White Birch Mill Workers Vote No

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/65534--white-birch-paper-workers-in-quebec-reject-offer-by-margin-of-91-per-cent

The White Birch Stadacona mill in Quebec, which can produce uncoated mechanical paper and newsprint, has been closed since November.  The company has said that without significantly lower salary, pension and other costs, the facility will be closed permanently.  Mill workers represented by Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) have now voted on an offer presented by the company that included a 21% pay cut, pension adjustments and other concessions; 91% rejected the proposal.

Some Exceptions to Tough Q3 for Magazine Ad Pages

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Magazines_22/Among-magazines-haves-are-doing-well.asp
Magazine advertising revenue and ad pages fell in the third quarter, but, as reported by MagazineRadar, some categories had healthy growth (the most recent data for these titles are for Q3; Q4 total magazine ad revenue and pages declined as well).  Hispanic magazines saw the biggest gains in ad pages, up 23.3%; Siempre Mujer jumped by 31.5%.  Ad pages for luxury magazines brands jumped by 6%: Departures was up by 43.3%, Architectural Digest by 9.1%, W by 5.6% and Power & Motoryacht by 24.9%.  In the fourth quarter (data were available for Q4 for this group), at least two titles focusing on mature readers prospered; ad pages for AARP the Magazine grew 84.7% and for Reader's Digest Large Edition rose 117.8%.

2011 Retail Sales at Record Level

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-retail-sales-20120112,0,5483325,print.story

The Commerce Department reported that 2011 retail sales reached $4.7 trillion, up nearly 8% as compared to last year, the largest increase in more than a decade.

Retail sales barely rose in December, but the gain was enough to lift sales to a record level for 2011. It marked the largest annual increase in more than a decade.

Hearst Increases Rate Base for Food Network Magazine for 7th Time

Hearst’s Food Network Magazine Sees 7th Ratebase Increase in 3 Years:

Hearst launched Food Network Magazine in 2009 with a target circulation of 300,000; the number tripled in 2010.  The publisher has now announced it will increase its rate base, for the 7^th time, to 1.45 million beginning this summer.  Hearst projects a 15% increase in single-copy sales for the second half of 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010.

Two Sides Launches U.S. Website

Two Sides Launches U.S. Website Promoting the Sustainability of Print and Paper: Two Sides, the fast-growing non-profit organization established to promote the responsible production, use and sustainability of print and paper, has launched its U.S. website. http://www.twosides.us 

Public Still Trusts Print

Printed word still more trustworthy than email, survey says: Printed correspondence still has a place because the general public still doesn't trust emails, according to research carried out by Pitney Bowes.