The Forbes Contributor Model

http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/the-forbes-contributor-model-technology-feedback-and-incentives/s2/a554255/

When Forbes was re-thinking its web publishing model in 2010, they were reflecting on the state of the industry and the shift in publishing power.
In particular, their aim was to respond to the fact that "anyone can publish at any time without trucks, planes, satellites," Mike Federle, chief operating officer at Forbes Media, told the FIPP Congress today.
As such, they built their contributor network - on top of what he described as a "technology-led, data-driven newsroom" at Forbes - which enables authorised individuals to publish straight to the Forbes website.

Hearst’s Clinton Talks ‘Big Content’

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296

In video Q&A (3 minutes), Hearst Magazines president of marketing and publishing director Michael Clinton describes Hearst’s “big content” strategy (linking editors’ curated content to media for brands’ benefit). Example: Esquire’s current issue features a “Life of Man” theme, with content spanning print, digital, user-generated and a two-hour special on the new Esquire network. Corvette is among advertisers buying the package.

Bloomberg

Flood of New Book Releases for Holidays

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296

Major releases this week have substantial print runs, along with digital. The physical book business remains meaningful, writes WSJ, quoting Publishers Weekly co-editorial director Jim Milliot: “Publishers still believe in print.” Publishers and booksellers (especially independents) optimistic about holiday season; hoping for strong second half after declines in 1H.  

WSJ

ZenithOptimedia’s New Advertising Projections

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296

Projects 3.5% increase in global ad spend for 2013. In U.S., digital will account for 21.8% (vs. 19% in 2012) of ad spend; mobile for 3.7%–but mobile will grow by 81% this year (vs. 16% growth for Internet). Magazines’ global share of ad spend in 2012 was 7%; share in 2015 projected at 6.8%. 

TechCrunch

Federal Authorities Raid Lumber Liquidators

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303342104579101042712448428.html

Federal authorities want to know where all that cheap wood at Lumber Liquidators comes from.

On Thursday, the discount hardwood flooring retailer's headquarters in Toano, Va., and another location in Richmond were raided by special agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations unit, together with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Justice Department.

The agents were looking for evidence the company had imported wood products from forests in far eastern Russian that are home to the endangered Siberian tiger, a person familiar with the matter said.

ICE said no arrests were made and declined to say whether any items were removed from either location. The investigation's affidavit and search warrants remain sealed.

Tribune To Cut Costs By $100 Million

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/210166/tribune-to-cut-costs-by-100-million.html#axzz2gPQr95jr

With its newspapers on the auction block, Tribune Co. is ordering its publishing division to slash their budgets by $100 million, according to Chicago media watcher Robert Feder, who first reported the news. The move is probably intended to make the publications more attractive to potential buyers.
Tribune CEO Peter Liguori issued the order during a meeting with the heads of the company’s publishing units on Wednesday, per Feder, citing sources familiar with the plan. The cuts will hit all parts of the publishing division, including newsrooms, and are scheduled to take effect beginning in December. 

GateHouse Media Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130927-905540.html

GateHouse Media, Inc. (OTC: GHSE) and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, "GateHouse"), comprising one of the largest publishers of locally based print and online media in the United States, have commenced voluntary chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Concurrently with the bankruptcy filing, GateHouse filed and requested confirmation of a joint prepackaged plan of reorganization.

OpenGate Capital Buys PenneySaver from Harte-Hanks

http://www.opengatecapital.com/2013/09/27/opengate-capital-completes-acquisition-of-pennysaver-usa/

OpenGate Capital, a global private buyout firm, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of PennySaver USA comprised of the Shoppers and PennySaver assets from Harte-Hanks, Inc., (NYSE: HHS) just one week after announcing it had signed an agreement to acquire the business.  PennySaver USA, headquartered in Brea, California, represents the first California-based acquisition for OpenGate Capital, and it joins a portfolio of 12 other leading enterprises with operations throughout North America, Latin America and Europe.

UPM Changes to Business Structure, Reorganize Head Office

http://www.paperage.com/2013news/09_27_2013upm_headquarters_reorganization.html

Following the changes in UPM business structure announced on August 6 of this year, UPM Paper ENA (Europe & North America) and UPM Paper Asia Business Areas will adopt a new organization structure as of November 1, 2013.

The new UPM Paper ENA will consist of the following three strategic business units (SBU):

Magazine Publishing & Advertising 
Merchants, Home & Office 
Newspaper Publishing

UPM Paper Asia will consist of two strategic business units (SBU): Fine Papers APAC and Label Papers.

Resolute Forest Products Announces Increase

Resolute Forest Products has announced a $40/short ton price increase, effective on shipments on or after November 1, on the following grades: Resolute Select 75, ResoluteBook 75, 85, ResoluteText 80, Resolute Text Cream, Resolute Hybrid Smooth and Hybrid Vellum, Alternative Offset, Alternative Opaque, Alternative Book, Alternative Book Cream, Equal Offset, Equal Book, Ecopaque Offset, Ecopaque Laser and Ecopaque Jet.

More Firms Announce Pulp Price Increases

Weyerhaeuser (Weyco) informed North American and European customers that it would increase fluff pulp prices $20/tonne, effective October 1 until further notice, RISI has learned.

Weyco slated a new list price of $960/tonne in the USA and Europe, up the $20/tonne, industry contacts said.

Weyco is the second known producer of fluff pulp to announce a $20/tonne fluff price increase in key markets.

Mercer International informed North American customers that it will increase northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp prices $20/tonne, effective October 1, according to industry contacts.

Vancouver-headquartered Mercer told domestic customers its US NBSK list price would increase to $970/tonne.

Mercer International has begun informing customers that it will increase its price for northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp to $900/tonne for deliveries from October 1.

The firm cited "prevailing market conditions" as the reason for the increase. 
Due to improved market fundaments Södra will increase its market price for NBSK in Europe to USD 900, effective from October 1st 2013.

ME Gas Line Will Soon Serve Sappi, UPM

http://www.pressherald.com/news/pipeline-work-revs-up-to-24_7_2013-09-26.html

The company laying a section of the Summit Natural Gas pipeline will begin working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, starting Thursday to link Sappi Fine Paper Co. to the main gas line under construction in Fairfield.

Sappi, one of the state's largest employers, is among a handful of anchor tenants that made the $350 million gas pipeline possible in the Kennebec Valley.

NewPage Releases '12 Sustainable Development Facts and Figures

http://www.newpagecorp.com/wps/portal/corporate/papers

NewPage Corporation, the leading producer of printing and specialty papers in North America, announced today the release of its Sustainable Development Facts and Figures 2012 report.

"At NewPage, we work hard every day to make sustainable practices a part of what we do," said George Martin, president and chief executive officer for NewPage. "We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment and securing the long-term health of our company through a variety of environmental, social and economic programs."
NewPage produces an annual sustainable development report to provide its stakeholders a look at the company's performance and activities designed to improve the way it manages human, natural and financial resources.

Catalog Mailers May See 5.9%-6.1% Postal Rate Increase

http://multichannelmerchant.com/opsandfulfillment/catalog-mailers-may-see-5-9-6-1-postal-rate-increase-26092013/#_

Catalog mailers may see, on average, a 5.9% postal rate increase based on price changes the U.S. Postal Service has proposed to the Postal Regulatory Commission, according to a statement emailed to Multichannel Merchant by the American Catalog Mailers Association.
Hamilton Davison, president and director of the ACMA, said various mailers will see slight variations in the amount imposed. The 5.9% incorporates an annual Consumer Price Index increase of 1.6% plus an additional exigent increase of 4.3% over the rate of inflation.
Davison added, they are told to expect standard flats will be subjected to an overall 6.1% increase.

Next Issue Media Expands into Canada

http://www.foliomag.com/2013/next-issue-media-partners-rogers-communications#.UkXhrLyYyKw

Next Issue Media, the multi-title subscription service backed by Condé Nast, Hearst, Meredith, News Corp. and Time Inc., has announced a strategic agreement with Rogers Media, a division of Canadian media conglomerate, Rogers Communications.
Next Issue sold an undisclosed equity stake to Rogers and will expand its services into Canada beginning next month. The partnership also brings several Rogers titles to Next Issue's growing portfolio.

Hearst's Dr. Oz Magazine Takes Shape

http://adage.com/article/media/hearst-s-dr-oz-magazine-takes-shape-good-life/244435/ 
Hearst is likely to call its forthcoming Dr. Mehmet Oz magazine "The Good Life," according to two people familiar with the matter. The title will likely also include the celebrity physician's name, though it's unclear precisely how that will be presented. A Hearst spokeswoman declined to comment.
Hearst, the publisher of Esquire and Cosmopolitan, plans to announce the magazine's name on Oct. 15 as part of an event it's calling a magazine upfront, a reference to the TV industry's annual presentations to ad buyers and negotiations for ad inventory. Two pilot issues of the Dr. Oz venture are due starting early next year, the company has said.

Start-Up Magazines Are ‘Latest Status Symbols’

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296

For a handful of well-connected New Yorkers, glossy, start-up magazines are the latest status symbols. Veteran Vanity Fair writer Kevin Sessums launched a magazine for gay readers, FourTwoNine (Sarah Jessica Parker and Andy Cohen on first cover). Others have launched travel and photography magazines. WSJ explains what’s driving these start-ups. 

WSJ

MediaPost Mag Bag

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/210101/mag-bag-esquire-unveils-article-pins-on-pintere.html#axzz2g259RgXb

'Esquire' Unveils Article Pins On Pinterest
Hearst Magazine’s Esquire recently launched new, enhanced article pins to make it easier to discover and save the magazine’s online content, extending its longevity and providing more visual components along the way. The new pins pull in more information about the content, allowing users to preview text before clicking. The links never actually “fall off” the page, keeping content accessible for longer.
Condé Nast Traveler Cuts Editorial Staff
  Condé Nast Traveler is laying off half of its editorial staff, or 14 employees, including five editors and the entire photo desk and graphics department, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the news.
Price To EIC, EatingWell
Meredith Corp. has promoted Jessie Price to the position of editor in chief for EatingWell magazine, where she will be responsible for all the brand’s media platforms, including books and digital extensions.
PopularScience.com Nixes Comments
The editors of PopularScience.com, citing the negative effect of trolls, spambots and ad hominem attacks, have decided to stop allowing readers to comment on articles online. And more...

Flint Warns Ink Prices to Rise

http://www.printweek.com/news/login/1213718/

Senior vice president of procurement Jan Paul van der Velde told PrintWeek: "Certain raw materials prices are increasing fast. How this will impact the current commercial agreements will differ case by case. What is key is the impact will ultimately flow through into the market.
"Different cost drivers are having different effects in different market segments. The key issues revolve around publication inks, given the situation of rising prices for gum rosin and crude oil based products."
He said despite hopes prices would fall this year, the price of crude went up. In the first half of this year as many raw materials went up in price as came down. Crude today trades at around $110 per barrel, significantly above any level that people had forecast at the end of 2012.