Wednesday, February 20, 2013
AMI Reports Q3 Results
BoSacks on Publishing Revolution
If you can just step back for a moment and look,
not as an active member but rather as a voyeur, you will see that we, too, are
not at liberty to be inactive participants in our industry and its future.
There are some publishers who are timidly seeking an easy way through the
technologic turmoil, and there are those that are active participants in the
future.
What makes this timely for me is the news last week about Time Inc. negotiating
to sell off some of their large titles. I see this move as “being a very active
participant in our future.” Time Inc. has always been a smart company that has
seen and acted on the future before any other publisher. There are numerous
actions that they have taken years before the rest of the industry
followed. And there is a forward thinking angle that many have missed in
the guess work of their current action.
LinkedIn: A Sleeping Giant of Publishing
Over the last four months, LinkedIn, always
living in the shadow of the sexier social platforms, has quietly built out a
publishing platform. It is now a publisher in its own right, under former
Fortune editor Dan Roth, with LinkedIn
Today feeding aggregated articles from more than 1 million
publications to LinkedIn’s 200 million users based on their preferences. It
complemented that with an original publishing effort around “influencers,”
recruiting a who’s who of business like Richard
Branson, T.
Boone Pickens and Ari Emanuel,
and about
250 others.
A New King of Magazines Emerges
In 1922, the same year Henry Luce and Briton
Hadden founded Time magazine in New York City, Edwin Thomas Meredith
MDP +1.43% launched a
title called Fruit, Garden and Home in Des Moines, Iowa.
Two years later, the magazine changed its name to Better Homes and Gardens, today one of the biggest-selling titles in the U.S. and a core product of Meredith Corp., the Iowa-based TV and magazine firm still controlled by the Meredith family. It is now poised to merge with most of the glamorous Time Inc. publishing empire that Mr. Luce built into international fame.
Two years later, the magazine changed its name to Better Homes and Gardens, today one of the biggest-selling titles in the U.S. and a core product of Meredith Corp., the Iowa-based TV and magazine firm still controlled by the Meredith family. It is now poised to merge with most of the glamorous Time Inc. publishing empire that Mr. Luce built into international fame.
Behind RDA’s Chapter 11 Filing
Behind RDA’s Chapter 11 Filing:
RDA Holding has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in four years.
The move to convert $465 million in debt to equity comes after the company considered a "wide range of alternatives" however, according to a statement from Robert Guth, president and CEO of RDA.
http://www.printweek.com/news/1171678/Printers-hit-Readers-Digest-files-Chapter-11-again/
The move comes less than four years after the last time RDA filed for Chapter 11 protection, in August of 2009, and leading commercial printers Williams Lea, RR Donnelley and Quad/Graphics are again among the top unsecured creditors.
RDA Holding has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in four years.
The move to convert $465 million in debt to equity comes after the company considered a "wide range of alternatives" however, according to a statement from Robert Guth, president and CEO of RDA.
http://www.printweek.com/news/1171678/Printers-hit-Readers-Digest-files-Chapter-11-again/
The move comes less than four years after the last time RDA filed for Chapter 11 protection, in August of 2009, and leading commercial printers Williams Lea, RR Donnelley and Quad/Graphics are again among the top unsecured creditors.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Resolute Workers Refuse Pension Cuts
Resolute Forest Products’ workers in Ontario and Quebec stand firm on refusing pension cuts:
Workers at Resolute Forest Products mills in Ontario and Quebec today demanded that Quebec’s pension regulator, the Régie Des rentes, and the company reach an agreement to resolve the solvency deficit in the pension plan without any cuts to benefits.
“The company and the Régie must work out a plan in the coming weeks to solve the funding problem for the pension plan. Our members sent a strong message today that we will not agree to any cuts in pension benefits,” said Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union President Dave Coles.
Workers at Resolute Forest Products mills in Ontario and Quebec today demanded that Quebec’s pension regulator, the Régie Des rentes, and the company reach an agreement to resolve the solvency deficit in the pension plan without any cuts to benefits.
“The company and the Régie must work out a plan in the coming weeks to solve the funding problem for the pension plan. Our members sent a strong message today that we will not agree to any cuts in pension benefits,” said Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union President Dave Coles.
Resolute & Fort Frances Reach Tax Agreement
Fort Frances and Resolute Forest Products reach tax appeal agreement:
The Town of Fort Frances and Resolute Forest Products has reached an agreement to resolve the outstanding assessment appeal complaints over Resolute’s mill.
Resolute had been seeking reductions of about 58%.
Instead, the property assessment will be reduced by about 25% for the years 2009-2012.
As a result, the town will have to pay Resolute a $1.763 million tax refund rather than the possible $4.098 million had Resolute been successful in their assessment appeal.
The Town of Fort Frances and Resolute Forest Products has reached an agreement to resolve the outstanding assessment appeal complaints over Resolute’s mill.
Resolute had been seeking reductions of about 58%.
Instead, the property assessment will be reduced by about 25% for the years 2009-2012.
As a result, the town will have to pay Resolute a $1.763 million tax refund rather than the possible $4.098 million had Resolute been successful in their assessment appeal.
Sappi NA Invests in Future Workers
http://www.usm.maine.edu/publicaffairs/sappi-fine-paper-invests-100000-usms-stem-initiative
Sappi Fine Paper North America, a leading global paper company, has pledged $100,000 over the course of four years to support the University of Southern Maine Pioneers Program, the first college-level STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) program for high-achieving students in Maine.
“We anticipate having nearly thirty percent of our workforce retire in the next 5 years and so there is a huge demand for STEM-related jobs,” says Donna Cassese, Managing Director of Sappi’s Westbrook Mill.
Sappi Fine Paper North America, a leading global paper company, has pledged $100,000 over the course of four years to support the University of Southern Maine Pioneers Program, the first college-level STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) program for high-achieving students in Maine.
“We anticipate having nearly thirty percent of our workforce retire in the next 5 years and so there is a huge demand for STEM-related jobs,” says Donna Cassese, Managing Director of Sappi’s Westbrook Mill.
Finish Paper & Board Production Falls in 2012
http://www.forestindustries.fi/juurinyt2/tiedotteet/Pages/TheFinnishforestindustry2012Europeaneconomiccrisisdepressesproduction%E2%80%93economicgrowthmustbeboostednothinder.aspx
In total, Finland produced 10.7 million tonnes of paper and paperboard in 2012; this is 5.6% less than in 2011. The fall in production volumes was due especially to the economic downturn in the main market areas of Europe, production capacity cuts and a fall in demand for graphic paper grades. Graphic papers, i.e. printing, writing and newsprint grades, account for about two-thirds of the Finnish paper industry's overall production.
In total, Finland produced 10.7 million tonnes of paper and paperboard in 2012; this is 5.6% less than in 2011. The fall in production volumes was due especially to the economic downturn in the main market areas of Europe, production capacity cuts and a fall in demand for graphic paper grades. Graphic papers, i.e. printing, writing and newsprint grades, account for about two-thirds of the Finnish paper industry's overall production.
RDA Holding Files Bankruptcy Protection...Again
RDA Holding Co.—parent
of Reader's Digest Association and the 90-year-old Reader's Digest—filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection over the Presidents Day holiday weekend.
The announcement by CEO (since Sept. 2011) Robert Guth came just days before the third anniversary (Feb. 22) of RDA's first emergence from Chapter 11.Then, under 2007-2011 CEO Mary Berner, the company had restructured its debt from $2.2 billion to $525 million. (A casualty was much of the pensions going to retirees working under contract.
The announcement by CEO (since Sept. 2011) Robert Guth came just days before the third anniversary (Feb. 22) of RDA's first emergence from Chapter 11.Then, under 2007-2011 CEO Mary Berner, the company had restructured its debt from $2.2 billion to $525 million. (A casualty was much of the pensions going to retirees working under contract.
InfoTrends: Top 10 Print Trends
1. Digital Color is King.
2. Digital Wide Format Goes Mainstream.
3. Inkjet Accelerates Migration from Offset to Digital.
4. Enhanced Substrates Drive Digital.
5. Web-to-Print Manages Marketing Supply Chains.
6. Content Reigns.
7. Hyper-Personalization Drives Digital Print. references.
9. Mobile Marketing Changes Communications.
10. Direct Mail and Social Media Converge.
OfficeMax/Office Depot Reportedly in Merger Talks
Shares in Naperville-based
OfficeMax Inc. soared 14 percent Tuesday morning on a report it is in advanced
merger talks with Office Depot Inc.
And Office Depot shares were up 25 percent after the Wall Street Journal reported the two companies were in advanced discussions, citing person familiar with the negotiations, with a deal possible as early as this week.
Currently, the deal is expected to be structured as a stock-for-stock transaction, the person said.
And Office Depot shares were up 25 percent after the Wall Street Journal reported the two companies were in advanced discussions, citing person familiar with the negotiations, with a deal possible as early as this week.
Currently, the deal is expected to be structured as a stock-for-stock transaction, the person said.
Perils of "Native" Advertising
Atlantic Magazine Crosses the Line (Advertising):
The Atlantic, the 157-year-old magazine, got into hot water recently when they placed a online story about the Church of Scientology on the publication’s website. The article on the controversial church talked in very positive terms about the successes of the past year in their efforts to expand.
Although the story was marked with a yellow banner that identified it as sponsored content, it could easily appear at first glance as any other article on Atlantic’s site. The article is the latest example of a concept called Native advertising, which many consider a disruptive technology that allows content written by advertisers to be displayed like the articles written by the staff. This crosses the traditional “church versus state” model used in journalism to separate advertising content from editorial content.
The story went viral on Twitter resulting in criticisms over both the church and the publisher the Atlantic’s use of Native advertising. As a result the Atlantic removed the article and replaced it with a notice saying that the company had, “temporarily suspended this advertising campaign pending a review of our policies that govern sponsor content and subsequent comment threads.”
The Atlantic, the 157-year-old magazine, got into hot water recently when they placed a online story about the Church of Scientology on the publication’s website. The article on the controversial church talked in very positive terms about the successes of the past year in their efforts to expand.
Although the story was marked with a yellow banner that identified it as sponsored content, it could easily appear at first glance as any other article on Atlantic’s site. The article is the latest example of a concept called Native advertising, which many consider a disruptive technology that allows content written by advertisers to be displayed like the articles written by the staff. This crosses the traditional “church versus state” model used in journalism to separate advertising content from editorial content.
The story went viral on Twitter resulting in criticisms over both the church and the publisher the Atlantic’s use of Native advertising. As a result the Atlantic removed the article and replaced it with a notice saying that the company had, “temporarily suspended this advertising campaign pending a review of our policies that govern sponsor content and subsequent comment threads.”
Yellow Pages Reduces Directory Size
http://www.ypg.com/en/newsroom/602-yellow-pages-group-alters-print-directory-sizing-in-favour-of-more-compact-forma
Yellow Pages Group (YPG), a leading multimedia and marketing solutions company, is reducing its traditional 9” x 11” Yellow Pages™ directory to a handier 7” x 9” format as part of an ongoing upgrade of its print products. The change will take place on a rolling basis across Canada. As the company continues its transformation to a digital marketing solutions and services provider, it has been actively streamlining and modifying its print product segment based on feedback around usage and format.
Yellow Pages Group (YPG), a leading multimedia and marketing solutions company, is reducing its traditional 9” x 11” Yellow Pages™ directory to a handier 7” x 9” format as part of an ongoing upgrade of its print products. The change will take place on a rolling basis across Canada. As the company continues its transformation to a digital marketing solutions and services provider, it has been actively streamlining and modifying its print product segment based on feedback around usage and format.
Can Meredith Become Luxury Publisher?
http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/can-sensible-meredith-become-luxury-publisher-14736
Could Time Warner's loss be Condé Nast’s gain?
Reports
that the media giant is looking to combine its women's magazines with Meredith
Corp.’s make some sense: Time Inc.’s lifestyle titles like Real Simple and
Cooking Light could combine with Meredith’s own heartland magazines such as
Better Homes and Gardens to make a women’s magazine powerhouse. One sticks out
like a sore thumb, though, and that’s InStyle.
2012 Radio Revenue Up 1.0%
Radio revenue up 1.0% last year: New York—Radio revenue totaled $16.5 billion last year, up 1.0% over 2011, according to a report by the Radio Advertising Bureau.
The top advertising category in radio last year was automotive, which grew 29%. Advertising for TV, communications and restaurants grew 18% last year, and advertising by financial institutions rose 17%.
The top advertising category in radio last year was automotive, which grew 29%. Advertising for TV, communications and restaurants grew 18% last year, and advertising by financial institutions rose 17%.
Friday, February 15, 2013
PPRC Members Lobby Congress
http://www.paperage.com/2013news/02_15_2013pprc_washington.html
American workers employed in the
U.S. forest products industry this week visited Washington, D.C. Their goal?
Educate members of Congress and administration officials on the impact of
legislative and regulatory decisions both on the environment, and on the
families and communities that depend on forest products manufacturing for their
livelihood.
IP Seeks $57 Million Tax Break
International Paper seeks $57 million tax break; would generate $225 million in new tax revenue:
International Paper will seek $56.9 million in tax breaks over the next 15 years on Wednesday.
In return, the company commits to retain 2,274 high-paying jobs in Memphis, add 101 new ones and invest $115.7 million, including construction of a fourth office tower at its East Memphis corporate headquarters.
International Paper will seek $56.9 million in tax breaks over the next 15 years on Wednesday.
In return, the company commits to retain 2,274 high-paying jobs in Memphis, add 101 new ones and invest $115.7 million, including construction of a fourth office tower at its East Memphis corporate headquarters.
Marketers Shift From Traditional, But Not Direct Mail
Marketers Shift Focus From Traditional Tactics ... But Not Direct Mail: A survey finds marketers expect to decrease focus on newspapers (32%), consumer magazines (28%) and other traditional channels in 2013 --yet, direct marketing is one offline tactic that is not an area of shifting focus.
According to a survey conducted by global staffing organization Aquent and the American Marketing Association (AMA), while print is taking a hit, in general, direct marketing is not an area that many marketers plan to shift focus away from -- only 9% cite this tactic as an area of declining focus.
According to a survey conducted by global staffing organization Aquent and the American Marketing Association (AMA), while print is taking a hit, in general, direct marketing is not an area that many marketers plan to shift focus away from -- only 9% cite this tactic as an area of declining focus.
67% of Shoppers Use Circulars
Traditional Media Remains Key Source for U.S. Shoppers: Traditional media and channels are still very important sources of ideas on what to buy, according to the 2013 BrandSpark/Better Homes and Gardens American Shopper Study, which examines "what is on the minds of American shoppers."
Leading the pack: 67% of shoppers turn to circulars to get ideas on what to purchase on their shopping trips, making it the. Meanwhile, almost 3 in 10 get ideas from newspaper articles, one in 5 cite TV ads, and, one in 6 note magazine ads, as sources of purchase ideas.
Leading the pack: 67% of shoppers turn to circulars to get ideas on what to purchase on their shopping trips, making it the. Meanwhile, almost 3 in 10 get ideas from newspaper articles, one in 5 cite TV ads, and, one in 6 note magazine ads, as sources of purchase ideas.
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