M-real Selling Reflex to Hahnemühle

http://www.paperage.com/2012news/01_13_2012mreal_hahnemuhle.html

M-real has announced it is divesting its Reflex mill in Germany, which produces premium specialty papers used for brochures, letterhead, books, calendars and envelopes, to Walzmühle AG.  Walzmühle AG is owned by Hahnemühle FineArt GmbH, Hahnemühle management and private shareholders of Hahnemühle.  The deal is expected to close during the first quarter.  The divestment marks the end of M-real’s operations at the Reflex facility; the company discontinued producing carbonless paper converting in late 2011 and sold PM5 and related assets to Metsä Tissue in 2010.

White Birch Closes Stadacona Mill

On Wednesday, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union at the White Birch Stadacona, Quebec newsprint mill rejected a labor contract offered by the company with 91% of the members voting no.  Today, White Birch announced, as it warned it would do absent the ability to cut labor costs, that it is closing the facility.

Magazine News Roundup

Changes in ownership and people…

Vibe Holdings and Access Network are going to merge and operate as Vibe Media, which will manage Vibe, Uptown and BlackBook magazines.

Publishers Clearing House has acquired mobile marketing company Liquid Wireless, which specializes in lead generation, media buying and analytics.

New Bay Media is acquiring Guitar World, Revolver and Guitar Aficionado from Future plc for $3 million.

Random House of Canada has become the full owner of McClelland & Stewart, a trade book publishing house.

F+W, which has a line of cookbooks and other publications on antiques, collectibles, crafts, writing and horticulture, acquired World Tea Media, which organizes the World Tea Expo.

J.C. Penney’s has named Thomas J. Engibous as Chairman of the Board, effective January 28.  Mr. Engibous is the retired Chairman of Texas Instruments.

Matthew Petersen, formerly of Hearst, has become president of TMG Custom Media.

And New Techniques to Reach Readers…

Hearst’s House Beautiful is expanding its integrated marketing campaign with Glidden paint using Digimarc’s digital watermark.  This follows a successful program run in October and November.  Scanning the watermark allows the reader to view a splash page spotlighting Glidden Paint’s new color blog portal before accessing a video feature from the magazine. 

Popular Mechanics is making its QuakeTracker iPad feature, which was very popular on the digital version of the magazine, into a standalone app that advertises the paid monthly subscription of the print and digital publication. Like many promotions, the feature was originally to be a one-time feature.

In the March issue of Ladies Home Journal, the content will feature material from the magazines readers; editors are using the readers’ own stories posted on DivineCaroline.com.  

Parents magazine is featuring a new design with its February issue.

Ad Spend Increased 1.5% in First Three Quarters

U.S. Ad Spend Increased 1.5% In the First Nine Months of 2011: Total U.S. advertising expenditures in the first nine months of 2011 increased 1.5% from a year ago and finished the period at $104.7 billion, according to data from Kantar Media. Spending growth slowed during the third quarter and was up 0.4 percent compared to last year.