html

The United Steelworkers can't "veto" a paper-supply agreement between Appleton and Domtar, a pact that will allow Appleton to cut 330 jobs from its West Carrollton mill, Appleton executives told industry analysts in a conference call Tuesday.

Quad/Graphics to Close Plant

Quad/Graphics to Close Its Plant in Jonesboro, AR: Quad/Graphics Inc. announced it will cease production at its Jonesboro, AR, facility in the fourth quarter 2012 as it continues to consolidate work onto its most efficient and competitive manufacturing platforms. The plant encompasses approximately 600,000 square feet and currently employs approximately 600 people.

Senator Critical of PRC

Regulators Criticized Over Review of USPS Network Cutbacks: Tom Carper, the Senator for Delaware and a leading voice in Congress pushing for major postal reforms, said that it was “unclear” why the Postal Regulatory Commission was expecting to take until this summer to produce its advisory opinion on USPS downsizing plans. Carper said if the Commission cannot produce even preliminary findings by May, it could find itself sidelined as USPS looks to begin plant closures as soon as possible.

Verso Reports 2011 & Q4 Results

http://www.versopaper.com/

Verso reported net sales for 2011 were up 7.3% to $1.7 billion versus $1.6 billion for 2010. Approximately $83 million in "special item" costs, such as costs related to the shutting down of three paper machines, debt refinancing and goodwill impairments, were tacked on to a pre-item loss of about $54 million. New product development costs were about $5 million for the year. In all, Verso recorded a net loss of $137 million. 

H2 11 Decline for Global Pulp Price

global pulp price plummets 20%: Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ) has said that global pulp price fell by around 20% in the second half of last year.

Magazines & Creative Use of Personalization

http://adage.com/print/233084

Trying to answer the digital era's increasing demands for personalization, magazines are pushing further into ads that address readers individually.

The March issue of Harper's Bazaar, for example, arrived at 300,000 subscribers' homes accompanied by a full-page flier greeting subscribers by name and urging them to visit specific Neiman Marcus stores within 50 miles.

January Commercial Printing Ships Fall

January US Commercial Printing Shipments Down -2.4% Compared to 2011 (Economics & Research Center):
The year started with a mild thud in January, with current dollar printing shipments at $6.4 billion, down -$160 million, or -2.4% compared to the prior year.

Top Magazine Industry Deals

The Top Magazine Industry Deals of 2011: While not a blockbuster year for magazine media M&A, 2011 did have its share of big deals, as well as some that clearly signaled where publishers were placing their bets on future revenues. Hearst’s purchase of the Hachette brands was the biggest strictly magazine deal of the year.

Hearst Completes Acqusition

Lagardere SCA’s Magazine Portfolio: Hearst Corp. finally completed its $919 million acquisition of Lagerdere SCA’s nearly 100 magazines outside the French market in December 2011 when it closed on its deal to buy the Hachette China operations. The full transaction, which had been undergoing regulatory approval in 15 different countries, was initiated in late 2010.

Bloomberg Businessweek’s Site Redesign

Behind Bloomberg Businessweek’s Site Redesign: After relaunching its print product two years ago, Bloomberg Businessweek recently debuted a redesigned website to reflect the changes readers are seeing in print.

J.C. Penney Invests in MSLO

16 Percent Stake In MSLO: After initiating a search for investors and potential partners with Blackstone Advisory Partners in May 2011, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced that retailer J.C. Penney invested $38.5 million in the multi-brand company, and will hold a 16.6% stake.

Bonnier Buys Hunting Expos

Hunting Expos: Bonnier Corporation, publisher of magazines including Field & Stream and Outdoor Life, purchased four hunting expos from Mequon, Wisconsin-based Target Communications for an undisclosed sum.

More Producers Announce UFS Price Increases

NewPage, Boise, Glatfelter and Finch have announced price increases for uncoated freesheet.  Domtar and International Paper had previously reported price increases affecting the same grade.  The changes, which vary from producer to producer, are characterized by an jump of $3.00/cwt for offset rolls and $1.50/cwt for sheets and return card and are effective with shipments on and after April 1.

Appleton Reports 2011 Results

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/03_06_2012appleton_earnings.html

Appleton's 2011 net sales of $857.3 million increased 0.9% compared to 2010 net sales of $849.9 million. Appleton reported 2011 operating income of $36.1 million compared to $37.0 million during 2010.

2011 Chinese Pulp Imports Up 26.2%, RCP 12%

Pulp imports for 2011 totaled some 14.340 million tonnes, a jump of +26.2% from the previous year.  2011 BSK imports rose +45.9%. China's total pulp imports fell -16.7% in January as compared to the same month last year and BSK pulp imports were down -21.8%. 

2011 RCP imports totaled around 27.280 million tonnes last year, up +12.0% from 2010. China's total recovered paper (RCP) imports declined -25% for January as compared to the same month in 2011.

Hearst Digital Media Picks Sprout

Hearst Digital Media taps Sprout to bolster mobile ads: Hearst Digital Media, a unit of Hearst Magazines, has tapped mobile brand-advertising platform Sprout, Laura Schooling, Hearst Digital Media's executive director of marketing services, confirmed.

Study: Newspaper Digital/Print Ads

Study: Newspapers lose $7 in print advertising for every $1 gained in digital revenue: Newspapers lose $7 in print advertising for every $1 they gain in digital advertising, according to a study conducted by the Pew Research Centers Project for Excellence in Journalism.

Quebecor, CBC Settle Dispute

Deal ends Quebecor, CBC dispute:
In an agreement announced Monday, the public broadcaster will now buy advertising in Quebecor media outlets, such as the Sun newspaper chain and the Journal de Montreal.

IP Announces Price Jump

International Paper has informed customers that it is increasing the price of Williamsburg offset rolls, Williamsburg Return Postcard rolls, Accent Opaque rolls and Springhill offset colors in rolls and sheets by $3.00/cwt, effective with April 2 shipments.  The cost of Williamsburg offset sheets, Williamsburg Retrurn Postcard sheets and Accent Opaque sheets will go up $1.50/cwt on the same date.

Domtar Increases UFS Price

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/03_05_2012domtar_ufs_price.html

Paperage is reporting a March 2 announcement by Domtar that it is increasing their price for uncoated freesheet offset rolls by $60 per ton, effective April 1.  There is no change to cutsize pricing

Changes at Sappi's Cloquet

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/224763/

For 113 years, there’s been a mill in Cloquet making pulp for use in paper mills — but not much longer. The mill isn’t going anywhere and still will be making paper, and it still will be turning trees into pulp. But the pulp made by Sappi Fine Paper in the future will be made into clothing and baby wipes.

Resolute’s Thunder Bay Mill Adding Workers

General Manager of Resolute’s Thunder Bay mill promises 300 jobs:
Doug Murray, general manager Resolute Forest Products in Thunder Bay, Ontario said he is expecting to hire at least 300 skilled trades-people in the coming years.

ALM Names President and CEO

ALM Hires Bill Carter As New President and CEO:
ALM has found its new president and CEO in Bill Carter, who replaces the departing William Pollak and who was most recently senior vice president of Thomson Reuters' Small Law Business Unit. Carter officially starts with the company today.

Comag Sold to Jim Pattison Group

How the Sale of Comag Might Impact the Newsstand Supply Chain: Comag Marketing Group, the national magazine distributor jointly owned by Hearst and Condé Nast, has been sold to the Jim Pattison Group.

Heidelberg Installs Speedmaster XL 105

Heidelberg Installs Speedmaster XL 105 in Its North American Print and Publishing Technology Center: Commercial and packaging printers looking to evaluate the very latest in sheetfed offset technology need look no further than Heidelberg USA’s North American Print and Packaging Technology Center.

Kodak Partners with Graphic Innovators

Kodak Partners with Graphic Innovators on Hybrid-Printing Solutions: ROCHESTER, NY—March 2, 2012—Kodak and Graphic Innovators are partnering to provide customers with new opportunities to expand their offerings using hybrid inkjet printing.

IP Completes Sale of Inverurie Mill

http://www.internationalpaper.com/US/EN/index.html

International Paper announced today that it has completed the sale of the major part of its former Inverurie Paper Mill site. The UK mill made 255,000 mtpy of uncoated (230M) and coated woodfree paper and was closed in 2010.

SF Wants to be First

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2012/03/sf-wants-do-away-paychecks

The San Francisco Treasurer’s Office, which wants printed paychecks to become a thing of the past, is introducing a new program encouraging businesses to move to completely electronic payroll systems. The city wants to be the first in the nation to eliminate printed paychecks.

 

Chairman of Forbes to Receive Prism Award

Steve Forbes to Receive Prism Award from New York University:
The Advisory Board of the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies Graphic Communications Management and Technology program has named Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media LLC, the winner of the 2012 Prism Award.

Ideal Printers and PrintMailers Merge

Ideal Printers and PrintMailers Merge to Become Seebridge Media: Ideal Printers and PrintMailers Inc., two of Houston’s largest mail and print service companies, announced a merger that will combine their complementary portfolio of cross-media production services into a new company named Seebridge Media.

Kodak Reports Proposed Sale of Gallery

Kodak Announces Proposed Sale of Gallery Photo Services Site to Shutterfly: Eastman Kodak has entered into an agreement with Shutterfly, a leading Internet-based social expression and personal publishing service, for the proposed sale of certain assets of its Kodak Gallery online photo services business for $23.8 million.

Catalyst Paper Reports 2011 Net Loss

http://www.catalystpaper.com/investors

Catalyst Paper posted a net loss of $974.0 million in 2011 due in large part to asset impairments on Canadian and Arizona-based operations. Other factors contributing to the loss were capital restructuring costs, a foreign exchange loss on the translation of U.S. dollar denominated debt and fire-related outages at the Snowflake and Powell River mills. 

Sales in 2011 of $1,261.5 million were up over sales of $1,228.6 million in 2010 as pricing momentum helped mitigate the effect of the strong Canadian dollar.

New York Magazine's New Title

New York Magazine Spins Off Annual Shelter Title:
New York magazine will debut its second stand-alone print spin-off this spring. A shelter title, New York Design Hunting’s launch will coincide with the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, running from May 19-22 at the Javits Center in New York City.

Disney Debuts DisneyBaby.com

Disney Baby combines e-commerce with social: In an effort to create a brand-oriented social commerce experience for expectant and new parents, The Walt Disney Company rolled out DisneyBaby.com in January.

'Bloomberg Businessweek' Relaunches Website

'Bloomberg Businessweek' relaunches website: Bloomberg Businessweek has relaunched its website, Businessweek.com. The site is designed to provide more real-time analysis of news, issues and trends, a Bloomberg Businessweek spokeswoman said.

B-to-b Print Revenue Down 2.6%

B-to-b print revenue falls 2.6% in November: B-to-b print advertising revenue declined 2.6% in November compared with November 2010, according to American Business Media's Business Information Network data. It marked the first time in 2011 that monthly ad revenue dropped.

Northstar Travel On the Block

Northstar Travel On the Block: Northstar Travel Media, the private equity-backed publisher of some of the industry’s best known travel-related brands, is up for sale and gauging interest from prospective buyers, several sources confirmed this week.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Reports Results

A Tough 2011 for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Publishing: 

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia reported a rough last quarter in 2011, closing out a tough financial year for the company’s publishing division. 

Cenveo Reports 2011 and Q4 Results

http://www.cenveo.com/news.htm

During the first quarter of 2012, Cenveo completed the previously announced sales of its Forms and Business Documents Group and its wide format paper business.

For the three months ended December 31, 2011, net sales were $486.5 million, as compared to $435.0 million for the same period in the previous year, an increase of 11.8%. For the year ended December 31, 2011, net sales were $1.9 billion, compared to $1.7 billion for the prior year, an increase of 11.7%. The increase in net sales was primarily due to the acquisition of MeadWestvaco Corporation's Envelope Product Group ("EPG"), and growth from direct envelope, custom label, content management, and specialty packaging product lines.

Quad, Transcontinental Close Sale

Quad, Transcontinental Report Closing Sale/Acquisition of Canadian Plants: Quad/Graphics Inc. announced that it has completed the previously announced sale of its Canadian operations to Transcontinental Inc.

Printing Industry Landscape Changing

Consolidation transforms the printing industry landscape:
While consolidation has been a growth and hang-on strategy for some in the printing industry, the space is undergoing such a seismic shift in its expanding arrays of services that the old metrics and measures no longer apply.

Progress at NewPage Port Hawkesbury Mill

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2012-02-28/article-2910939/NewPage-workers-ready-to-negotiate/1

Progress is continuing to be made in the sale of the NewPage Port Hawkesbury supercalendered paper mill, with the union preparing to go to the negotiating table with the prospective buyer.

Steve MacDougall, recording secretary for Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Local 972, confirmed Tuesday the union is finalizing dates for negotiations this month with Pacific West Commercial Corp., headed by Ron Stern.

 

Forbes Media Names Executives

Forbes Media promotes two executives: Meredith Kopit Levien has been promoted to chief revenue officer at Forbes Media, said Mike Perlis, president and CEO of Forbes Media. Mark Howard has also been promoted to SVP of digital advertising strategy.

Quad/Graphics Reports Q4 and 2011 Results

Quad/Graphics Reports Sales Declines, Net Loss: Quad’s net sales for the fourth quarter of 2011 were $1.31 billion, down from $1.39 billion for the same period in 2010. It recorded a net loss of $6.8 million for the quarter, compared to net earnings of $26.5 million in the four quarter of 2010. For the full-year 2011, net sales were $4.67 billion, compared to pro forma net sales of $4.76 billion for the previous year. Quad’s net loss of $46.6 million was an improvement over its net loss of $250 million for fiscal 2010.

Heidelberg Presents Linoprint

Heidelberg Presents Entire Digital Print Portfolio Under the Name Linoprint: At the forthcoming drupa - from May 3 to 16, 2012 in Düsseldorf - Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will be launching its complete range of digital print solutions for commercial and packaging printing under the name Heidelberg Linoprint.

RRD Sells $450 Million in Notes

New Issue-RR Donnelley sells $450 mln in notes:
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co on Tuesday sold $450 million of senior unsecured notes, said IFR, a Thomson Reuters service.

European Woodfree Shipments Fall

CEPIFINE has reported that European coated woodfree paper shipments declined -3.2% in January as compared to the same month last year.  Demand decreased -2.2% and exports fell -6.6%. Uncoated woodfree shipments for the month were down -4.2%, demand fell -0.5% and exports declined -25.4%.

NewPage Names Director, Mill Operations

http://www.dailypress.net/page/content.detail/id/535063/Leadership-changes-at-NewPage.html?nav=5003

NewPage announced Greg Maule has been promoted to senior director, Manufacturing Operations and will oversee all NewPage mill operations, effective immediately. Maule was previously the mill manager for the Escanaba operations. Roger Rouleau will replace Mr. Maule as mill manager, Escanaba.

IP to Increase Pulp Pricing

International Paper (IP) informed customers that it will increase prices on three key grades of market pulp by $20-35/tonne depending on grade and region, effective March 1 until further notice, industry contacts said today.

Global Ad Spending Expected to Rise

Global ad spending to accelerate this year: Global advertising expenditures are expected to grow by 4.9% this year, to $465.5 billion, following 3.8% growth in 2011, according to research and consulting company Strategy Analytics.

16 M Tablet Publications Downloaded

Adobe: 16 Million Tablet Publications Downloaded in Last 12 Months: Adobe has released some insights gleaned from data it's been collecting from many of the tablet publications that use its Digital Publishing Suite. 68% of readers worldwide pay for digital magazines and newspapers. Within that 68%, 15% opt for single-copy purchases, 26% buy subscriptions and 27% go for print/digital bundles.

Creel Secures Publishing Contract from CSPS

Creel Secures Exclusive Publishing Contract from The Christian Science Publishing Society: LAS VEGAS—Feb. 28, 2012—Creel Printing has been selected as the exclusive publishing partner for The Christian Science Publishing Society (CSPS). Creel will handle production, versioning and distribution of the CSPS’s entire print lineup—including the print and digital editions of The Christian Science Monitor.

European SC & Coated Mechanical Shipments Up in January

EURO-GRAPH reported shipments of Supercalendered paper shipments increased +8.7% in January as compared to the same month last year.  Demand rose +12.8%.  Exports declined -9.6%.  Coated mechanical paper shipments rose slightly by +0.7% in January.  Demand fell -5.9%.  Exports jumped +25.8%. 

Alpac Increases NBSK Price

Alberta-Pacific announced late today that its NBHK pulp price will increase $30-35/tonne in North America and Asia, effective March 1 until further notice.

Smart Papers Closes Ohio PM

http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/layoffs-continue-at-smart-papers-1333882.html

SMART Papers continued layoffs Friday as it winds down its paper mill business here.

In spite of the layoffs, executives of the city’s last running paper mill said they are still aggressively looking for buyers.

SMART this week shut its single paper machine down on Friday.

Standard Register Reports 2011 Revenue

Standard Register Reports a $648.1 Million Revenue for 2011: Standard Register today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2011. The Company reported revenue of $161.4 million and a net loss of $95.5 million, or $3.28 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2011.

Penton's Technology Media to Go Digital

Penton's technology media group to go all-digital: Penton Media's technology media group announced that it will cease printing its magazines, which will become entirely digital brands beginning in May.

FT Group Digital & Subscription Revenues Up

Digital, Subscription Revenues Ever More Important for FT Group:
Since 2007, the Financial Times Group has grown its digital business from a quarter of overall revenues to almost half, says Pearson in its 2011 financials. While traditional lines of business are flat or down, the group is placing a premium on digital and subscription revenues.

2012 Ad Spend to "Significantly" Improve

Report: US advertising spend to "significantly" improve in 2012: Total U.S. advertising spend is expected to increase 2.7% to $152.1 billion in 2012, according to a forecast conducted by research firm Strategy Analytics. A Strategy Analytics statement described the jump as "significant improvement."

St. Mary's Paper Workers "Prepare for Worst"

http://www.saultstar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3479978
The cone of silence has descended upon the court-appointed receiver's sales process, nobody is willing to confirm whether its new ownership, or liquidation, for the Sault Ste. Marie specialty paper manufacturer and silence speaks volumes to the union.

M-real Stops UWF Production at Gohrsmuhle Mill

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/02_24_2012mreal_gohrsmuhle_mill.html
M-real announced that it has decided to discontinue uncoated fine paper and "unprofitable" speciality paper production at its Gohrsmuhle mill in Germany.
As a result of the measure, M-real’s annual uncoated fine paper capacity will be reduced by approximately 120,000 tonnes and speciality paper capacity by 70,000 tonnes.

Domtar & Appleton Sign $3B Deal

Domtar signs $3B, 15-year supply deal with Appleton to provide uncoated base paper for thermal, carbonless, and other specialty papers: Appleton and Domtar Corporation today announced a tentative agreement in which Domtar would supply Appleton with most of the uncoated base paper the company needs to produce its thermal, carbonless, and other specialty paper products. T

Resolute Wins Cease Trade Decision

Resolute succeeds in obtaining cease trade decision:
AbitibiBowater Inc., doing business as Resolute Forest Products, has announced that the Bureau de décision et de révision (Québec) has accepted, with immediate effect, the company’s application to cease trade Fibrek Inc.‘s private placement of 32,320,000 special warrants to Mercer International Inc. Fibrek announced they will appeal the decision.

Quad/Graphics Awarded All Rite Aid Insert Work

Quad/Graphics Lands All of Rite Aid’s Print and Digital Insert Work: Quad/Graphics Inc. will become the exclusive printer of retail inserts for Rite Aid Corp. under a new multiyear agreement that also includes producing digital online editions of Rite Aid’s weekly newspaper circular promotions.

Asset International Launches New Title

Asset International to launch 'Philanthropy Management' magazine: Asset International, a b-to-b financial publisher, plans to launch a new quarterly print publication, Philanthropy Management, next month.