More Mills Announce Uncoated Freesheet Price Increase

International Paper:
IP's increase is for Private Label imaging papers & Relay; Hammermill brand imaging papers; Hammermill Tidal MP; Hammermill Copy Plus; Hammermill Great White; Hammermill Fore MP; Hammermill Premium MP; Hammermill Colors; Hammermill Express Packs; Hewlett Packard brand imaging papers; HP Office (includes HP Quick Pack); HP Office Recycled; HP Copy; HP Copy & Print; HP Business Copy; HP Multipurpose; HP All-in-One; Williamsburg Rolls; Offset; Return Postcard; End Leaf; Cream White Publisher's Offset Rolls; Springhill Rolls & Sheets; Index; Tag; Vellum Bristol Cover; and Opaque Offset Colors.

NewPage:   
NewPage announced a $60/ton increase including $3.00/cwt in both US$ and C$ for the following uncoated roll products effective on all new and existing orders with confirmed delivery dates of Oct. 18 and later: Ideal Offset; Ideal Reply Card; and all NewPage Tablet Grades. The increase includes all basis weights, NewPage said.

Flambeau River:   
Effective with all shipments on or after Oct. 18, Flambeau River Papers set a $3.00/cwt $60/ton increase on FRP Offset; FRP Offset 30%, 50%, and 100% PCW; FRP Reply Card; FRP Glacier and Torchglow; FRP Torchglow Colors; FRP Tradebook Papers; FRP Index, Tag & Vellum Bristol; FRP MOCR; FRP Envelope; FRP RiverJet Wide Format InkJet Papers; and FRP Drawing Papers. All standard differentials and upcharges remain in effect, according to Flambeau. 
Twin Rivers:   
Effective with shipments on or after Nov. 1, Twin Rivers Paper announced a $60/ton price increase on all its Publishing, Label, and Packaging and Specialty grades.  
Domtar, Glatfelter and Boise increases were reported previously.

AF&PA Reports August P&W Ships

http://whattheythink.com/news/65535-american-forest-paper-association-releases-august-2013-printing-writing-paper-report/

The American Forest & Paper Association has released its August 2013 Printing-Writing Paper Report. 
According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 4 percent in August compared to August 2012. 
Additional key findings:
Coated mechanical (CM) shipments in August decreased 6 percent compared to August 2012. Shipments of CM are down 11 percent for the year, with imports up 4 percent year-over-year through July.

August coated free sheet (CFS) papers shipments decreased 5 percent compared to August 2012, with year-to-date shipments through August essentially flat compared to 2012. U.S. imports of CFS papers decreased 6 percent year-over-year in July. 
Uncoated free sheet (UFS) paper shipments decreased 3 percent in August. For the year, shipments are down 3 percent in 2013. U.S. exports of UFS papers in July increased year-over-year for the fourth consecutive month. 
August uncoated mechanical (UM) paper shipments decreased 7 percent when compared to August 2012, with year-over-year imports through June up 6 percent. UM exports are up 12 percent in 2013 compared to the first seven months of 2012.

Stora Enso Obtains Euro 140 Million Loan from EIB

http://www.storaenso.com/
Stora Enso has drawn a EUR 140 million seven-year loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to be used for research and development. The interest rate of the loan is 3.3%.
'Stora Enso invested EUR 81 million in research and development in 2012. The Group's R&D platforms include bio-based barriers, micro materials, composites, biochemistry and separation technology, and wood-based building solutions. About fifty patent applications were registered in 2012,' says Bernd Rettig, Senior Vice President, Group R&D and capital investments.

West Fraser Third Mill to Increase Pulp Price

West Fraser informed customers worldwide that its northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) market pulp prices will increase $20/tonne, effective October 1, RISI has learned.

West Fraser's $20/tonne increase would bring its NBSK list price to $970/tonne in North America. That's the same Oct. 1 list competitors Canfor Pulp and Domtar separately announced to US customers on Sept. 20.

Global Pulp Deliveries Rise

Global pulp deliveries edged up by 1.4% to 3.738 million tonnes in August, up from 3.686 million tonnes in July, according to Pulp and Paper Products Council (PPPC) data.
Shipments were 2.1% higher than in the year-earlier period, up from 3.660 million tonnes in August 2012.

Sappi Launches Educational Platform

http://www.piworld.com/article/sappi-fine-paper-north-america-launches-sappi-etc-microsite/1

Sappi Fine Paper North America announced today the launch of its Sappi etc. microsite, an online educational platform providing access to more than a century's worth of rare historical documents, detailed case studies and expert technical advice as a part of the company's Education, Training and Consulting (etc) program. Free and fully searchable, the Sappi etc. site covers everything from paper basics and sustainability resources to advanced print and design techniques, including color management, printer tech tips, special effects, varnishes, folding, and designing for direct mail.

Hearst Launches Its First Native Ad Campaign

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/209756/harpers-bazaar-launches-first-native-ad-campaig.html#axzz2fqLy98Ba

Hearst launched its first native advertising campaign on Harper's Bazaar with Nordstrom promoting the latest UGG Collection to foster strong conversations between the publisher, brands and consumers.
The campaign, Nordstrom/UGG Trend Collage, highlights a brand-specific photo grid around a topic. The native ad format resembles a Pinterest pinboard that editors curate or built with advertiser images and text.

Troy Young Is Reinventing Hearst Digital

http://adage.com/article/media/troy-young-reinventing-hearst-digital-wrecking-ball/244275/

Unlike his buttoned-up peers in the executive suite at Hearst, Troy Young doesn't keep an office, nor does he wear designer suits to work. Rumors have even spread that he insisted on a contract provision saying he didn't need to wear a necktie. He says there's nothing about ties in the contract -- though he claims to not own any.

Magazine Ad Spend Up 10% in August; 15% YTD

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296

That’s according to Standard Media Index estimates (research from agencies representing 60% of total U.S. media agency spend). YTD, magazines have a 5.5% share of measured-media ad spend, SMI reports.

MediaPost MediaDailyNews

Condé Nast Traveler Makes Marketing Push

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296

With a new editor and publisher, Condé Nast Traveler is out shopping a new version of itself. There’s a new advertising campaign (estimated budget $1.5M) that stresses the sex appeal of travel and is supposed to appeal to affluent jet-setters.   

WWD

SpinMedia Elects New CEO

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296 
SpinMedia’s board has elected Dale Strang CEO of the company, replacing Steve Hansen. In a statement, SpinMedia said: “Strang, previously general manager of Vibe, has deep experience in digital media–including executive positions at IGN and Ziff Davis—that the Board believes will be instrumental in moving the company forward to maximize its growth potential and profitability.
MediaBistro

Holiday Sales to Rise 4-4.5%

http://www.jckonline.com/2013/09/24/holiday-sales-to-rise-4-percent-forecast-says

Deloitte's Retail & Distribution practice expects total holiday sales to climb 4 to 4.5 percent this year. That would be on par with last year's 4.5 percent gain, Deloitte said.
Daniel Bachman, Deloitte's senior U.S. economist, said in a statement that “rising home prices with steady job creation may buoy consumers' confidence in the economy and create a wealth effect.”
Additionally, Deloitte forecasts a 12.5 to 13 percent increase in non-store sales—with nearly three quarters of those sales coming from online, and the rest coming from catalogs and interactive TV.

North America P&W Paper August Shipments Reported

The Pulp and Paper Products Council reported North American coated mechanical paper shipments for the month of August fell -9.2%, demand declined -9.6% and imports were down -28.8%. The operating rate was 90%. Coated woodfree shipments decreased -2.9% for the month, demand fell -4.4% and imports were down -3%. The operating rate was 91%. Uncoated woodfree shipments declined -3.4%, demand fell -2.9%, but imports rose +4.1%. The operating rate was 91%. SC-A/SC-A+ shipments for the month grew +21.5%, demand increased +18.4% and imports were up +16.6%. SC-B/SNC+ shipments fell -0.6%, but demand rose +9.5%. The operating rate for Supercalendered papers was 84%.

Boise Announces Price Changes

Boise announced an increase of $3.00/cwt, effective October 18, for the following grades of printing papers: Boise® Offset, Boise® ASPEN® Offset, Boise® Midweight Opaque, Boise® ASPEN® Midweight Opaque, Boise® Wove Envelope White, Boise® Hi-Bulk Envelope White, Boise® ASPEN® Wove Envelope, Boise® FIREWORX® Wove Envelope, Boise® Kraft Envelope, Boise® Index, Boise® Laser Ledger and Boise® Tag-X ™. 

Orders acknowledged before September 20 will ship at the acknowledged price.

Glatfelter Announces Increases

Glatfelter has announced an increase of $3.00/cwt, effective with shipments on or after October 23 on the following uncoated grades: Moisturerite ®Form Bond, Moisturite®MICR Colors, Transform®Laser MOCR, Shawnee Vellum Bristol, Logan® Reply Card, Hopewell Offset, Spring Forge® Offset, Worthington®Index, Tiffin® Tag, Carbonizing Bond and Scioto Ledger. The increase also applies to the following book grades: Spring® Forge Offset, Spring Forge® Digital, Thor® PWC, Thor® Plus, Glatfelter Offset, Glatfelter End Leaf, Natures® End Leaf, Natures® Book, Conserve®, digiBook®, Pixelle Book® and Stabilite.

NewPage Adds New Coated Digital Brand

http://www.newpagecorp.com/wps/portal/corporate/home/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3ifAG8jD28TI3cLY0djA08zPx8T_5BQYwN3Q_1wkA6zeFd3Mz9fH1NDA_dQHzMDz2CDUNNA3zBDC2MTiLwBDuBooO_nkZ-bql-QnZ3m6KioCAAzqV6s/dl3/d3/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/

NewPage Corporation (NewPage) announced today the expansion of its economy coated digital paper brand, Blazer Digital®, to now include 130 lb. gloss and satin cover. Blazer Digital offers a 90 brightness and pleasing blue-white shade for end-use applications such as direct mail, brochures, flyers, postcards, books, magazines and catalogs.

Exigent Postal Rate Hike Request Expected

http://www.dmnews.com/exigent-postal-rate-hike-request-expected-next-week/article/312770/

Expect a request for an exigent rate increase to be filed by the Postal Board of Governors when they meet in Kansas City, KS, next week. That's the dire warning from direct mail industry officials following hearings held by the Senate on the Postal Reform Act (PRA) yesterday.
“It was pretty obvious after listening to the Postmaster General that the Board of of Governors is ready to file an exigent rate increase, so I think the industry should be prepared for that,” says DMA SVP of Government Affairs Jerry Cerasale, who testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said at the hearing that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) should be allowed to adjust prices in competitive products, and he gave a vote of confidence that the postal board would be judicious in the amount of increase it might seek.
“What happened at the hearing is certainly not going to increase confidence that a deal is imminent with the House on postal reform, so it would not be surprising to see [the board] file,” says Patrick Henderson, director of government affairs for Quad/Graphics.

Opportunities and Casualties of the Time Inc. Spinoff

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296

A summary of Time Inc. properties that are severing relationships with Time Warner properties as Time Inc. prepares to spin off, and the potential opportunities and challenges posed by these changes. 

Adweek

IAC: Daily Beast Won’t Be Sold or Shut Down

http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?cat=296

The Daily Beast will live to see at least another year. ”The Daily Beast is not for sale and is not closing,” interim CEO Rhona Murphy said in a statement Friday. Parent company IAC has approved “in concept” an operating budget for 2014 for the site, which includes a redesign.

Adweek

Ad Age