David Granger talks about the
opportunities and challenges in editing across platforms, and print’s value.
“Print encourages the production of qualitative experiences, and I think that’s
going to be the value that moves print forward and makes it become even more of
a thing to be cherished,” he notes. Also stresses the strength and power of
print magazine design and packaging, and says that print is necessary for brand
expansion. “We still and always will, I think, create things for print Esquire
that [aren't] created for purely digital media.”
Thursday, September 26, 2013
7 Ways Innovative Magazines Are Adding Value
During this week’s FIPP Congress,
Innovations Media Consulting exec John Wilpers offered case studies of how
magazines are maximizing advertising and new product opportunities in print and
digital platforms–examples that include personalization, using tablet
technology to enhance ads’ power, shoppable content, e-singles, social media,
multimedia and spin-off apps.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
US Postal Service Proposes Higher Prices for 2014
The
United States Postal Service today announced proposed price changes, including
an increase in the price of a First-Class Mail single-piece letter from 46
cents to 49 cents. The proposed changes, which would go into effect in January
2014, are intended to generate $2 billion in incremental annual revenue for the
Postal Service.
Highlights
of the new single-piece First-Class Mail pricing, effective Jan. 26, 2014
include:Letters (1 oz.) - 3-cent increase to 49 cents
Letters additional ounces - 1-cent increase to 21 cents
Pricing
for Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Extra Services also will
be adjusted as part of a filing to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC)
scheduled to take place Sept. 26.
The
Governors of the Postal Service voted Sept. 24 to seek price increases above
the typical annual increases associated with changes in the Consumer Price
Index (CPI).
The
PRC will review the prices before they become effective Jan. 26, 2014, and must
agree the prices are consistent with applicable law. The new price proposals
are scheduled to be filed Sept. 26 and will be available on the PRC website at
www.prc.gov and also will be available at http://pe.usps.com.
American Eagle Marks 10 years
Today the mill, reopened in 2003 with about 175 employees by a group of former mill managers and investors known as Team Ten LLC, is continuing to grow and prosper.
MeadWestvaco had shuttered the Tyrone mill in October 2001 and the facility was purchased by
Team Ten in September 2003. The first roll of recycled paper was produced Nov. 14.
Team Ten, actually comprised of 12 people, was led by John Ferner, who had worked at the mill for 28 years when it was shut down.
"We knew when it shut down it was a good viable operation," he said.
"We had been successful and could continue to keep it successful. We put together a group of very experienced people who had been there before, who could get it up and running," said Ferner, who retired as president of Team Ten in December.
"We knew the potential of the mill. We had confidence we could start it back up and create a lot of family-sustaining jobs for people in the area," said Team Ten secretary/treasurer Clark Adelman, who had worked at the mill for 18 years before it was closed."
China's RCP, Pulp Imports Up
China's
recovered paper (RCP) imports edged up last month, increasing 4.7% from July to
almost 2.496 million tonnes in August, according to data from China Customs.
Old
corrugated container intake saw a big growth, soaring 15.2% from July to nearly
1.435 million tonnes.
Mixed
paper imports, in contrast, dropped 15.9% to 392,110 tonnes.
The
grade is the prime target of the Chinese government's strict customs
inspections under the Green Fence policy.
August's
total RCP imports figure was 5.7% lower than the 2.646 million tonnes recorded
in August 2012.
Total
imports in the first eight months of this year came in at 19.804 million
tonnes, down 1.1% from the year-earlier period.
China's
total pulp imports climbed 4.7% in August from July, to 1.453 million tonnes,
according to data from China Customs (see table below).
A
surge in bleached hardwood kraft pulp imports contributed to the August rise.
Tonnage arriving at Chinese ports totaled 579,384 tonnes in the month, up 20.2%
from July and a jump of 49.2% from August 2012.
Intake
of bleached softwood kraft pulp, however, dipped 4.4% month-on-month to 549,815
tonnes - still 22.1% higher than August last year.
August's
total pulp import figure was 27.4% higher than the 1.141 million tonnes
recorded in the same month of 2012.
Pulp
imports for the first eight months of 2013 came to 11.092 million tonnes, up
1.3% from last year.
Boise Stakeholder Carlson Capital Opposes Takeover
Asset
management firm Carlson Capital revealed it owns a 6.6% stake in Boise and that
it will not vote in favor of the $1.995 billion acquisition of
the company by
Packaging Corp of America, inclusive of $714 million of Boise debt, Reuters reported.
Carlson
Capital believes Boise should spin off its graphic paper businesses which
include uncoated freesheet, newsprint and specialty papers, Reuters said, based
on a Carlson Capital SEC filing Tuesday. The Los Angeles-based firm said it
valued Boise at $14-$17/share compared with PCA's bid of $12.55.
IP, Fish & Wildlife Join in Forest Restoration Project
The
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and International Paper today
announced $250,000 in grants to support forestland restoration throughout the
Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee and Alabama. Three projects in the region have
been selected to receive the grants through the Forestland Stewards Initiative,
a partnership of NFWF and International Paper. In all, International Paper is
committing $7.5 million over five years to restore native forests, strengthen
important fish and wildlife populations and protect watersheds in eight states
across the Southeastern U.S.
AF&PA Opposes USPS Postal Rate Increase Plan
The
American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna
Harman today issued the following statement on the United States Postal Service
(USPS) Board of Governors’ directive for a proposed 5.9 percent across the
board postal rate increase for 2014.
Hearst’s Carey Bullish on Launches
In
a 1-minute video interview, Hearst Magazines president David Carey says Hearst
continues to launch new magazines because of their proven power to quickly
build consumer and advertiser support. Examples: Food Network Magazine, which
regularly sells 550,000 copies on the newsstand, and HGTV Magazine, which “in
its first full year, is just a juggernaut.”
Time Inc. CEO Open to More Acquisitions
On an Advertising Week panel, oe Ripp
said that Time Inc. has suffered from living in Time Warner’s shadow for
years. Time Inc. is rich in profits, cash flow, database and audience, and his
job now is to invest that cashflow in creative ideas for the publishing
company, he said. He’s not ruling out acquisitions of digital or print
properties, he said, noting that Time Inc. just bought American Express
Publishing’s titles.
NY Post
NY Post
Affluents’ Print Readership Strong
Affluents’
growing digital media use tends to supplement, rather than replace, their
traditional media use, and the result is real growth in their engagement with
media as a whole, according to 2013 Ipsos Affluent Survey USA. As in 2012,
81% of Affluents (defined as adults 18+ in households with incomes of $100K or
more) read at least one of the 142 reported print publications (135 magazines
and 7 national newspapers).
Examination of the USPS Study of Postal Price Elasticities
There are problems with the U.S. Postal Service's analysis of postal price elasticities.
The study lumps all types of mail together and concludes that raising postal
rates will result in a net increase in revenue. The study downplays the nearly
10 to one difference in price elasticity between First Class mail and Carrier
Route mail.
2013 Magazine Manufacturing and Production Technology Survey
Investment in
new production technology jumps way up.
After a four-year decline, new technology investment has suddenly jumped up significantly, according to FOLIO:’s 2013 manufacturing and production technology survey. This drastic spike brings new tech investment above 2008 spending levels. All of this is coming at a time when respondents are indicating slightly higher satisfaction levels with the technology used to produce print and digital content.
The
more positive outlook and loosening of spending constraints on new technology
are emerging as the mobile publishing market is exploding, necessitating
increased investment as reader engagement is sourced more and more from this
platform. While print is still the dominant platform for revenue, not to
mention readers, publishers are making significant investments in increasing
numbers to overhaul their digital platforms to accommodate and facilitate
mobile use.
After a four-year decline, new technology investment has suddenly jumped up significantly, according to FOLIO:’s 2013 manufacturing and production technology survey. This drastic spike brings new tech investment above 2008 spending levels. All of this is coming at a time when respondents are indicating slightly higher satisfaction levels with the technology used to produce print and digital content.
Print, Print Covers Still Key
This morning
at the Times Center, a trio of top Time Inc. entertainment editors—People’s
Larry Hackett, Entertainment Weekly’s Jess Cagle and People En Español’s
Armando Correa—gathered for a panel discussion about the “evolution of digital
celebrity reporting.”
“The
print product is still the most profitable thing we do, but in 10 to 15 years,
even if everything changes, the cover is still going to be the most important
thing in this industry,” Cagle said. Eventually, he added, the print product
could even become the loss leader that feeds all of the magazine’s other
revenue streams.
Profits Data Show Resilience of Leading Print Firms
US Shouldn’t Privatize Post Office Just Yet
http://baylorlariat.com/2013/09/24/viewpoint-us-shouldnt-privatize-post-office-just-yet/
While it remains to be seen whether or not this is a smart move for Britain, the United States should think twice before following its lead.
This week, Britain announced that it would soon be privatizing its postal
service, the Royal Mail.
Estimated to be worth nearly 3 billion pounds ($4.8
billion dollars), the Royal Mail will begin selling shares of stock to
potential investors sometime in the next few weeks. While it remains to be seen whether or not this is a smart move for Britain, the United States should think twice before following its lead.
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