Pharmaceutical Representative Magazine Closes

Advanstar’s Pharmaceutical Representative Folds: After a 41-year run, Pharmaceutical Representative magazine will fold. The January 2012 issue will be its last, as the magazine closes after 492 issues.

UPM Will Close Albbruk Mill

UPM to Close Down Its Albbruck Paper Mill in Germany:

With neither an investor nor a way to continue operations found during discussions with employee representatives and local authorities, UPM will close its Albbruk, Germany mill by January 31.  The mill employs 508 workers.  The sheeting lines will be moved to the company’s Plattling facility.  Albbruk is the last of the mills to close since UPM announced its capacity cutting plans last August.  UPM Myllykoski, Finland, with 600,000 metric tonnes of magazine paper capacity, was the first to close on December 9, 2011. UPM Ettringen, Germany, with 110,000 mtpy of newsprint capacity closed on December 14.  Albbruk has 320,000 mtpy of magazine paper capacity.  The company also still plans to sell its Stracel, France mill.

Negotiations for Sale of manroland in Moving Forward

Manroland bids to be put to creditors on Wednesday: Negotiations for the sale of Manroland have entered the final stages, with a shortlist of two different bid proposals due to be presented to creditors on Wednesday (18 January).

Catalyst Paper in Agreement to Reduce Debt Burden

http://www.catalystpaper.com/media/news/community/catalyst-board-directors-recommends-support-recapitalization-transaction

Catalyst Paper Corporation announced today that the company has entered into an agreement (the Agreement) for a recapitalization transaction that will result in a significantly reduced debt burden. As reported on the company’s website; “Catalyst Paper's management team and Board of Directors believe that, in view of the challenges and risks to the company's ongoing viability created by the current paper, newsprint and pulp markets and the company's existing capital structure, the recapitalization is the best alternative available to the company and its note holders, shareholders and other stakeholders. The new capital structure will provide a stronger financial base for the execution of the company's operating strategy and enhance the long-term value of the company. The recapitalization is expected to close by March 31, 2012.”

Hanley Wood Recapitalizes, Reduces Debt

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20120116/MEDIABUSINESS1501/301169976/hanley-wood-recapitalizes-reduces-debt-by-330-million

Hanley Wood, a B-to-B construction information company that publishes Builder, among other titles, cut its long-term debt from $410 million to $80 million.  A new ownership group (led by Oaktree Capital Management, Strategic Value Partners and Tennenbaum Capital Partners) invested $35 million of new capital in the company.

USPS Reports November Loss

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20120116/DIRECT0202/301169974/usps-reports-1-3-billion-loss-in-november
The U.S. Postal Service reported a net loss of $1.3 billion for November, the second month in the current fiscal year.  News for Periodical mailings, which includes magazines, was good, however; the class had an increase in volume mailed of 2.7%, with revenue up 1.4%.  News for total shipping services volume was even better; it jumped 32.7%.  Total November mail volume fell -2.2%, as compared to the same month last year.

November Commercial Printing Shipments Decline

November 2011 US Commercial Printing Shipments Down -1.4% Compared to November 2010:

Commercial printing shipments for November were $7.1 billion in current dollars, down -1.4% compared to the same month last year.  Shipments for the whole of 2011 are expected to be ~$84 billion.

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.

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.

Third Pulp Producer Announces Price Cut

In North America, Fibrek followed Canfor and Resolute Forest Products in reporting a $20 per metric tonne decrease for NBSK pulp, effective with January shipments.  In Europe, however, five producers, Fibrek, Stora Enso, Botnia, Canfor and West Fraser, have announced pulp price increases.

comScore Reports Digital Audiences Exceed Print for 15 Titles

http://www.pubexec.com/article/magazines-reaching-print-digital-audience-tipping-point-25027100/1

As reported by comScore’s Media Metrix, there are now 15 magazines read more in their digital formats than their printed versions: Barron’s, ESPN the Magazine, Fast Company, Food Network Magazine, Forbes, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, MacWorld, Money, New York Magazine, Sporting News, The Atlantic, The Economist, WebMD the Magazine and Wired.

Hearst Sells Two Titles

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/jan/11/immediate-media-buys-hearst-magazines-titles?INTCMP=SRCH

Immediate Media has purchased You & Your Weeding and Prima Baby & Pregnancy magazines from Hearst Magazines UK.  Immediate Media is the publishing company that was formed after the private equity takeover of BBC magazines.