EURO-GRAPH Reports August Coated, SC Ships

http://www.euro-graph.org/publicms/index/view/

EURO-GRAPH has reported that August European coated mechanical shipments declined -7.6% as compared to the same month last year. Demand fell -9% and exports were down -2.8%.

Coated woodfree shipments decreased -2.9%, demand fell -5.2% and exports declined -5.5%.

Supercalendered paper shipments were down -1.6%, demand decreased -2.1% and exports fell -2.1%.

NewPage Port Hawk. Requests 8th Extension

Updated: NewPage Port Hawkesbury asks for 8th extension:
NewPage Port Hawkesbury is appearing in Nova Scotia’s Supreme Court today to ask for an 8th extension to their original creditor protection period.
The company is requesting an extension to October 5, 2012 to allow time for the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to approve the latest power agreement, allowing Pacific West Commercial Corp. to complete its purchase of  mill, or allowing the Monitor (Ernst & Young) to determine the next steps should the sale deal not proceed.

Two More Firms Boost Pulp Pricing

West Fraser informed customers in North America that its northern bleached softwood kraft (NSBK) pulp price will increase by $20/tonne, effective October until further notice.
Mercer International told North American and Chinese customers that it will increase northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp prices by $20/tonne, effective October 1, industry contacts said.

Maine Mill Executives: Industry Viable

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/09/26/business/mill-executives-say-maine-paper-industry-viable-but-there-are-challenges/ 
Executives from three of Maine’s paper mills told 50 businesspeople that reports of the demise of Maine’s pulp and paper industry have been greatly exaggerated.

“Maine is 92 percent forested,” said Keith Van Scotter, president and CEO of Lincoln Paper and Tissue. “If paper and pulp is going to be made anywhere, it’ll be made in this state, so it’s not a dying industry. It’s a viable industry.”
Van Scotter; Bill Cohen, director of communications for Verso Paper Corp. in Bucksport; and George McLaughlin, manager of manufacturing for Great Northern Paper in East Millinocket, were the main speakers at Wednesday morning’s Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce Early Bird Breakfast.

Strike at UPM Stracel Ends

Employees returned to work at UPM's Stracel mill in northeastern France this morning. After a meeting with the management yesterday, employees voted to end the industrial action which started on the morning of September 19.

Sappi Converting Alfeld PM 2 from CFS to Specialties

Sappi Alfeld Mill to refocus production to one-sided coated paper

Sappi Fine Paper Europe has started the process of converting the coated woodfree (CWF) paper machine PM 2 at its Alfeld mill in central Germany to make specialty paper. The project will be completed in one year.

PM 2 has a capacity of 150,000 tonnes/yr of single and double coated paper mainly for sheets in the basis weights of 80-225 g/m². The machine will be rebuilt to make some 135,000 tonnes/yr of one-side coated grades for packaging and technical purposes as well as liner and label applications in the basis weights of 40-180-g/m².

Domtar & First Book Team Up for Literacy

Domtar Partners with First Book for Children's Literacy: Domtar Corporation today announced that it is teaming up with the Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization First Book to put over 20,000 new books in the hands of children in need. Domtar will be providing a total of $25,000 in grants among ten schools and community programs located near Domtar facilities across the United States.

Quad/Graphics Starts New Press in Oklahoma City

Quad/Graphics rolls out new press, creates jobs in Oklahoma City:
With the press of a button Tuesday, Gov. Mary Fallin fired up the newest printing press at Quad/Graphics' Oklahoma City plant and essentially created 120 jobs.

Attending a ceremony at the 1 million-square-foot printing facility at 6801 S Sunnylane Road, Fallin congratulated the company on the addition of its 12th press. The new press has created more than two dozen new jobs already, and Quad/Graphics has nearly 120 full- and part-time openings to fill.

"M" Magazine's Debuts New Design

A Look at the Design and Influences on Fairchild’s New M Cover:
The first issue of M magazine, luxury men’s magazine last seen in 1992 and being revived by Fairchild Fashion Media, came out on Monday with a very distinctive and unusual cover. It’s not the cover subject, Bradley Cooper (People magazine’s Sexiest Man in the World of 2011), but the design, format, and photographic style that makes M very different from the usual newsstand fare.

VSS: Overall Communications Spending to Grow 5.2%

VSS predicts b-to-b media will grow 4.9% this year: New York—The b-to-b media sector will grow 4.9% to $26.60 billion this year, according to the “VSS Communications Industry Forecast” released by Veronis Suhler Stevenson.
Overall communications industry spending in the U.S. is expected to rise 5.2% this year to $1.18 trillion. It will grow at a 5.2% CAGR from 2011 to 2016.
VSS said the Business & Professional Information & Services sector will grow 7.2% to $204.40 billion this year. The sector will post a 7% CAGR from 2011 to 2016, fueled by growth in business and professional services related to economic, financial, marketing, and scientific and technical Information, as well as technology services, VSS said.

"T" Magazine Names Editor-in-Chief

http://www.adweek.com/news/press/t-magazine-names-deborah-needleman-editor-chief-144010
Looks like the rumors were true: The New York Times Co. has announced that the new editor in chief of T magazine will be Deborah Needleman—currently the editor of T’s four-year-old rival publication, WSJ. Amid reports [1] earlier this month that Needleman had twice been offered the top position at T, which has been vacant since Sally Singer’s departure [2] in August, Needleman vehemently denied that she had accepted the job, telling WWD, “That is just not true!” But in T's case, the third time may have really been the charm.

UBM to Sell Data Services

http://www.foliomag.com/2012/ubm-exploring-sale-data-business-not-magazines
Despite reports earlier today indicating that UBM has put some of its print magazines up for sale the company is saying that it's the data services business that's actually up for review. Included in that group are the Techinsights, Aviation, Global Trade and other related data services operations.
The strategic review of UBM's data services business was announced back in July during the company's 2012 interim results presentation.
According to a spokesperson, there are one or two print titles associated with these groups, but the bulk of any print products included in the review are directories. "This is purely about the data services business, it does not touch the magazine business," says the spokesperson.
Earlier report: 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/9563659/UBM-puts-data-services-up-for-sale-for-250m.html

The company appointed Credit Suisse to carry out a strategic review of the so-called data services division in July. However, UBM chief executive David Levin is understood to have made it clear internally that he favours a sell-off. “It is effectively up for sale,” a senior source said. 

The expected sale would fit with UBM’s ongoing strategy to scale back its magazines business and instead focus investment on major tradeshows and conferences, particularly in emerging territories like China.

US News & World Report Releases E-Book

http://www.pubexec.com/article/us-news-world-report-releases-first-e-book-how-live-100/1

U.S. News & World Report today unveiled its first ebook, a guide on how to live to 100, featuring chapters on health, happiness, and personal finance. 
Featuring chapters on the latest scientific advances, the best exercises for every age, longevity diets, happiness secrets, and how to save enough money, How to Live to 100 gives readers a personalized guide to their own longevity.

Ennis Reports Q3 Results

Ennis Net Sales Increase 2.7% in Q3: Ennis, Inc., today reported financial results for the three and six months ended August 31, 2012.Financial OverviewOur consolidated net sales were $138.3 million for the second quarter ended August 31, 2012 compared to $130.4 million for the second quarter ended August 31, 2011, or an increase of 6.1%. Print sales increased 24.3% for the quarter, from $69.2 million to $86.0 million.

Fortune Relaunches iPad App

Fortune Relaunches iPad App With Free, Paid Content Mix: In an effort to gain subscribers, Fortune has relaunched its iPad app with a mix of free and paid content.
Fortune.com managing editor Megan Barnett says the previous version of the app-which offered single-copy or subscription options for the magazine but no free content or access to the website-was frequently downloaded, but left many users wanting. The immediate goal is to bring those people back.