Resolute Forest Products Inc. (RFP)
(RFP) announced today the indefinite idling of a newsprint machine at its
Calhoun mill in Tennessee. The idling comes as a result of a decrease in demand
for newsprint, coupled with high operating costs for the machine, which
produced 215,000 metric tons per year. The decision follows Resolute's March 11
acquisition of the 49% interest in Calhoun Newsprint Company ("CNC")
owned by The Herald Publishing Company, LLC, its joint-venture partner.
The Calhoun mill, which presently employs 610 workers, will
continue to operate the two specialty paper machines and the pulp dryer. The
announcement will affect approximately 150 positions at the mill.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Great Northern Paper Converts to Gas
After more than a decade of decline, manufacturing in the
U.S. is going through a small, but significant renaissance. A big reason: new
sources of energy, like natural gas, that are helping companies cut costs,
produce more products and hire more people. Here in Maine, one of the state's
best-known paper mills in East Millinocket is betting on this formula for
resurgence and growth. Jay Field begins his report at Great Northern Paper
inside the boiler house.
Iceland/Maine in Shipping Partnership
Iceland shipping line partners with railroad at Portland,
Maine, port; will connect pulp and paper exports to Europe. A
strategic partnership between Iceland's largest steamship line and New
England's largest railroad is poised to transform the quiet port of Portland
into a hub for freight crossing the North Atlantic. Starting later this month, container ships from Icelandic
Steamship Co., also called Eimskip, will be connecting Portland directly with
cities as far north as Murmansk, Russia, 125 miles above the Arctic Circle,
and as far south as Rotterdam, Netherlands, Europe's largest port.
Direct Response Ads Drive Growth for AARP's Bulletin
Direct Response Ads Drive Growth for AARP's Bulletin: AARP's print publication Bulletin has seen direct response advertising rates grow despite the downturn.
| There a bright spots in in magazine publishing, most of which revolve around niche publications with a very specific—and interested—readership. Shelagh Miller, VP of AARP's has seen advertising rates from AARP's various publications grow steadily amid the downturn. The AARP Bulletin, published 10 times a year, covering key issues relevant to AARP's demographic: news about Federal policies that might affect, say, social security or healthcare, and scam alerts. Revenue growth in AARP Bulletin has increased more than 22% since 2011. |
Politico Plans Print Magazine
Politico Plans Print Magazine Launch as It Passes 1,000 Pro Subscriber Mark:
Politico, the politics and policy journalism site, says it has broken the 1,000 subscription mark to its Pro news service. Like other content-based sites, Politico has supplemented its revenues through paid subscription service that includes original content, but in this case offers robust personalization features to add value for subscribers.
Going forward, Politico is launching a new afternoon newsletter as a follow-on to its crack-of-dawn version, called the Pro Report, along with a quarterly policy magazine. Politico already has a newspaper distributed around the Washington, D.C. area and plans to have the magazine follow a similar distribution strategy.
Politico, the politics and policy journalism site, says it has broken the 1,000 subscription mark to its Pro news service. Like other content-based sites, Politico has supplemented its revenues through paid subscription service that includes original content, but in this case offers robust personalization features to add value for subscribers.
Going forward, Politico is launching a new afternoon newsletter as a follow-on to its crack-of-dawn version, called the Pro Report, along with a quarterly policy magazine. Politico already has a newspaper distributed around the Washington, D.C. area and plans to have the magazine follow a similar distribution strategy.
Printed Books Making a Comeback
Printed Books Making a Comeback Over E-Books:
According to a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, the death of the printed book has been greatly exaggerated. The article points to the results of a Pew Research Center survey that showed that the percentage of adults who have read an e-book rose modestly over the last year from 16% to 23%. It also showed that 89% of print book readers say they have read at least one printed book during the last year while only 30% report reading a single e-book during the same period.
The article goes on to suggest that e-book popularity might have been an anomaly. Author Nicholas
Not only is there evidence to support the growth of printed books, there is also evidence of a shift in printing technologies used for books, from offset and toner to inkjet technologies. In the InfoTrends study, “US Digital Production Printing Forecast 2011 to 2016″ InfoTrend predicts an increase of 52 billion pages printed on digital devices and that a transfer will occur from toner-based devices to inkjet presses.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, the death of the printed book has been greatly exaggerated. The article points to the results of a Pew Research Center survey that showed that the percentage of adults who have read an e-book rose modestly over the last year from 16% to 23%. It also showed that 89% of print book readers say they have read at least one printed book during the last year while only 30% report reading a single e-book during the same period.
The article goes on to suggest that e-book popularity might have been an anomaly. Author Nicholas
Not only is there evidence to support the growth of printed books, there is also evidence of a shift in printing technologies used for books, from offset and toner to inkjet technologies. In the InfoTrends study, “US Digital Production Printing Forecast 2011 to 2016″ InfoTrend predicts an increase of 52 billion pages printed on digital devices and that a transfer will occur from toner-based devices to inkjet presses.
New York Magazine's Perspective on News Feed
A Publisher’s Perspective on Facebook's Revamped News Feed:
It’s been more than six years since Facebook rolled out its News Feed feature, which has ever since enabled brands to get their content in front of the site’s social users. Last week, the company announced it would be introducing a new design and functionality to the News Feed to include less clutter, more visuals and increased options for user preferences.
To help get a sense of how this change might impact content brands, FOLIO: checked in with New York magazine, which claims more than 307,000 Facebook fans across three brand pages that includes The Cut, Vulture and, of course, New York.
It’s been more than six years since Facebook rolled out its News Feed feature, which has ever since enabled brands to get their content in front of the site’s social users. Last week, the company announced it would be introducing a new design and functionality to the News Feed to include less clutter, more visuals and increased options for user preferences.
To help get a sense of how this change might impact content brands, FOLIO: checked in with New York magazine, which claims more than 307,000 Facebook fans across three brand pages that includes The Cut, Vulture and, of course, New York.
Traditional Women's Magazines Change Focus
Traditionally the purveyor of
recipes and cleaning tips, women's service magazines have come a long way, but
apparently not far enough. More than a decade ago, Real Simple and O, The Oprah
Magazine packaged service as lifestyle, forcing the category to pivot en masse.
So, in the past year, Good
Housekeeping, Redbook, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal and Woman’s Day—all
facing long-term advertising and newsstand sales declines—further downplayed
their bread-and-butter housecleaning, parenting and relationship advice in
favor of fashion, beauty, shopping and entertaining.
Utne Reader Magazine Moving to KS
The Utne Reader, a landmark magazine based in
the Twin Cities, will shut down its local editorial offices and relocate in
Topeka, Kan.
The literate-minded magazine, envisioned as a sort of Reader's Digest that compiled "the best of the alternative press," was purchased by Topeka-based Ogden Publications six years ago. The company hopes to save money by consolidating operations at its national headquarters, where it oversees such titles as Mother Earth News and Motorcycle Classics.
The literate-minded magazine, envisioned as a sort of Reader's Digest that compiled "the best of the alternative press," was purchased by Topeka-based Ogden Publications six years ago. The company hopes to save money by consolidating operations at its national headquarters, where it oversees such titles as Mother Earth News and Motorcycle Classics.
Minnesota Gov. Rethinking Ad Tax
Doug Spong, president of Minneapolis ad
agency Carmichael Lynch, isn't sugarcoating the effect a
tax on advertising would have. It "would absolutely devastate our
industry," Mr. Spong told the Minnesota House of Representatives' Taxes
Committee on Feb. 28. "It would handicap all Minnesota agencies," he
said, because they would have to raise their fees to cover the tax.
Mr. Spong is part of a broad coalition that is wasting no time trying to derail budget proposals by Minnesota and Ohio that would tax advertising sales. And it looks like his efforts may have already paid off. Gov. Mark Dayton said he's rethinking his business-to-business tax and it won't be part of the budget he releases this week.
Mr. Spong is part of a broad coalition that is wasting no time trying to derail budget proposals by Minnesota and Ohio that would tax advertising sales. And it looks like his efforts may have already paid off. Gov. Mark Dayton said he's rethinking his business-to-business tax and it won't be part of the budget he releases this week.
2012 Coupon Use Declines
After surging during the Great Recession, the old-fashioned savings tool seems to have lost favor among consumers. Or has it?
Coupon industry insiders disagree on whether the drop is an aberration caused by a poor mix of coupon offers in 2012 or whether it signals the beginning of the end of the paper coupon era... -->
In 2012, manufacturers put the brakes on coupons. The coupon values became skimpier, the expiration dates shorter and oftentimes, the coupons were requiring that you buy two or even three of an item before you get your 55 cents off.
RRD Agreement with International Airlines
RR Donnelley Awarded a Multi-Year Agreement by International Airlines Group:
R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company has been awarded a multi-year agreement by International Airlines Group (IAG) and its subsidiaries British Airways, Iberia and Avios. Under the terms of the agreement, which renews and expands the companies' relationship, RR Donnelley will provide a range of print management, direct response, warehousing and logistics services.
R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company has been awarded a multi-year agreement by International Airlines Group (IAG) and its subsidiaries British Airways, Iberia and Avios. Under the terms of the agreement, which renews and expands the companies' relationship, RR Donnelley will provide a range of print management, direct response, warehousing and logistics services.
Monday, March 11, 2013
More Mills Raise Prices in Europe
http://www.arcticpaper.com/en/Pressroom/News-archive/Arctic-Paper-announces-a-general-price-increase-of-5-7-for-coated-fine-papers/
Arctic Paper wishes to announce to its customers a price increase on all CWF paper grades, both in sheets and reels. The price increase will range from 5-7% and will differ from the current price levels per country and paper grade.
The price increase will affect deliveries from 15 April 2013. Further price increases in 2013 seems to be inevitable, to secure a minimum profitability.
Arctic Paper wishes to announce to its customers a price increase on all CWF paper grades, both in sheets and reels. The price increase will range from 5-7% and will differ from the current price levels per country and paper grade.
The price increase will affect deliveries from 15 April 2013. Further price increases in 2013 seems to be inevitable, to secure a minimum profitability.
The increase will be at least 50
Euro per tonne and take effect for all deliveries invoiced from 15th April
2013.
PwC Forest Product CEO Survey Released
Forest, paper & packaging
(FPP) CEOs are less confident about revenue growth over the next 12 months than
their peers in other sectors, but are more optimistic about their company's
revenue prospects in the next three years, according to PwC's 16th Annual
Global CEO Survey released recently in Davos, Switzerland.
"CEOs have identified their
top three priorities: enhancing operational effectiveness; investing in
innovation and R&D; and developing new business models."
The
survey found 92% of sector CEOs have implemented a cost-reduction initiative in
the past 12 months.
R&D
and innovation is a top priority for 42% of FPP CEOs in the next 12 months-a
full 10% higher than the overall average across the entire CEO Survey.Half of the FPP CEOs surveyed have entered into a new strategic alliance or joint venture in the past year, 34% completed a cross-border M&A and 32% completed a domestic M&A.
Every FPP CEO surveyed said that customer service was a key differentiator, the only sector in the full survey where 100% reported that customers influence their strategy.
Seventy-five per cent of FPP CEOs worry that energy and raw material costs could pose a threat to growth, far more than the average across the overall survey sample.
Ninety-five per cent reported that supply chain partners are influencing their strategy, and the large majority of CEOs are increasing efforts to engage with them.
Nearly three quarters (71%) of FPP CEOs plan to increase their company's focus on reducing their environmental footprint, while 18% will continue at their current levels.
Study: Consumers Trust Ads in Magazines & Newspapers
Study: Consumers Trust Advertising in Magazines and Newspapers More Than Any Other Media:
New research has revealed that despite important changes in media consumption in recent years, consumers continue to have most trust in advertising in printed media. When asked how much trust they attach to advertising in the various media, consumers gave magazines and newspapers a score of 63%, TV 41% and Internet 25%. Consumers were also asked about the role of advertising in purchase decision making - almost seven out of ten said that advertising in magazines and newspapers was most important in supporting purchase decisions. When asked to compare direct mail with social media almost 90% of respondents valued addressed and non-addressed mail above social media.
New research has revealed that despite important changes in media consumption in recent years, consumers continue to have most trust in advertising in printed media. When asked how much trust they attach to advertising in the various media, consumers gave magazines and newspapers a score of 63%, TV 41% and Internet 25%. Consumers were also asked about the role of advertising in purchase decision making - almost seven out of ten said that advertising in magazines and newspapers was most important in supporting purchase decisions. When asked to compare direct mail with social media almost 90% of respondents valued addressed and non-addressed mail above social media.
Catalogs Are Part of a Balanced Marketing Diet
http://www.dmnews.com/catalogs-are-part-of-a-balanced-marketing-diet/article/283668
For a supposedly dead channel, print isn't doing too badly. According to the Direct Marketing Association, roughly 12.5 billion catalogs—often featuring interactive elements such as QR codes, text codes, and augmented reality enhancements—are printed and mailed each year.To demonstrate the continued viability of print as an evolving and thriving channel, NewPoint Media Group, publisher of The Real Estate Book and a variety of other targeted magazines, issued its advertisers and prospects the following challenge: collect as many catalog covers as you can and mail them in to win a cash prize.The secondary goal of NewPoint's “Catalog Challenge” was to open people's eyes to the sheer number of targeted, welcome print catalogs they receive, especially around the holiday season. Even e-commerce behemoths like Amazon and Zappos print and mail catalogs in the lead up to Christmas.
For a supposedly dead channel, print isn't doing too badly. According to the Direct Marketing Association, roughly 12.5 billion catalogs—often featuring interactive elements such as QR codes, text codes, and augmented reality enhancements—are printed and mailed each year.To demonstrate the continued viability of print as an evolving and thriving channel, NewPoint Media Group, publisher of The Real Estate Book and a variety of other targeted magazines, issued its advertisers and prospects the following challenge: collect as many catalog covers as you can and mail them in to win a cash prize.The secondary goal of NewPoint's “Catalog Challenge” was to open people's eyes to the sheer number of targeted, welcome print catalogs they receive, especially around the holiday season. Even e-commerce behemoths like Amazon and Zappos print and mail catalogs in the lead up to Christmas.
News Corp. Puts $2.6 Billion in Publishing Co.
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/in-filing-news-corp-says-it-will-provide-2-6-billion-to-its-new-publishing-company/?partner=rss&emc=rss
News Corporation’s new publishing company will receive a $2.6 billion infusion of cash and have no debt when it separates from the company’s higher-growth cable channels and Hollywood studio this summer.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, the company confirmed what analysts had expected: Rupert Murdoch will make sure his beloved trove of roughly 175 newspapers will have plenty of capital once they are split off on their own.
The $2.6 billion figure, $1.82 billion of which will come from the parent company, is slightly higher than investors had anticipated, leading to speculation that it might be used to acquire additional newspapers.
News Corporation’s new publishing company will receive a $2.6 billion infusion of cash and have no debt when it separates from the company’s higher-growth cable channels and Hollywood studio this summer.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, the company confirmed what analysts had expected: Rupert Murdoch will make sure his beloved trove of roughly 175 newspapers will have plenty of capital once they are split off on their own.
The $2.6 billion figure, $1.82 billion of which will come from the parent company, is slightly higher than investors had anticipated, leading to speculation that it might be used to acquire additional newspapers.
Men Still Prefer Newspapers for Sports
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/195349/newspapers-remain-top-sports-source-for-men.html#axzz2NGRghbV
Between social media, mobile and cable TV, sports news outlets have been proliferating -- but newspapers are still the top source for sports news for sports fans. Among male sports fans ages 18-54, 76% cited the sports section of their local newspaper Web site as one of their “go-to” sources for sports news, while 69% cited the print edition.
That compares with 66% for ESPN.com, 46% for league sites, 45% for Yahoo Sports.com, and 45% for ESPN Sports Center. Further down the list, 33% said sports talk radio and 23% said Sports Illustrated or SI.com.
Between social media, mobile and cable TV, sports news outlets have been proliferating -- but newspapers are still the top source for sports news for sports fans. Among male sports fans ages 18-54, 76% cited the sports section of their local newspaper Web site as one of their “go-to” sources for sports news, while 69% cited the print edition.
That compares with 66% for ESPN.com, 46% for league sites, 45% for Yahoo Sports.com, and 45% for ESPN Sports Center. Further down the list, 33% said sports talk radio and 23% said Sports Illustrated or SI.com.
How Time Inc. Should Reinvent Itself
http://adage.com/article/media/time-reinvent-independent-publisher/240254/
When Time Warner spins off its magazine unit, the world's biggest magazine company will become an anomaly: a publicly traded media company consisting entirely of magazines. Time Inc. titles were once the crown jewels of media, generating nearly a billion in annual operating profit just a decade ago. By 2012 that had fallen to $420 million, a precipitous 25% drop from the year earlier. Despite recent cost cuts, that portfolio -- and its infrastructure -- was built for an era when ad dollars were plentiful.
When Time Warner spins off its magazine unit, the world's biggest magazine company will become an anomaly: a publicly traded media company consisting entirely of magazines. Time Inc. titles were once the crown jewels of media, generating nearly a billion in annual operating profit just a decade ago. By 2012 that had fallen to $420 million, a precipitous 25% drop from the year earlier. Despite recent cost cuts, that portfolio -- and its infrastructure -- was built for an era when ad dollars were plentiful.
RRD Closing Greenfield, Ohio Plant
Citing "changing market conditions," the RR Donnelley &
Sons company in Greenfield, previously known as Banta publishing, informed its
employees Wednesday that it will be closing in May. Nearly 170 employees will
lose their jobs as a result of the closing.
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