Ad Age Hires Executive Editor

http://adage.com/article/news/ad-age-hires-executive-editor-media-reporter/240982/

Advertising Age has hired Matthew Quinn as executive editor, to build out its coverage of the business of marketing and media. 
Mr. Quinn, who starts May 6, has been editor of The Wall Street Journal's CFO Journal, which covers news and trends important to chief financial officers and other corporate-finance executives. It is a return to Crain Communications for Mr. Quinn, who helped launch Financial Week in 2006 and eventually served as assistant managing editor. He has reported on commercial banking, investment banking and corporate cash management and worked at Inc. and CFO Zone.

Senate to Vote on Online Tax

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/senate-planning-vote-on-internet-sales-tax-bill/2013/04/21/2eaaeab2-a933-11e2-8302-3c7e0ea97057_story.html?hpid=z3

The Senate is planning to vote on a bill as soon as Monday that would give states the authority to collect sales taxes on all Internet purchases, handing local governments as much as $11 billion per year in added revenue that they are legally owed — but that hasn’t been paid to them for years.

2012 Global Ad Spend Up 3.2%

Nielsen: Global Ad Spend Closes Out 2012 Up 3.2%: According to Nielsen’s quarterly Global AdView Pulse report (Q4 2012), global advertising spending rose 3.2% in 2012 with global advertising totaling USD 557 billion.
  Nielsen reports globally, advertisers gravitated towards television advertising in 2012 and pulled away from newspapers and magazines.
Television advertising (62.8%) commanded the majority of global ad spend. The next largest ad spend was newspapers (19.5%), followed by magazine ad spend (5.2%)

Catalyst Paper Announces CEO's Departure

Catalyst Paper Announces CEO's Departure:Catalyst Paper's President and CEO Kevin J. Clarke will step down from his position later this spring. Clarke has advised Catalyst’s Board of Directors that, with the company’s recent financial restructuring successfully completed, the time is right for a leadership transition.
Lederer also added Clarke's printing and publishing industry experience was also helpful in advancing product and market development objectives, and served to put Catalyst on better footing to address the ongoing challenges of the fiercely competitive paper and pulp industry. Clarke will continue in his role for an interim period through June 2013 to assist in a smooth transition. He plans to return to his home in New York State, where his family resides. A search for his successor is underway.

Domar Announces Fluff Pulp Increase

http://www.domtar.com/

Domtar informed customers in key global markets today that it will increase fluff pulp prices by $40/tonne, effective May 1 until further notice.

Domtar told customers the $40/tonne increase on fluff would raise its list price to $960/tonne in North America, Europe, and South America, industry contacts said.

Domtar's Espanola Asks for Tax Help

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/story/2013/04/18/sby-espanola-domtar-back-taxes.html

The MPP for Algoma-Mantioulin says the Town of Espanola is still waiting for information from the province about property reassessment. Two months ago, the town received notice that Domtar's mill had been reassessed to be worth $9.9 million — down from the previous $26 million.
The change means the town owes the company $4 million in back taxes and will lose about $1 million each year from its tax base.

Town Questions Great Northern About PM 11

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/04/17/business/millinocket-leaders-want-reassurances-that-paper-machine-wont-be-leaving/?ref=latest

Town leaders will seek reassurances that the No. 11 paper machine will stay in place at the inactive Katahdin Avenue mill when they meet with Cate Street Capital officials later this month, they said Wednesday. Town Council Chairman John Davis said that besides an update on the company's plans, which usually comes once or twice annually, councilors hope to quell rumors about the machine's permanence and introduce company officials to the town's new manager, Peggy Daigle. No meeting date has been set.

Card Industry, Mail Carriers Lobby for Postal Reform

U.S. Card Industry, Mail Carriers Flex Muscle in Postal Service Debate: The U.S. lobbying forces that defeated a Postal Service plan to end Saturday delivery to reduce its annual deficit are now using their Capitol Hill clout to pass a law to make six-day delivery mandatory.
At a hearing on Wednesday before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers urged lawmakers to write six-day delivery into law.
A bill mandating six-day delivery begun in the Oversight Committee in January has gained momentum and now boasts 175 cosponsors. It is yet another sign of the growing influence of interest groups and postal employee unions who constitute a powerful lobbying force on Capitol Hill.
The group, which includes lobbyists for greeting card companies, the newspaper industry and letter carriers unions, spent more than $1 million last year to thwart the Postal Service's plan.

MediaPost Mag Bag

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/198462/mag-bag-maz-gives-publishers-usage-data.html#axzz2QqPzA2yp

Skateboarder magazine owner GrindMedia is shifting to a “digital-first” publication strategy, according to Folio. The new strategy entails replacing its print magazine with a free digital edition, along with a print replica of the digital editions that will be published bimonthly...
Peggy Northrop has been named editor-in-chief of Sunset, Time Inc. announced this week. Northrop’s appointment is effective April 22. This is Northrop’s second stint at Time Inc., having earlier served as deputy editor of Real Simple...  
Laura Rowley is joining Meredith Corp.’s National Media Group as vice president for video production and product. In her new role she will be responsible for overseeing Meredith’s digital video operations across its entire brand portfolio, including Better Homes and Gardens, Parents and Fitness... 
Meredith Xcelerated Marketing has named Matt Turnbull managing director for new business and marketing at MXM Mobile...
Ethan Grey has been promoted to the position of senior vice-president for digital strategy and initiatives at the MPA – The Association of Magazine Media...and more...

Publishers’ Commitment Online to Double by 2015

http://www.publishingtechnology.com/2013/04/publishers-commitment-to-online-communities-set-to-double-by-2015/
The study also investigated the rationale and perceived benefits for publishers moving into this arena, revealing that:
84% of publishers felt their spending on online communities would increase in the next two years with only 14% envisaging expenditure remaining stagnant
64% of publishers with online communities were convinced that their investment in this market is already paying off and a further 24% believed it would do so in the short term
73% of all the publishers interviewed felt that online communities helped or would help them to engage better with their audiences
72% of trade publishers said they helped or would help to increase direct relationships with customers.

Canopy Withdraws from Boreal Forest Agreement

Environmental group Canopy leaves the Boreal Forest Agreement citing lack of results:
Canopy has decided to leave the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement.
The organization said today, “ After almost three years since the agreement was announced, not one hectare of Canada’s Boreal forest has been protected. Canopy has determined more meaningful and speedier results for the Boreal forest can be achieved through our work helping to shape the paper purchasing decisions of major consumers and new strategic alliances with leading forest products producers.”

Another European Mill Increases Coated Price

http://www.tullisrussell.com/our-products/default.html

Tullis Russell to increase woodfree paper prices by 6% from May 20.

Tullis Russell Papermakers is announcing an average 6% price increase effective from 20 May 2013.
This is as a result of continued increases in costs, particularly in relation to pulp, energy and other raw materials.

Harbor Paper Closure Not Permanent

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/harbor-paper-closure-not-permanent-according-to-staff/

Harbor Paper has postponed the full restart of the mill, but staff said that it is not permanent. They say that reports that start-up has been delayed ‘indefinitely” are not accurate.
The company announced last week that the scheduled restart for this Monday had to be postponed.
Owner Cesar Scolari told employees they will be postponing their start up saying ““Please be assured that we continue to work diligently towards a comprehensive strategy that will accomplish this goal as soon as possible.”
Harbor Paper announced in February that they are cutting back production heavily while they adjusted their management. They told employees that Harbor Paper’s Board made the decision to do a wholesale management change at the mill.
They say that they plan to restart full operations and hope that these changes will improve the viability of the mill as a long term enterprise.

Port Hawkesbury Secures Wood Supply

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1123856-point-tupper-mill-links-with-peers

Since roaring back to life in October, the Port Hawkesbury Paper LP mill has reached out to provincial sawmills and pulp mills in an effort to create viable economic conditions.

Marc Dube, the Point Tupper mill's development manager, said that an important aspect of creating a vibrant innovation ecosystem is collaborating effectively with all interested parties, and in that respect, the mill and its partners are achieving that.

Second Mill Increases Carbonless Price

http://www.appletonideas.com/Appleton/jsps/StoreCatalogDisplay.do?langId=-1

Following a price increase this month on carbonless sheets, both Appleton and Glatfelter are out with roll price increases for later this month and next month on carbonless paper, contacts said this week.

Glatfelter had announced a carbonless sheet price increase for 6% effective Apr. 1.

NF Government Pledges $90 million to Kruger Corner Brook

http://www.kruger.com/index_en.html

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Natural Resources:

Mr. Speaker I am pleased to stand and inform this Honourable House that the Provincial Government plans to assist Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited with a $90 million loan.
Corner Brook Pulp and Paper is a key employer and a strong contributor to our economy. The mill is important not only to the west coast, but the entire province. Government has clearly stated that we will provide support only when negotiations for a new contract are concluded for all eight unions at the mill. 

http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2013-04-17/article-3221838/Marshall-defends-90million-loan-for-Corner-Brook-paper-mill/1

Newfoundland minister defends $90 million loan to Kruger mill, says support depends on union contract being reached

Natural Resources Minister Tom Marshall elaborated in the House of Assembly this afternoon on a $90-million loan to assist Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. "Corner Brook Pulp and Paper is a key employer and a strong contributor to our economy. The mill is important not only to the west coast, but the entire province,"

Holmen Completes Job Talks at Braviken

http://www.holmen.com/

Holmen has finalized discussions with employee representatives regarding job cuts at its Braviken mill in Norrköping in Sweden, linked to the closure of the mill's PM 51. As a result, 168 jobs will be lost, instead of the 180 envisaged when the shutdown was announced in March.

The firm did not comment on how many of the 168 positions to be cut will be white-collar and blue-collar jobs. Holmen plans to close the 200,000 tonne/yr newsprint machine in the third quarter, but did not offer a more exact closure date.
Holmen also plans to shut down the 140,000 tonne/yr supercalendered paper PM 3 at its Hallsta mill in Sweden during the second half of this year. This was announced in October last year and the company then thought it would lead to some 230 job cuts.

BlackRock's Holding in UPM Over 5%

BlackRock's holding in UPM has gone above the threshold of 5 per cent:
Kymmene Corporation Stock Exchange Release 18 April 2013 at 17.00 EET UPM-Kymmene Corporation has on 18 April 2013 received an announcement under Chapter 9, Section 5 of the Securities Markets Act, according to which BlackRock, Inc.'s indirect holding in UPM has gone above the threshold of 5 per cent on 17 April 2013. According to the announcement, the indirect holding of BlackRock, Inc. (USA Tax ID 32-0174421, SEC CIK Code#: 0001364742) in UPM has increased from 26,405,469 shares to 27,148,467 shares, corresponding to 5.141 per cent of UPM's shares and voting rights.

Nippon Paper to Build Biomass Plant

Nippon Paper to build biomass plant

The first project of its kind in Japan

Nippon Paper Industries has decided to implement a biomass power generation project using 100% unused woody materials, making it the first project of its kind in Japan. New wood biomass power generation facilities will be constructed at the Yatsushiro Mill (Yatsushiro, Kumamoto) and launched as a new energy business from spring 2015.

Postmaster General Urges Congress to Provide Flexibility

Postmaster General Urges Congress to Provide Delivery Schedule Flexibility to Address Broken Business Model: WASHINGTON - Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe told a House committee today that the Postal Service is currently operating with a broken business model and the gap between revenues and costs will only get worse in the coming years unless the laws that govern the Postal Service are changed.
“Our financial problems are due to the restrictive laws that prevent us from fully responding to changes in consumer behavior,” Donahoe testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Online Sales Tax Bill Readied for Vote in Senate

http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Online-Sales-Tax-Bill-Being-Readied-for-Vote-in-4442522.php

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he is “looking at” scheduling a bill that would let states collect taxes on out-of-state sellers as the next issue on lawmakers’ agenda after pending gun legislation.

Reid, who controls the flow of legislation to the U.S. Senate’s floor, indicated in a brief interview today in Washington that he hadn’t made a decision yet. A vote on the sales tax measure could come as early as next week, said a Senate Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The bill, backed by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Amazon.com Inc., would let states collect some of the $24 billion in revenue they lose to untaxed sales made by retailers with no physical presence in their states. EBay Inc. and anti-tax groups such as Americans for Tax Reform oppose the measure.

Nielsen Study Finds Newspaper Ads Engage Consumers

http://www.naa.org/News-and-Media/Press-Center/Archives/2013/National-Engagement-Study-Finds-Newspaper-Media-Have-Most-Engaging-Content-and-Advertising.aspx

Today, the Newspaper Association of America released the findings of a landmark study by Nielsen that compares the ability of major media, including television, radio and social media, to engage audiences. The study looks at consumer engagement with media content – and importantly, compares each medium’s ability to engage consumers with advertising. This side-by-side advertisement scoring will aid marketers and agencies in assessing media by their ability to engage consumers who seek and respond to advertising not just by audience numbers alone.  
Key findings from the study include that newspaper media – print and online – scored the highest of all media on overall engagement. Where newspapers and their websites stood out most was in the efficacy of advertising.

Global Marketing Continues Growth

http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130418/ADVERTISING13/304189997/warc-global-marketing-conditions-show-gains

Global marketing budgets, trading conditions and staffing levels continue to experience growth, according to marketing information company Warc, with its Warc Global Marketing Index rising to 52.9 in April, up from 52.4 in March.

A GMI reading of 50 represents no change in global marketing conditions. A score of 60 indicates rapid growth, and a score below 50 marks a decline. The Americas continues to be the most positive region, with a GMI budget level of 54.8, with Asia-Pacific at 53.3 and Europe holding steady at 50.5.

The Atlantic to Introduce Paywall

http://paidcontent.org/2013/04/17/the-atlantic-is-going-to-launch-a-paid-content-offering-soon/

The Atlantic will launch a paid product within the next two or three weeks, a News Corp. is touting paywalls as “courageous,” and ProPublica wants to have paywall-free nonprofit journalism in every city. 

The Atlantic Magazine has long resisted the idea of a paywall, but Atlantic Media President Justin Smith revealed at GigaOM’s paidContent Live 2013 conference in New York Wednesday that the company is about to launch a paid product within the next two or three weeks.

Time to Publish Special Edition on Boston

http://tabtimes.com/news/media/2013/04/17/time-publish-free-tablet-only-magazine-boston-tragedy

Time magazine has revealed that it will publish a tablet-only edition on the Boston Marathon attack tomorrow. The digital magazine will be available free on iPad, Nook, Android and Kindle devices.

In Washington, End of White Pages

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/apr/17/phone-companies-no-longer-have-print-directories-w/

The once-useful, once-necessary, once-ubiquitous White Pages will soon be no more — unless you really want one.
State regulators Tuesday ended a requirement that local telephone companies annually deliver printed directories to all their Washington customers. 
The change is expected to remove more than 300 tons of unwanted paper directories from waste and recycling bins annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 4,000 tons and saving local governments hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in waste-processing costs, according to a release from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.

William Gibbons to Print The Scots Magazine

William Gibbons to print relaunched The Scots Magazine:
West Midlands-based William Gibbons & Sons Ltd will print the magazine, taking over from Polestar Bicester, which printed the magazine for two years. Both printers also print a number of other titles for DC Thomson, the company that publishes the magazine.
A DC Thomson spokeswoman would not disclose how much the new two-year contract for The Scots Magazine with William Gibbons was worth.

Skateboarder Magazine Emphasizes Digital

Skateboarder Magazine Goes Digital-First: Skateboarder Magazine isn't abandoning print altogether, but--not surprisingly for a young, male enthusiast title--it's going to concentrate a lot more on digital from now on.

Performance of Response Call Centers

A Tale of Two Direct Response Call Centers: Early in 2012, buyCalls decided to get to the bottom of the issue by testing one of the high-performing call centers, Center A, against one of the lower performers, Center B.  BuyCalls put them on the same security company account and randomly split responses 50-50 between the two. After a few months of testing, Center B showed its stripes. It closed at a rate six percentage points lower than Center A. Their initial testing was through internal IVRs hosted on site at the call centers, though, and there was some back and forth mix up between identifying Centers A and B. Management at Call Center B argued that the comparison was invalid.

Folio: People On The Move

People On The Move | 04.18.13:  Peggy Northrop has been named editor-in-chief of Time Inc.’s Sunset magazine. She will replace Kitty Morgan, who took on the role just over a year ago. Northrop boasts an impressive resume having worked at Reader’s Digest, Meredith and Rodale.
Reader’s Digest has named Lauren Gniazdowski as assistant managing editor. Gniazdowski was previously assistant editor at the publication
Peter Land has been named senior vice president of communications at AOL. Land was previously head of communications at PepsiCo.
Access Intelligence, parent company of FOLIO:, has named Michael Grossman as vice president and group publisher of its Energy and Information group. Grossman was previously with Penwell, where he was vice president of its transmission and distribution group.

Quad/Graphics to Hire 125 at New Berlin (WI) Facility

Quad/Graphics to Hire 125 at New Berlin (WI) Facility: Quad/Graphics Inc. will hire about 125 full- and part-time employees at its new facility in New Berlin (WI), The Business Journal has learned. About 150 employees will work at the facility, said Quad/Graphics spokeswoman Claire Ho

China to Close 4.55 Million mt P&P Capacity in 2013

China has announced it will close a total of 4.55 million tonnes/yr of old pulp and paper capacity in 2013.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) unveiled the annual outdated capacity shutdown targets for 19 industries, including pulp and paper, last week.
A detailed list of closures is to be released later this year.
The goal for 2013 has sharply decreased from last year's target of 9.95 million tonnes/yr.
The final results of the 2012 campaign are being checked by the central government.
Earlier this year, the ministry calculated that more than 8.31 million tonnes/yr of small and outdated pulp and paper equipment was decommissioned in 2011.

Germany: Suppliers Insist on Coated Price Increase

http://www.euwid-paper.com/news/singlenews/archive/2013/april/Artikel/suppliers-insist-in-price-hikes-for-cwf-paper-in-germany.html

Producers of woodfree coated paper are pushing forward with their price hike plans on the German market. Announcements have been made by all major suppliers. Even buyers are preparing for increases in April.

All major suppliers of woodfree coated paper on the German market have announced price hikes.
Although demand is not high – all manufacturers can reportedly deliver paper immediately – prices are said to have been forced up. In view of cost increases, especially for raw materials, producers are no longer ready to make compromises. "Take it or leave it” is the general attitude, buyers report. The situation is reportedly the same with all manufacturers since current prices do not allow for any earnings. 
Even buyers who until late had doubted the seriousness of the producers attempts meanwhile believe that the hike in April cannot be avoided. That said, they are sceptical with respect to price sustainability

Russia Once Again Reduces Coated Paper Duties

Russia reduced again duties on imports of coated paper and board down to 5%: The Board of Eurasian Economic Commission decided to reduce temporarily import duties on certain types of paper and board from 15% to 5% of the customs value.
Since late April, import duties for most grades of coated paper and paperboard used in printing will be reduced until 19 January 2014, for multi-layer paper and paperboard with bleached layers - until 31 December 2015.

F+W Media Makes Acquisition

F+W Media to Acquire Network of Digital and Retail Properties:
F+W Media announced that it plans to acquire a sewing vertical complete with retail locations and a digital content portal—The Sewing Studio and LoveSewing.com will join the F+W family effective May 1.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cenveo Completes Refinancing of Credit Facilities

http://www.cenveo.com/

Cenveo, Inc. (CVO) today announced that its subsidiary, Cenveo Corporation ("Cenveo"), has completed the refinancing of its existing senior secured Term B Loan and Revolving Credit Facility with an amended and restated $360 million Term B Loan facility, through Bank of America, N.A. as administrative agent, and joint lead arrangers Bank of America, N.A., Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. and Barclays Bank PLC, along with a new $200 million asset based loan ("ABL") Credit Agreement with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and Bank of America, N.A., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Barclays Bank PLC and General Electric Capital Corporation as joint lead arrangers.

WSJ Launches MoneyBeat

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/198163/wsj-launches-new-blog-moneybeat.html#axzz2QjRVkUBb

The Wall Street Journal has just launched MoneyBeat, a new blog dedicated to global finance, markets, and mergers and acquisitions. Its analyzes the big trends and business news stories. MoneyBeat brings together six of the newspaper's most widely read blogs: MarketBeat, The Source, Overheard and all the Deal Journals across the globe, into a single, integrated hub. MoneyBeat is overseen by former Deal Journal and MarketBeat editor Stephen Grocer.

Nielsen: Newspaper Ads Engage, Influence Consumers

Nielsen: Newspaper Ads Touted for Engagement and Influence: A Nielsen survey of 5,000 U.S. adults finds newspapers (print and online) lead for ad engagement, influencing purchases, and more.
Key findings:

For consumers, newspaper engagement scores exceeded those of other media (TV, radio, social media). On indices where 100 equals the norm, print newspapers rated highest on how engaged audiences with advertising than the media overall; local newspapers ranked 19% higher and national newspapers, 17% higher.

A critical question is whether advertising influences consumers’ likelihood of making a purchase. On this metric, 35% of consumers surveyed said ads viewed in local and national newspapers were most likely to influence their decision to purchase. Social media ads rated last (25%). 

When respondents were asked about media use and whether they usually notice advertisements, local newspapers scored highest of all media at 48%, followed by national newspapers (46%).

Former CEO of Quebecor to Chair Hydro-Quebec Board

Former CEO of Quebecor to chair Hydro-Quebec board:
Pierre Karl Peladeau, former CEO of Quebecor Inc., says he is happy to work with Hydro-Quebec. The former, and sometimes controversial, head of Quebecor Inc, Pierre Karl Peladeau, is about to take on a leadership role at Hydro-Quebec. Premier Pauline Marois' office announced this morning Peladeau is being named the chairman of Hydro-Quebec's board of directors. He will also sit as an independent member of the board.
Peladeau's new position will not affect the role of Thierry Vandal, who will remain Hydro-Québec's president and CEO.
A spokesperson for Peladeau said he is looking forward to contributing to the organization.

Quad/Graphics Leases Industrial Facility

Quad/Graphics leases New Berlin industrial facility:
Quad/Graphics Inc. has leased a 205,063-square-foot industrial building in New Berlin, according to an announcement Tuesday from the Dickman Co. Inc./CORFAC International, Milwaukee.
More details were not immediately available. A Quad/Graphics spokeswoman couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Deluxe Closes Plant

http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2013/04/15/new-albany-printing-plant-to-close.html

A printing plant in New Albany, owned by Shoreview, Minn.-based Deluxe Corp., will close by the end of the year, and about 30 workers are being laid off in the process. 
Printing done at the New Albany plant is being moved to a new facility that the company recently opened in Chicago, according to Terri Shapiro, executive director of brand and media relations at Deluxe. She said many of the workers being laid off will be offered severance. 
The closure is part of a realignment for Deluxe.