Advertisers Still Like Choice

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/print/2012/05/this-graph-is-disastrous-for-print-and-great-for-facebook-or-the-opposite/257857/

If you work anywhere near media, you'll want to take a long look at this graph. It tells you where Americans direct our attention and where advertisers pay money to capture our attention.

-- Takeaway #1: We still love TV.
-- Takeaway #2: Advertisers still love print.
-- Takeaway #3: Audiences move faster than advertisers.

ZenithOptimedia Revises Outlook

http://www.zenithoptimedia.com/zenith/zenithoptimedia-releases-new-ad-forecasts-global-advertising-continues-to-grow-despite-eurozone-fears/

 ZenithOptimedia predicts global ad expenditure will grow 4.3% in 2012, reaching US$502 billion by the end of the year. This is a slight downgrade of the 4.8% growth we forecast in March. Our forecasts for 2013 and 2014 are unchanged, at 5.3% and 6.1% respectively.

Source Interlink Offers New Motor Trend Option

http://www.pubexec.com/article/source-interlinks-motor-trend-rolls-out-new-version-google-tv-app/1

Special interest media publisher Source Interlink Media, LLC (SIM) has released a new version of their Motor Trend Google TV App, available in the Google Play app store. This program features a line up of eight individual shows and an “Extras” section featuring clips from the Motor Trend archives.

61% of Users Pay for Tablet Content

http://www.foliomag.com/2012/majority-users-pay-tablet-content

A new study from The Online Publishers Association (OPA) reiterates what many recent reports have shown—tablet adoption is increasingly widespread, usage is on the rise, and consuming content is a favored activity on the device. What is even more reassuring for publishers is that 61 percent of all tablet users actually paid for that content.

Baltimore Magazine Redesigned

http://www.foliomag.com/2012/baltimore-magazine-gets-facelift

It’s been nearly seven years since Baltimore was last revamped, but an upcoming redesign in August will change that. The makeover, led by the art and editorial teams, will consist of more extensive segments familiar to Baltimore’s readers, a mass of new editorial material and more design components. Much of the new content will focus on expanded events listings and a renewed focus on shopping.

Brown Printing Adds Fairrington Co-Mail

Brown Printing Expands Relationship with Fairrington, PAMS and CDS: Brown Printing Company today announced they have strengthened their distribution offerings by adding Fairrington’s co-mail capabilities to their distribution network.

Valassis Acquires Brand.net

Valassis’ Brand.net Acquisition Marks Pivotal Step in Development of Digital Business:Valassis announced it has enhanced its Valassis Audience Network digital display business with the acquisition of Brand.net, an online display, video and mobile advertising platform.

2012 USPS Plant Closures in Doubt

Postal Service Processing Plant Closures in Jeopardy:
The USPS closing or consolidating 48 mail processing plants in July and August may not happen at all this year. The Postal Service is seeking a legally required advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission on a related proposal to revamp first-class mail delivery standards. The problem is that the commission doesn’t plan to issue that non-binding opinion until early September—after the downsizing is supposed to have been completed. The American Postal Workers Union, which represents some processing plant employees. In a 29-page complaint filed last week, the union called on the PRC to bar the Postal Service from proceeding until the opinion comes out. Postal Service lawyers argue in a rebuttal today that the union doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on.

Catalyst Gets Second Chance To Restructure

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Catalyst+gets+second+chance+restructure/6811035/story.html
Catalyst Paper has been given a second chance to avoid selling its three B.C. mills to the highest bidder after a B.C. Supreme Court justice ruled that the needs of communities, pensioners and employees should be weighed along with legal issues in a bitter restructuring battle among creditors over the fate of the coastal paper giant. In ruling Monday that Catalyst can hold a second vote of its creditors on June 25, Justice Robert Sewell noted that he was taking into account community matters. An initial vote held May 23 on a restructuring plan narrowly failed to get enough support, forcing the papermaker to embark on a plan to sell its mills to the highest bidder. Secured creditors supported the original plan. Some unsecured creditors fought it.

Nova Scotia Forms Bowater Response Team

Nova Scotia forms Bowater Response Team:
The Government of Nova Scotia has formed a Bowater Response Team to help support workers, families and small businesses owners on the province’s south shore in the wake of Resolute Forest Product‘s decision to close the Bowater Mersey mill.

Nova Scotia Carefully Weighing Bowater Land Purchase
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/109011-ns-carefully-weighing-bowater-land-purchase
Why does the province buy land? The question was raised this week as Nova Scotians heard the devastating news about the closure of the Bowater Mersey paper mill in Liverpool.

Open Letter by Dave Coles, President of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada
http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/996673/open-letter-by-dave-coles-president-of-communications-energy-and-paperworkers-union-of-canada

Norske Skog Invests In Halden Norway Mill

http://www.norskeskog.com/default.aspx?ID=2019&feed=-N-105-PR-201206-1620965
Norske Skog will invest NOK 220 million in an expansion and renewal of the thermo-mechanical pulp plant at Norske Skog Saugbrugs in Halden. The old pulp plant will be replaced by a modern facility, which will supply pulp to the paper machines at a much lower cost than today.

AF&PA Releases May 2012 Reports

The American Forest & Paper Association released its May 2012 Kraft Paper Sector Report on Tuesday.  Total Kraft paper shipments were 139.2 thousand tons, an increase of 2.3% compared to May 2011.  Total inventory was 70.1 thousand tons the month.  Total Bleached Kraft shipments increased year over year for all months in 2012.

The American Forest & Paper Association released its May 2012 U.S. Paperboard Report today.  Total boxboard production decreased by 0.3% compared to May 2011 but increased 2.8% from last month.  Unbleached Kraft Folding production increased over the same month last year and increased compared to last month.  Total Solid Bleached Boxboard & Liner production increased compared to April 2011 and increased compared to last month.  The production of Recycled Folding decreased compared to April 2011 but increased when compared to last month.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its May 2012 U. S. Containerboard Statistics Report yesterday.  Containerboard production rose 1.3% over the same month last year and 7.2% compared to April 2012.  The month over month average daily production also reflect an increase of 3.7%.  The containerboard operating rate for May 2012 gained 3.7 points over April 2012, from 91% to 94.7%.

RRD Recognized With Award

RR Donnelley Recognized With Sears Canada Partners in Progress Award...:
R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company today announced that it has been recognized as the 2011 Sears Canada Inc. Partner in Progress for Specialty Services Supplier of the Year in honor of its performance in supporting Sears Canada with catalog and other printing, logistics and related services.

Data Management, List Management, Marketing Tips

http://www.delivermagazine.com/2012/06/test-for-success/
When marketers discuss how direct mail fits into their overall campaign efforts, it is often described as the “workhorse” — dependable, reliable and effective; the channel that guarantees a tactile piece of marketing material will reach a prospect’s mailbox.

Toshiba Puts ‘No Print Day’ On Hold

Toshiba Puts ‘No Print Day’ on Hold, Reports Printing Industries of America: According to a special announcement sent out by Michael Makin, president and CEO of Printing Industries of America, “Toshiba has agreed to abort its National No Print Day!”

Nippon Announces Joint Venture In Thailand

Nippon Paper announces joint venture with SCG Paper in Thailand
Nippon Paper Group, Inc.and SCG Paper have investigated ways in which they could collaborate to develop their business. The companies have now agreed to establish in Thailand a joint venture company with a 55% equity investment from Nippon Paper Group in the industrial paper sector, displaying their strengths in growing market. The joint venture company plans to install a new paper machine which features annual production capacity of 43,000 tons on the existing SCG Paper production site. The start-up is scheduled for the first quarter of 2014.

Sappi In $300M Offering

Sappi in $300m offering:
Paper and pulp group Sappi Limited on Wednesday announced the offering of US$300 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2017.

Domtar Lowers NBSK Pulp Price

Domtar is reported to be the first to announce another change in northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) market pulp prices. The North American NBSK price will decrease by $20/tonne, effective July 1.

Separately, UTIPULP  reported European pulp consumption increased 5.9% in May and inventories fell by 2.5%.

Novia Scotia Power and Port Hawkesbury Getting Closer to Deal

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/90875-pacific-west-power-deal-calls-for-nsp-to-take-stake-in-mill

Nova Scotia Power’s plan to become a limited partner in the former NewPage Port Hawkesbury paper mill could affect the utility’s credit rating, a consultant says. John Athas of Boston-based La Capra Associates says that’s one of the risks to ratepayers of a proposed agreement between Nova Scotia Power and the mill’s would-be owner, Pacific West Commercial Corp. of Vancouver.

Kruger & Unions Leave the Table

http://wood.lesprom.com/news/52313/

Kruger Inc. has left the bargaining table in Corner Brook without reaching an agreement with the unions. However, all union locals have agreed to meet with their members this coming week to hold a vote on the company’s final proposal,

Catalyst Gets Approval

Catalyst Paper today announced that, further to its news release dated June 14, 2012, it has received approval from the Court for additional meetings of its secured and unsecured creditors.

Bowater Mersey Assets Valuable, Sale Unlikely

 http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/108472-bowater-assets-valuable-but-chance-of-mill-sale-remote

Potential buyers may be quietly eyeing timberland, power facility

A forestry analyst says it’s highly unlikely the Bowater mill will rise again to make newsprint, but Resolute Forest’s timberlands and power facility are part of a “very desirable asset class.”

Another paper mill is unlikely to rise from the ashes of the Bowater Mersey newsprint facility, a forestry analyst says.

UPM Plans Biomass Plant in Uruguay

http://www.bnamericas.com/news/electricpower/ute-upm-biomass-plant-online-by-2015

UPM is planning to build a 50MW biomass plant at its pulp mill in Fray Bentos, Uruguay. The US$130-million power station would be operating in 2015 and sell its excess power to Uruguay state-run power company UTE.

Q1 U.S. Ad Spending Up 2.6%

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120618005290/en/Kantar-Media-Reports-U.S.-Advertising-Expenditures-Increased

Total advertising expenditures in the first quarter of 2012 increased 2.6 percent from a year ago and finished the period at $32.9 billion, according to data released today by Kantar Media, the leading provider of strategic advertising and marketing information. The gain represents a modest rebound compared to flat spending in the second half of 2011.

Trigger-Based Marketing Up, Good for Printers

Survey Shows Rise in Trigger-Based Marketing:
An interesting survey was just released by Forrester Research and Silverpop. According to a survey of 155 marketing professionals, 59% plan to increase their use of marketing automation over the next 12 months. One of the most popular uses for this automation is trigger-based marketing. This is interesting because trigger-based marketing is a terrific application for digital production. It is short-run, often personalized, and provides a recurring revenue stream for the printer.

Cabela's Launches Facebook Promotion

http://www.retailonlineintegration.com/article/cabela-s-leverages-social-promotion-drive-customer-engagement-418921/1

Cabela's, a cross-channel retailer of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, launched a Facebook promotion in March around its TV show "Ultimate Adventures" and its Outdoor Adventures travel program. The promotion was designed to drive customer engagement.

MagnaGlobal: NA Ad Revenue Forecast Revised Up, Global Down

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/176994/magna-dips-global-ad-forecast-uptick-on-us-regi.html

Interpublic Group’s MagnaGlobal has downgraded its ad revenue growth forecast for 2012. The firm, part of IPG’s Mediabrands unit, now predicts global ad revenues will rise 4.8% to $480 billion, which is two-tenths of a percentage point less than its December 2011 forecast. For North America, the firm upgraded its forecast slightly, now predicting growth in regional ad revenues of 3.9% to $165 billion.

Development in Marketing Services

http://www.foliomag.com/2012/new-developments-marketing-services

Marketing services caught fire in 2011, with major b-to-b and consumer publishers, and even regional media companies getting in the game. A new revenue stream from advertisers outside print pages excited publishers, as ad pages aren’t recovering the way initially hoped.

Fortunately, marketing services appears to be living up to the hype. FOLIO published interviews with two publishers on how their marketing service divisions are faring, and what’s next for the sector.

JC Penney President Out

http://www.retailonlineintegration.com/aggregatedcontent/michael-francis-departs-jc-penney

After only eight months, Michael Francis , one of the key architects of J.C. Penney's high profile turnaround efforts, is leaving the company, effective immediately. In October, the former Target exec became J.C. Penney's president, responsible for merchandising, marketing, planning and allocation, and product development and sourcing. CEO Ron Johnson will assume direct responsibility and oversight of the company's marketing and merchandising functions.