ZenithOptimedia Names CEO

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/179543/zenith-names-penski-us-ceo.html?print

Publicis Groupe's ZenithOptimedia has promoted Dave Penski to the post of U.S. CEO of Zenith, one of the two agencies under the ZO banner. The other is Optimedia.

Penski will continue to report to Tim Jones, North American CEO of ZenithOptimedia.
Previously, Penski, who has been with the agency for more than a decade, had been president of Zenith since 2009.

Congress Investigating Data Sellers

http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120726/DIRECT03/307269996&template=printart

A group of U.S. representatives has opened an investigation of companies that collect and sell marketing databases and sales contact lists.

On Wednesday, Reps. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Joe Barton (R-Texas) sent letters to Acxiom Corp., Epsilon, Equifax Inc., Experian, Harte-Hanks, Intelius Inc., Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO), Merkle Inc. and Meredith Corp., requesting such information as the sources of the data they collect; racial, ethnic or religious information collected; methods of data collection, such as social media or mobile usage; and consumer data access and opt-out methods. The letters requested information from 14 detailed and separate categories.

Time's People.com Names First Mobile Editor

http://www.minonline.com/print/news/People-com-Hires-Time-Inc-s-First-Fulltime-Mobile-Editor-Redesigns-Mobile-Site_20869.html

As mobile news editor, Orloff will focus on developing content as part of the mobile site's new "dayparting" strategy in which the content will be published based on how users are spending their time at different points in the day. Thus, the content will be optimized for morning commute, lunch-break, or planning an evening’s entertainment. The mobile site will include a new social-sharing tool to make it easier for users to share content by e-mail, SMS, Facebook and Twitter as well as integrated commenting across mobile, desktop and tablet devices.

Murdoch Quits as News International Director

Rupert Murdoch quits as News International director:
Rupert Murdoch quit News International's (NI) three major publishing houses - News Corp Investments, News International Group and Times Newspaper Holdings.
NI would not confirm details of the US "small subsidiary boards" from which he had resigned.
A spokesperson for the media giant said that Murdoch would remain committed to his role as chief executive of entertainment and reduce his duties to chairman of the publishing business when the conglomerate splits.

NS Government; Neither Port Hawk Owner Nor Taxpayers Will Pay More

http://thechronicleherald.mobi/business/119217-ns-addresses-rate-discount-for-mill

Taxpayers could be the ones footing the bill if more renewable energy has to be added to the electrical grid because of a deal to help restart a shuttered Cape Breton paper mill.

The province told the regulator Friday that neither the mill’s would-be owner, Pacific West Commercial Corp. of Vancouver, nor Nova Scotia Power customers would have to pay any such cost.

But the government didn’t say exactly who would foot the bill to ensure provincially mandated renewable energy targets are met.

“The government commits to ensuring that if the mill load does trigger an additional (renewable energy) obligation during the term of the proposed mechanism, and if this results in incremental costs, then the province guarantees that neither (Pacific West) nor other ratepayers will be required to pay these incremental costs,” deputy energy minister Murray Coolican said in a letter to the province’s Utility and Review Board.

Pacific West has asked the board for an expedited decision on the rate proposal because it wants to reopen the mill by Sept. 1.

Three More Pulp Producers Lower Price

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/07_25_2012domtar_bsk_pulp_price.html

Domtar has informed North American customers that its two grades of bleached softwood kraft (BSK) pulp price will decline $30/tonne, effective August 1 until further notice, RISI has learned.

West Fraser told North American customers that its northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp price would decline to $850/tonne, effective August 1 until further notice, industry contacts said.

Resolute Forest Products today told customers in North America that it is decreasing its bleached softwood kraft pulp prices by US$30/tonne, effective Aug. 1.

Two Sides U.S. & FLA Join to Promote Forest Policies

Two Sides U.S. and the Forest Legality Alliance Collaborate to Promote the Responsible Production and Use of Paper: (USA) Two Sides U.S. has joined the Forest Legality Alliance (FLA), a joint effort of WRI and the Environmental Investigation Agency, supported by the United States Agency for International Development and companies in the paper and forest products sector. With goals to reduce illegal logging and eliminate illegal fiber in paper products, FLA’s diverse membership includes organizations such as Staples, Ikea, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the American Forest and Paper Association and the Retail Industry Leaders Association.

Groups Form TruST to Fight On-Line Sales Tax

Marketing groups forge sales tax law opposition: New York—A newly formed group of direct marketing organizations is claiming that proposed federal bills, allowing states to impose sales tax collections on purchases from out-of-state e-commerce companies, unduly burden e-commerce vendors. The American Catalog Mailers Association, the Direct Marketing Association, the Electronic Retailers Association and e-commerce advocacy group NetChoice have formed the True Simplification of Taxation (TruST) coalition.

Food News Media Launches 'FSR' magazine

Food News Media to debut 'FSR' magazine: Food News Media announced it will launch in October FSR magazine, which will target the full-service restaurant industry.
The premier issue will feature an interview with New Orleans restaurant owner Ralph Brennan, as well as a report on the top states for full-service restaurant growth. FSR will be the first print magazine for Food News Media, which launched a digital publication called Restaurant Management last year.

Wired Named Top "Genius Brand"

Wired Takes Top "Genius Brand" Spot in Digital IQ Index Study:
There's been some movement in the rankings in the second annual Digital IQ Index study on the magazine industry from market research firm L2, which measures digital strategy execution among 80 magazine brands.
TIME, which last year ranked as the number-one brand executing across digital, social and mobile platforms, was knocked off the top spot by Wired, which this year was the only brand to achieve "Genius" status. 

Printing Industries of America's InterTech Award Recipients

Printing Industries of America Announces the 2012 InterTech Award Recipients: PITTSBURGH—July 24, 2012—Printing Industries of America has announced the recipients of the 2012 InterTech Technology Awards. The technologies receiving this prestigious award have been judged as truly innovative and are expected to advance the performance of the graphic communications industry.
A total of 12 innovative technologies were selected to receive the 2012 InterTech Technology Award:

• Kodak NexPress Red Fluorescing Solution – Eastman Kodak
• Enterworks Enable – Enterworks, Inc.
• i-cut Suite – EskoArtwork
• Fujifilm J Press 720 – Fujifilm North America
• Prinect Performance Benchmarking – Heidelberg USA
• Keen MIS and Web-to-Print – Keen Systems, Inc.
• Color Control and Web Inspection System with AccuCam – QuadTech, Inc.
• SunPak LMQ – Sun Chemical
• iTechnique – Technique Business Systems
• Avatrex Transportable Imaging – Utopia Digital Technologies
• Xeikon X-800 VariLane – Xeikon
• i1Pro 2 – X-Rite Inc.

Newsweek May Convert to Online-Only

Newsweek Taking Steps Closer to Online-Only:
During IAC's second quarter earnings call today, chairman Barry Diller provided some feedback on the future of Newsweek as a print magazine. While the print version's survivability has been endlessly speculated on, Diller took an opportunity in the call to put the issue in better, if not entirely clear, focus.
In answering a question from an analyst on the outlook for Newsweek/The Daily Beast and whether there were plans to make it a "lighter asset," Diller noted that the brand is doing better overall.

Email Open Rates Falling

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20120725/EMAIL13/307259994/email-open-rates-fall-as-click-throughs-rise

Email open rates are declining somewhat, according to a study of email marketing trends by marketing automation company Silverpop, but email efficiency as measured by click-throughs are up.

According to the company's “2012 Silverpop Email Marketing Metrics Benchmark Study," open rates in the U.S. in all of 2011 and into the first quarter of this year averaged 19.9%, down from the 21.3% recorded in a similar study in 2009.

Zite Adds Hearst and Other Publishers to Program

http://www.pubexec.com/article/news-reader-app-zite-beefs-up-its-publisher-partnership-program/1

Zite, a free, personalized news reading app, yesterday announced a new set of publishers joining its Zite Publisher Program. Along with current partners CNN, FOX Sports, and Bleacher Report, Zite has added the Chicago Tribune, Cult of Mac, Hearst Magazines Digital Media, Entrepreneur, International Business Times, Los Angeles Times, IDG's Macworld and PC World, and TechHive.

Russia to Adopt New Forest Policy Standards

http://themoscownews.com/business/20120723/189991755.html

The Russian government has now announced that as much as 400 billion rubles ($12.4 billion) will be spent on forestry protection over the next eight years, in a new, far-reaching program to remedy the system’s inadequacies.
Russia’s pending entry into the World Trade Organization, however, provides another spur for change across all industries. Forestry companies, among others, will have to introduce significant changes to comply with requirements for timber.

Washington's Forests Under Threat of Increased Wildfires

http://phys.org/news/2012-07-washington-forests-carbon-area-wildfire.html

Forests in the Pacific Northwest store more carbon than any other region in the United States, but our warming climate may undermine their storage potential.

A new study conducted by the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station and the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington has found that, by 2040, parts of Washington State could lose as much as a third of their carbon stores, as an increasing area of the state's forests is projected to be burned by more-frequent wildfires, triggered by a warming climate .

GWI Acquires RailAmerica

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120723005429/en/Genesee-Wyoming-Enters-Agreement-Acquire-RailAmerica-Announces

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) (GWR) and RailAmerica, Inc. (RA) jointly announced today that they have entered into an agreement under which GWI will acquire RailAmerica for an all cash purchase price of $27.50 per share. GWI's acquisition of RailAmerica will combine the two largest short line and regional rail operators in North America.

IFABC Offers Free Newspaper Database

IFABC launches free newspaper circulation database:
The International Federation of Audit Bureaux of Circulation, the umbrella association for the worldwide network of newspaper and magazine audit bureaus, has developed the free online resource using data collated from its international membership. It is accessible on the IFABC's newly revamped website.
Site visitors will be able to access and compare circulation data from as far back as 2008 for paid-for and free national newspapers around the world.

AF&PA Reports June P&W Ships

http://www.afandpa.org/pressreleases.aspx?id=2762

According to the American Forest & Paper Association's June 2012 Printing-Writing Paper Report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 8% in June compared to June 2011. Shipments for coated free sheet and uncoated mechanical grades posted double-digit year-over-year decreases compared to last June. U.S. purchases (shipments + imports - exports) of printing-writing papers also decreased 8% in June. Total printing-writing paper inventory levels decreased 4% from last month, primarily due to double-digit decreases among the mechanical grade papers.

Purchases of coated mechanical (CM) papers are up slightly compared to June 2011, which is the second consecutive year-over-year increase.

Second Company Announces Yet Another Decrease

Fibrek told North American customers today its August 1 list price for northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp would decline to $850/tonne, RISI has learned.

Russia's WTO Membership Benefits Finnish Industry

Russia's WTO membership creates opportunities for Finnish forest industry
Russia's ratification of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) accession agreement on July 21 improves corporate access to the Russian market. Membership will lead to lower export duties on Russian raw timber and reduced import duties will improve the position of Finnish forest industry products on the Russian market, as the Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF) said in a press release received by Lesprom Network.

Sappi Extends Agreement with Lenzing

http://wood.lesprom.com/news/52817/

Sappi, the world’s largest manufacturer of dissolving pulp with an annual capacity of 800,000 tons at present growing to 1.3 million tons, s intensifying its longstanding cooperation with the paper and pulp group Lenzing AG.

Scholastic Moves Weekly Reader

Scholastic Folds Weekly Reader Brands into Its Classroom Magazines:  Scholastic is folding the Weekly Reader brand into its Classroom Magazines group. Some of the resulting titles will be co-branded, while others will be discontinued. The move comes just five months after Scholastic acquired Weekly Reader from Reader's Digest Association for $3.6 million.

Harman Family Getting Out of Newsweek

Harman Family to 'Stop Investing' in Newsweek:
On Monday it was announced that family of the late Sidney Harman is freezing their 20-month investment in Newsweek/Daily Beast Co. That gives the other party, the Barry Diller-led IAC/InterActive Corp., a controlling interest that will grow as more money is put into the venture.

Ad Age Publishes Hispanic Fact Pack

http://adage.com/print/236263

Ad Age's ninth-annual Hispanic Fact Pack, distributed with the July 23 issue of the magazine, includes data about marketers, 2011 ad spending, demographic trends and rankings of top TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, online media and social-networking sites. Other rankings in the 52-page guide include the top 50 Hispanic advertisers, the 50 largest Hispanic agencies and the 15 biggest Hispanic media agencies. The digital edition of the Hispanic Fact Pack is available free at adage.com/trend-reports/ through Aug. 22, 2012, and will be available for $29 after that.

Wet Seal CEO Leaves

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/wet-seal-fires-ceo-susan-mcgalla-as-the-teen-retailers-summer-sales-sink-cuts-2q-outlook/2012/07/23/gJQA8CM53W_story.html

As sales declines deepen, teen clothing seller Wet Seal Inc. has fired CEO Susan McGalla without a replacement for her.

McGalla had been Wet Seal’s CEO since January 2011, and had signed an employment contract with the company through August 2014. Her departure is effective immediately, and the company said Monday that it is starting a search for a new CEO. In the meantime, the company’s chairman, president and chief financial officer are overseeing Wet Seal.

WSJ Adds Real Estate Section

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/179330/wsj-launches-a-real-estate-section.html

With the national residential real estate market possibly reaching its bottom, and premium markets scarcely affected by the downturn, The Wall Street Journal is calculating that the time is right for a new real estate section, which will appear on Fridays beginning in late September or early October, according to the newspaper.
The as-yet-unnamed section will be 16 pages long and will be produced by a team of up to 10 new staffers.

Yankee Candle Names Executive

http://www.dmnews.com/yankee-candle-hires-new-president-of-direct-and-cmo/article/251429/

Yankee Candle Inc. has appointed Brad Wolansky to the newly created roles of president of direct and CMO, says Karen Wood, director of PR at Yankee Candle.

River Group Launches Print/Digital Marketing Magazine

River Group launches bi-monthly 'thought leadership' printed publication:
The multi-channel publication, which is produced in a concertina format with hand drawn illustrations, will look at all areas of print and digital marketing, with the first issue tackling "generational" marketing.
River's business development director Adrian Odds said the new publication was designed to highlight the importance of content strategy in marketing. "We want to demonstrate innovation in marketing with print solutions as well as in digital," he added.
Odds said: "Print has the ability to reach across all generations - it speaks a language that digital doesn't.

Ad Agency Revenues on Upswing

Advertising Agency Changing Product Mix Keeps Revenues on an Upswing; What it Means to the Marketing Services Strategy (Economics & Research Center):
The latest Quarterly Services Survey of the Department of Commerce show that ad agency revenues continue their slow rise despite corporate cutbacks and a sluggish economy.