Norske Skog Reports Q2 Results

http://www.norskeskog.com/Default.aspx

Second quarter of 2013: Gross operating earnings NOK 214 million (NOK 174 million in the first quarter of 2013)

Cash flow from operating activities NOK 298 million before net financial payments in the quarter (NOK -122 million in the first quarter of 2013)
Net interest-bearing debt increased by NOK 159 million to NOK 6 641 million reflecting NOK depreciation, net financial items and cash proceeds from divestments
Divestment of 51% of Norske Skog Pisa announced and completed in the quarter, terms for disposal of remaining 49% agreed upon with the same buyer.

The Transforming Consumer Magazine Business

http://www.foliomag.com/2013/transforming-consumer-magazine-business-has-not-been-good-newsstand#.UehE4FOYyKw

Consumer magazine publishers are learning how to cope in an environment racked by massive shifts in technology that have altered how people consume media. However, in regard to its effect on newsstand sales, neither publishers nor their key newsstand supply-chain partners, have been fully realistic in evaluating its effect on newsstand sales.   
The stultifying naiveté that surrounds the effect of these changes has never been more apparent than at the recent MPA/PBAA sponsored retail conference. In MPA President, Mary Berner’s presentation and in a roundtable discussion with four leading executives from the magazine industry—Steve Lacey (Meredith), David Carey (Hearst), Skip Zimbalist (Active Interest Media), Bob Sauerberg (Condé Nast)—there was lots of talk about promotion and marketing “solutions”, how valuable magazines are to retailers and newsstand’s relevance for publishers. The discussions, though well measured, were somewhat surreal, almost as if they involved tweaking a well-oiled machine. There was hardly a hint that the antiquated magazine newsstand channel was on the verge of collapse.

Condé, Biggest September in Five Years

http://www.adweek.com/news/press/cond-nast-touts-biggest-september-five-years-151247
Fashion bible Vogue is taking the top spot in the closely watched September ad page contest, which is widely seen as a yardstick of the health of the industry. 
The Condé Nast book weighed in last year at 658 ad pages; this year, publisher Susan Plagemann added 1 percentage point for a total of 665 total ad pages. That marks four issues in a row of growth and Vogue’s second largest issue ever. (2007 remains the record-breaker with 725 ad pages, but that number included a Fashion Rocks supplement.)
Time Inc.'s InStyle, historically a close second to Vogue, came in at 455 pages. Publisher Karin Tracy, who joined from Entertainment Weekly in May, succeeding Connie Anne Phillips, tweeted that the September issue was its largest-ever. Also closing its largest issue ever is sister title People StyleWatch, up 3 percent with 190 ad pages.

Future PLC to Trim Print Costs

Enthusiast publisher Future PLC, with brands in the technology, gaming and music markets, released its fiscal third-quarter results today and digital revenues continue to climb. 
The company's board and management, however, feel revenue, which was flat at about $116 million for the quarter, has been lagging. EBITDA is expected to be about $14.4 million for the year.

AJR Shuts Down Print Edition

http://www.foliomag.com/2013/ajr-shuts-down-print-edition-goes-online-only#.UehGK1OYyKw

As newsrooms continue to shrink, journalism and media students are facing a harsh reality upon graduation. Media companies are changing business models and expectations rapidly.

Those changes are starting to trickle down to colleges. 
The American Journalism Review (AJR) is ceasing print publication and will go online only with a redesigned website beginning in the fall.

Digital Books 20% of Market

http://www.christianretailing.com/index.php/newsletter/latest/25709-digital-books-now-constitute-20-of-book-market

Maintaining an upward trend, publishers' revenue from e-books has increased nearly 45% since 2011, and digital books "now constitute" 20% of the overall book market, according to BookStats Volume. 
Incorporating net sales revenue and unit data from nearly 1,500 publishers as well as estimates and analysis of the publishing industry, BookStats Volume 3, which will be available for purchase in June, is billed as the most comprehensive evaluation and analysis of the book industry.

New Look for DISCOVER Magazine

http://www.magazine.org/node/25958

Discover, the world’s leading science magazine edited and designed for a general audience, introduces a comprehensive new design and an updated logo with its September 2013 issue.

Hallmarks of the redesign include new typefaces, a fresh color palette, and a bold new front-of-book section called The Crux, as well as a new tagline, “Science for the Curious.” 
Changes in the magazine are rooted in Discover’s 33-year history of providing readers with clear, understandable journalism covering a wide range of topics, including human biology, astronomy, psychology, technology, and the environment.

Forbes, Tasting Room Launch Forbes Wine Club

http://www.magazine.org/node/25959

Forbes Media and Lot 18, the New York-based wine e-commerce company, today announced the launch of Forbes Wine Club.  ForbesWineClub.com is powered by Tasting Room, the one-of-a-kind wine subscription service by Lot18 in which members can create their personal WinePrints and receive wine selections tailored to their specific tastes.

Hearst Names Executive Director Men's Group

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/people-7-17-13/

Dawn Sheggeby has been promoted at Hearst Magazines, rising to executive director of group strategy and development for the men’s group. Sheggeby was most recently director of integrated marketing at Esquire.

Big Data and Luxury Shoppers

http://www.dmnews.com/big-data-and-the-1-percent/article/303563/

Luxury shoppers make up only 3 percent of the population. And truly wealthy, versus affluent, customers make up an even smaller percentage—that fabled 1 percent. 
These consumers look and behave differently than the average consumer online in terms of everything from what they buy to the types of devices they use to buy them. But as different as they are, identifying and reaching them online isn't always easy. A recent Luxury Institute study surfaced the fact that 63 percent of affluent consumers would choose to opt-out of online tracking, given the opportunity. That's a pretty strong indication that these customers, more than other groups, cherish their privacy and don't necessarily want to be found online.

Postmaster General Comments on Postal Reform

http://whattheythink.com/news/64520-postmaster-general-urges-congress-fix-postal-service-business-model-address-marketplace-realities/

Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe told a House committee today the Postal Service continues to face systemic financial challenges because it has a business model that does not allow it to adapt to changes in the marketplace and it does not have the legal authority to make the fundamental changes that are necessary to achieve long-term financial stability.
The Postal Service’s legislative requirements, as part of its Five-Year Business Plan, include:
Require USPS Health Care Plan (Resolves Retiree Health Benefits Prefunding Issue)
Refund FERS Overpayment and Adjust Future FERS Payment Amount
Adjust Delivery Frequency (Six-Day Packages/Five-Day Mail)
Streamline Governance Model (Eliminate Duplicative Oversight)
Provide Authority to Expand Products and Services
Require Defined Contribution Retirement System for Future Postal Employees
Require Arbitrators to Consider Financial Condition of Postal Service
Reform Workers’ Compensation

http://whattheythink.com/news/64531-printing-industries-america-urges-action-postal-legislation/

Michael Makin, President and CEO of Printing Industries of America, today issued the following statement at the conclusion of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s hearing titled “A Path Forward on Postal Reform.”

http://www.dmnews.com/the-postmaster-general-takes-issa-to-task/article/303491/

Donahoe weighs in on postal reform proposals.

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe today approached the House committee preparing a postal reform bill with one overriding question: “Does it enable $20 billion in savings by 2016?” 
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, issued a “discussion draft” of a postal reform bill in May that included compromises he hopes will win bipartisan approval.

Resolute Fined for Accidental Fatality

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/sc-paper-mill-fined-more-17k-accidental-death-plan/nYrw8/

A York County paper mill plant was cited for serious issues after the death of a contract worker in January.
The South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation issued penalties against Resolute Forest Products following a fatal accident that took the life of Samir Storey, 32.
Resolute Forest Products was fined $17,850 for several violations in connection with Storey’s death at the plant. 
The company that Storey worked for, Industrial Piping, was fined $15,400 for violations also.
Storey, from Indian Trail, was killed at the plant when he and two other men were cleaning a large tank, called a scrubber, which filters waste chemicals.

Officials said an unknown chemical leaked into the tank with the workers.  The other two men were able to escape with minor injuries.

Domtar Investigates Fire, No Production Lost

http://www.bradfordera.com/news/article_5ded0a78-ecfc-11e2-81f2-0019bb2963f4.html

An investigation is to start this week to uncover the cause and origin of the fire that burned for nearly 24 hours at the Domtar Paper Co. in Johnsonburg over the weekend.

The industrial structure fire was called in to authorities around 12:30 p.m. Friday, and apparently broke out inside a conveyor tunnel than runs 1,000 feet underneath the mill along West Center Street in the borough.

Monadnock Restarts on Schedule

http://www.ledgertranscript.com/home/7544832-95/paper-mill-reopens-less-than-2-weeks-after-electrical-fire

The Monadnock Paper Mills is back up and running as of Monday, after an electrical fire in the early morning hours of July 3 knocked out power throughout the building.

Joe Fletcher, vice president of Human Resources at the mill, said in an interview Monday that the plan since the fire happened was to get the mill up and running by Monday. The day of the fire, the mill was scheduled to shut down for regular summer maintenance, and it would have reopened Monday anyway, had the fire not occurred. After the fire, the goal was to complete as much of the regular maintenance as possible, he said, while replacing the electrical system to reopen on schedule.

Consumers for Paper Options Applaud Action

http://www.paperoptions.org/

Consumers for Paper Options, a coalition of individuals and organizations advocating for access to paper-based services and information, today applauded a group of U.S. senators for taking action against payroll card fees. Sixteen senators sent a letter calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Department of Labor to study prepaid "payroll cards," which some employers use in lieu of checks or direct deposits.

The senators are concerned not only about the fees that prepaid cards incur for employees, but are also concerned that employees are being pressured to accept payment in this format because it is cheaper for companies. Meanwhile, employees receiving wages on prepaid cards often face charges for ATM use, purchases, overdrafts, card replacement and even inactivity.

Dr. Joe Webb: Statistical Trends in Print

http://blogs.whattheythink.com/economics/2013/07/statistical-trends-in-print-or-dr-joes-mixed-media-message/

The trends in commercial printing demand are often up to debate, but sometimes statistical analysis can be helpful in understanding them better. Economic events are often the reasons given for shifts in demand and shipments, but that’s much to nebulous. We know there are more specific issues, and there is too much general evidence that strong economic growth only makes the adoption rate of digital technologies and media stronger.
In some recent analysis, the regression model of real GDP and CPI-adjusted printing shipments shows that for every billion dollar increase in real GDP results in a -$19.4 million change in commercial print shipments. This regression equation has r²= 71.9%, which is a strong statistical relationship, no matter how unsatisfying (or confusing) the thought is that a growing economy might actually hurt an industry rather than benefit it.

63% of CRM Initiatives Fail

http://www.dmnews.com/63-of-crm-initiatives-fail/article/303470/

CRM initiatives currently have a 63% fail rate, according to a new study by Merkle Group Inc. The CRM firm surveyed 352 senior-level, U.S.-based executives in $1+ billion organizations regarding their company's CRM initiatives and their attitudes about those initiatives. The findings also show that high-growth organizations—those with both revenue and profit growth—are 50% more likely than low-growth organizations to view CRM as a key driver of their company's success.

Condé Nast Names President, China Business

http://www.adweek.com/news/press/merediths-liz-schimel-tapped-lead-cond-nast-china-151225

Liz Schimel, Meredith’s chief digital officer for its magazine division, has been tapped by Condé Nast International to lead its China business. As president of Condé Nast China, she’ll oversee the magazine brands Vogue, Self, GQ, AD and Condé Nast Traveler.

Condé Nast International president Jonathan Newhouse said Schimel’s publishing experience, including digital, and her family ties to China made her ideal to lead the business. Schimel is fluent in Mandarin, having studied in Beijing, where she met her future husband. In an interview, she once expressed interest in returning to China to work. Her appointment takes effect in October.

RRD, John Wiley & Sons Sign Agreement

http://www.piworld.com/article/rrd-awarded-agreement-to-provide-fulfillment-services-for-john-wiley-sons/1

R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company today announced that it has been awarded an agreement that expands its relationship with John Wiley & Sons. Under the terms of the agreement RR Donnelley will provide warehousing, distribution and fulfillment services for Wiley's North American professional development and research products.