The average paid circulation for U.S. newspapers continued to drop, according to statistics released today by the Audit Bureau of Circulations.
Ten of the top 25 U.S. newspapers reported double-digit percentage losses for the six-month period ended March 31, ABC’s Fas-Fax reported. Daily circulation declined by more than 7 percent while Sunday distribution tumbled 5.4 percent, ABC said.
The Wall Street Journal was the only top-25 newspapers to report a gain. The paper’s circ increased .61 percent to 2,082,189.
USA Today’s circulation fell 7.4 percent, to 2,113,725, while The New York Times’ circulation dropped 3.5 percent, to 1,039,031.
Big Apple newspapers reported significant losses. The (New York) Daily News’ circ declined 14.26 percent, to 602,857, while the New York Post lost 20.5 percent of its readers, falling to 558,140.
Other newspapers citing double-digit percentage losses include The Houston Chronicle (-13.96 percent), The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer (-11.7 percent), The Philadelphia Inquirer (-13.72 percent), The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J. (-16.82 percent), St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times (-10.42 percent) and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (-19.91 percent).
The Denver Post, meantime, said its daily circulation spiked — by 160,000 copies to 371,728 — but its totals were influenced by the closure of JOA partner Rocky Mountain News in February.
In Seattle, where the Post-Intelligencer closed in March, The Seattle Times said it gained almost 100,000 readers, to 289,000.
Two papers, The (Phoenix) Arizona Republic and St. Louis Post-Dispatch, posted Sunday circulation gains, by .2 percent and .3 percent, respectively.
Monday, April 27, 2009
NAA: Newspaper Web traffic up 10%
Web traffic to newspaper sites grew more than 10 percent in the first quarter of 2009, the Newspaper Association of America said last week.
The group said newspaper Web sites attracted more than 73.3 million monthly unique visitors on average, 43.6 percent of all Internet users. The study was conducted by Nielsen Online for NAA.
The study also found that newspaper Web site visitors generated an average of more than 3.5 billion page views per month throughout the quarter, an increase of almost 13 percent. NAA said the figures were the highest for any quarter since it began tracking Web traffic data in 2004.
“Digital success has become a critical component of newspapers’ transformation, and these record audience numbers provide further proof that Americans continue to rely on the trusted newspaper brand for highly accurate news and information in print and online,” said NAA President and CEO John F. Sturm in a statement.
NAA also released data from Scarborough Research that found that a third of Americans with post-graduate degrees had visited a newspaper Web site in the past week. Of that group, almost 90 percent either visited a Web site or read a print newspaper in the past seven days.
The group said newspaper Web sites attracted more than 73.3 million monthly unique visitors on average, 43.6 percent of all Internet users. The study was conducted by Nielsen Online for NAA.
The study also found that newspaper Web site visitors generated an average of more than 3.5 billion page views per month throughout the quarter, an increase of almost 13 percent. NAA said the figures were the highest for any quarter since it began tracking Web traffic data in 2004.
“Digital success has become a critical component of newspapers’ transformation, and these record audience numbers provide further proof that Americans continue to rely on the trusted newspaper brand for highly accurate news and information in print and online,” said NAA President and CEO John F. Sturm in a statement.
NAA also released data from Scarborough Research that found that a third of Americans with post-graduate degrees had visited a newspaper Web site in the past week. Of that group, almost 90 percent either visited a Web site or read a print newspaper in the past seven days.
Denver Web venture pulls back
InDenverTimes.com, the Web-only successor to the Rocky Mountain News, will change course after it failed to meet its goal to attract 50,000 paying subscribers.
INDT said certain members of its newsroom group, led by co-founder Steve Foster and business writer David Milstead, intend to seek new backers for their original vision of a robustly staffed online newsroom. “We believe there is money to be made in local journalism by local journalists and that there is a unique opportunity in Denver in the wake of the closure of the Rocky Mountain News,” they said in a statement.
INDT, meantime, didn’t say which business model it now intends to pursue, but the site’s backers were skittish about supporting a news organization of more than about a dozen staffers.
A report published by local Denver weekly Westword said the site had only attracted 3,000 paying customers, far below its goal.
INDT launched March 16 by 30 journalists at the now shuttered News. It had hoped to attract 50,000 subscribers — at an annual fee of $60 — by April 23, which would have marked the 150th anniversary of the News. The paper folded Feb. 27.
INDT said certain members of its newsroom group, led by co-founder Steve Foster and business writer David Milstead, intend to seek new backers for their original vision of a robustly staffed online newsroom. “We believe there is money to be made in local journalism by local journalists and that there is a unique opportunity in Denver in the wake of the closure of the Rocky Mountain News,” they said in a statement.
INDT, meantime, didn’t say which business model it now intends to pursue, but the site’s backers were skittish about supporting a news organization of more than about a dozen staffers.
A report published by local Denver weekly Westword said the site had only attracted 3,000 paying customers, far below its goal.
INDT launched March 16 by 30 journalists at the now shuttered News. It had hoped to attract 50,000 subscribers — at an annual fee of $60 — by April 23, which would have marked the 150th anniversary of the News. The paper folded Feb. 27.
K&M updating Houston inserters
K&M Newspaper Services Inc. said it’s been awarded a contract by The Houston Chronicle to supply seven remanufactured four-box modules as part of a project to expand three existing Goss International Corp. NP630 inserters.
Meantime, the firm has performed postpress web-width reduction work at 10 newspapers, including The Journal News in White Plains, N.Y., and the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa. It also upgraded and moved inserters at the Chicago Sun-Times and upgraded inserter controls at Western Newspapers in Golden Valley, Ariz., and Gannett Offset in Atlanta.
Finally, it said that Skagit Valley Publishing in Mount Vernon, Wash., went into production with its Titan G60 inserter last month.
Meantime, the firm has performed postpress web-width reduction work at 10 newspapers, including The Journal News in White Plains, N.Y., and the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa. It also upgraded and moved inserters at the Chicago Sun-Times and upgraded inserter controls at Western Newspapers in Golden Valley, Ariz., and Gannett Offset in Atlanta.
Finally, it said that Skagit Valley Publishing in Mount Vernon, Wash., went into production with its Titan G60 inserter last month.
Press installation under way in Idaho
The Post Register in Idaho Falls, Idaho, is in the process of installing its Goss International Corp. Magnum press. The press, configured with four four-high towers and a single-color tower, will be in production this summer.
Editor and Publisher Roger Plothow said he expects to use the press to improve the quality of the Post Register as well as to better serve the company’s commercial accounts.
The Post Register also tapped Goss to supply an N40 folder capable of delivering broadsheet, tabloid, quarterfold and double parallel products.
“We are convinced that our investment will be offset by the customer retention and customer acquisition that the new press will allow,” Plothow said.
Editor and Publisher Roger Plothow said he expects to use the press to improve the quality of the Post Register as well as to better serve the company’s commercial accounts.
The Post Register also tapped Goss to supply an N40 folder capable of delivering broadsheet, tabloid, quarterfold and double parallel products.
“We are convinced that our investment will be offset by the customer retention and customer acquisition that the new press will allow,” Plothow said.
Catholic Standard picks Evergreen for circ
The Catholic Standard and Times in Philadelphia is turning its circulation fulfillment to Evergreen Printing under terms of a multiyear agreement.
Evergreen said it will provide customer service, data entry and multiple report packages that manage the newspaper's subscription base.
"We wanted to maximize our efficiency and reduce costs, and outsourcing the circulation fulfillment to Evergreen has proven to be a successful solution for both goals,” said Matthew Gambino, director and general manager of The Catholic Standard and Times.
Evergreen said it will provide customer service, data entry and multiple report packages that manage the newspaper's subscription base.
"We wanted to maximize our efficiency and reduce costs, and outsourcing the circulation fulfillment to Evergreen has proven to be a successful solution for both goals,” said Matthew Gambino, director and general manager of The Catholic Standard and Times.
Gannett launches digital network
Gannett Co. Inc. rolled out the Gannett Digital Media Network in a bid to link together more than 100 digital communities.
Included in the network are Web sites from the publisher’s largest papers, including USA Today.com.
The network also spans Gannett’s social sites, including momslikeme.com, Metromix.com and BNQT.com, a sports network.
“The Gannett Digital Media Network gives marketers access to diverse and attractive audience segments through our unparalleled combination of national and local media sites,” said Josh Resnik, GDMN’s vice president and general manager, in a statement.
Included in the network are Web sites from the publisher’s largest papers, including USA Today.com.
The network also spans Gannett’s social sites, including momslikeme.com, Metromix.com and BNQT.com, a sports network.
“The Gannett Digital Media Network gives marketers access to diverse and attractive audience segments through our unparalleled combination of national and local media sites,” said Josh Resnik, GDMN’s vice president and general manager, in a statement.
Ferag nabs Irish postpress contract
Irish printer Smurfit Kappa tapped Ferag to supply it with postpress equipment to anchor its new plant in Kells, Ireland, according to WRH Marketing UK, which represents the vendor.
The Ferag equipment includes a UTR pick-up station with TCP grippers, MultiStack, underwrap and SmartStrap systems as well as dispatch and LineMaster control, the company said.
Smurfit Kappa is a contract printer that produces newspapers for News International and Associated Newspapers.
The Ferag equipment includes a UTR pick-up station with TCP grippers, MultiStack, underwrap and SmartStrap systems as well as dispatch and LineMaster control, the company said.
Smurfit Kappa is a contract printer that produces newspapers for News International and Associated Newspapers.
Swedish paper enhances Web functions
Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter is adding video support to its Atex Polopoly CMS. The paper is using software from Picsearch to permit businesses to produce video, said Rune Gyldenlove, chief technical officer.
“Meeting consumer demand for video and Web TV has been a priority for us,” he said.
“Meeting consumer demand for video and Web TV has been a priority for us,” he said.
Scottish publisher taps DTI for multimedia
Scottish Provincial Press, which produces 12 weekly newspapers in Scotland, is rolling out Digital Technology International’s DTI Lightning software, DTI said. SPP also ordered 78 seats of DTI Advertising.
DTI Lightning is part of DTI’s ContentPublisher editorial CMS and offers a single database-managed system for creating, editing, storing and publishing multimedia content to any medium.
“We are taking our online presence to the next level, and across the group our readers and advertisers will see the clear benefits of that,” said Alan Hendry, editorial services director at SPP. “Having the ability to update the news content of our sites almost instantly, and even from a remote device, represents huge progress for us, and we will also be able to offer a range of specially tailored services to advertisers that would not have been possible in the past.”
DTI Advertising, meantime, will provide SPP with telesales capabilities and customer relationship management tools across the advertising department.
DTI Lightning is part of DTI’s ContentPublisher editorial CMS and offers a single database-managed system for creating, editing, storing and publishing multimedia content to any medium.
“We are taking our online presence to the next level, and across the group our readers and advertisers will see the clear benefits of that,” said Alan Hendry, editorial services director at SPP. “Having the ability to update the news content of our sites almost instantly, and even from a remote device, represents huge progress for us, and we will also be able to offer a range of specially tailored services to advertisers that would not have been possible in the past.”
DTI Advertising, meantime, will provide SPP with telesales capabilities and customer relationship management tools across the advertising department.
Ann Arbor.com printing first edition July 26
AnnArbor.com will produce its first print publication July 26, according to company officials.
The Web-based company is replacing The Ann Arbor (Mich.) News, which will close its doors this summer. The print publication will be produced at the plant now printing The News.
Company officials didn’t disclose when The News will print its final edition.
Advance Publications Inc., which owns The News, last month said it would close the daily newspaper and create a new organization to serve Ann Arbor.
The Web-based company is replacing The Ann Arbor (Mich.) News, which will close its doors this summer. The print publication will be produced at the plant now printing The News.
Company officials didn’t disclose when The News will print its final edition.
Advance Publications Inc., which owns The News, last month said it would close the daily newspaper and create a new organization to serve Ann Arbor.
Obituary: John E. Unolt Jr.
John E. Unolt Jr., who retired from Goss in 1990 after a lifelong career with the vendor, passed away April 15.
In Brief: April 27, 2009
Sun-Times Media Group Inc. named Gladys Arroyo as vice president of advertising for the Chicago Sun-Times and the media group’s regional papers outside of Chicago.
Muller Martini named Rudolph Muller chairman of the board, effective May 1. Current Chairman Hans Moor, who is retiring April 30, will remain vice chairman, the firm said.
Vmix named Bill Curci as vice president of marketing.
Kodak released its Prinergy Digital Workflow app, which it first demoed at drupa. The software provides a central production hub for digital print services providers and enables automated job control and connectivity to a wide range of digital presses, Kodak said.
www.graphics.kodak.com
Tensor Group Inc. established sales agencies in Eastern Europe to serve its customers. G+P Technik and G+P Technik Service will provide sales and service in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. VIP-Systems Graphische Maschinen GmbH will cover Romania, Tensor said.
www.tensorgroup.com
Kansa Technology sold a Kansa 760 inserter to Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
www.kansa.com
The Printers House said it sold Orient presses to newspaper publishers in India, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. India’s HT Media purchased an X-Cel press, configured as four, four-high towers while Transcraft Group in Bangladesh is purchasing X-Cel and Super presslines.
www.tph.co.in
The (Portland) Oregonian teamed up with Skycore LLC to offer consumers the chance to purchase the newspaper’s historic front pages as mobile wallpaper.
www.oregonlive.com/photostore
Portuguese media group Sojormedia next month is launching a general information newspaper called “i.” The publisher is basing production on software from Protecmedia.
www.protecmedia.com
Database Publishing Consultants Inc. today is celebrating its 10-year anniversary.
www.dpci.com
Muller Martini named Rudolph Muller chairman of the board, effective May 1. Current Chairman Hans Moor, who is retiring April 30, will remain vice chairman, the firm said.
Vmix named Bill Curci as vice president of marketing.
Kodak released its Prinergy Digital Workflow app, which it first demoed at drupa. The software provides a central production hub for digital print services providers and enables automated job control and connectivity to a wide range of digital presses, Kodak said.
www.graphics.kodak.com
Tensor Group Inc. established sales agencies in Eastern Europe to serve its customers. G+P Technik and G+P Technik Service will provide sales and service in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. VIP-Systems Graphische Maschinen GmbH will cover Romania, Tensor said.
www.tensorgroup.com
Kansa Technology sold a Kansa 760 inserter to Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
www.kansa.com
The Printers House said it sold Orient presses to newspaper publishers in India, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. India’s HT Media purchased an X-Cel press, configured as four, four-high towers while Transcraft Group in Bangladesh is purchasing X-Cel and Super presslines.
www.tph.co.in
The (Portland) Oregonian teamed up with Skycore LLC to offer consumers the chance to purchase the newspaper’s historic front pages as mobile wallpaper.
www.oregonlive.com/photostore
Portuguese media group Sojormedia next month is launching a general information newspaper called “i.” The publisher is basing production on software from Protecmedia.
www.protecmedia.com
Database Publishing Consultants Inc. today is celebrating its 10-year anniversary.
www.dpci.com
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Denver Web venture pulls back
InDenverTimes.com, the Web-only successor to the Rocky Mountain News, will change course after it failed to meet its goal to attract 50,000 paying subscribers.
INDT said certain members of its newsroom group, led by co-founder Steve Foster and business writer David Milstead, intend to seek backers for their original vision of a robustly staffed online newsroom. “We believe there is money to be made in local journalism by local journalists and that there is a unique opportunity in Denver in the wake of the closure of the Rocky Mountain News,” they said in a statement.
INDT didn’t say which business model it now intends to pursue. A report published by local Denver weekly Westword said the site had only attracted 3,000 paying customers, far below its goal.
INDT launched March 16 by 30 journalists at the now shuttered News. It had hoped to attract 50,000 subscribers — at an annual fee of $60 — by today, which would have marked the 150th anniversary of the News. The paper folded Feb. 27.
INDT said certain members of its newsroom group, led by co-founder Steve Foster and business writer David Milstead, intend to seek backers for their original vision of a robustly staffed online newsroom. “We believe there is money to be made in local journalism by local journalists and that there is a unique opportunity in Denver in the wake of the closure of the Rocky Mountain News,” they said in a statement.
INDT didn’t say which business model it now intends to pursue. A report published by local Denver weekly Westword said the site had only attracted 3,000 paying customers, far below its goal.
INDT launched March 16 by 30 journalists at the now shuttered News. It had hoped to attract 50,000 subscribers — at an annual fee of $60 — by today, which would have marked the 150th anniversary of the News. The paper folded Feb. 27.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Transcontinental: No change in core strategy
Transcontinental Inc. remains committed to its newspaper outsourcing strategy despite the slowdown affecting the industry and despite concerns that its contract to print the San Francisco Chronicle may be in jeopardy.
“There is no change to our core strategy,” Ted Markle, Transcontinental’s senior vice president, newspaper group, told News & Tech.
“I think it’s a situation where, through this time of transition, there will be winners and losers in this industry, and because of the long-term nature of our kinds of relationships with publishers, we are going to be sure to partner with the winners.”
Transcontinental’s first U.S. project, to print and package the San Francisco Chronicle at a $200 million plant in Fremont , Calif. , is in flux because Hearst Corp. has threatened to close the money-losing paper. Transcontinental earlier said it has contingency plans in place in the event Hearst does pull the plug, and that it would also be “indemnified” against possible losses.
“Everything is on schedule in Fremont ,” he said. “We are excited and pleased about the progress we have made and the team we are building.” At this point, he added, “We’re sticking to our plan.” The plant is scheduled to open in June.
Transcontinental is trying to weather its own challenges. The company, which also prints The Globe and Mail, La Presse and certain editions of The New York Times, lost more than $6 million during the first quarter, compared with a $34.1 million profit in the same period a year earlier.
“We are going to see what the marketplace looks like and we will adapt accordingly,” Markle said about the near future. “We’re not putting things on hold; what we are doing is staying very close to the industry and are monitoring how things are developing. When the industry comes back, we’ll be ready.”
In the meantime, Transcontinental is starting to produce product at its Transmag plant in suburban Montreal that’s anchored by triplewide Colorman presses from manroland. One of the presses is also equipped with a UV drying system. That press, Markle said, will be operational later this year.
Markle also said that Transcontinental hopes to identify — soon — the press vendor it will use to print The Globe and Mail under terms of its contract extension with the national paper. Transcontinental said it would buy new presses and adopt other technology to establish “a new and innovative Canadian platform” anchored by presses capable of printing both newspapers and advertising inserts (see News & Tech, October 2008).
“There is no change to our core strategy,” Ted Markle, Transcontinental’s senior vice president, newspaper group, told News & Tech.
“I think it’s a situation where, through this time of transition, there will be winners and losers in this industry, and because of the long-term nature of our kinds of relationships with publishers, we are going to be sure to partner with the winners.”
Transcontinental’s first U.S. project, to print and package the San Francisco Chronicle at a $200 million plant in Fremont , Calif. , is in flux because Hearst Corp. has threatened to close the money-losing paper. Transcontinental earlier said it has contingency plans in place in the event Hearst does pull the plug, and that it would also be “indemnified” against possible losses.
“Everything is on schedule in Fremont ,” he said. “We are excited and pleased about the progress we have made and the team we are building.” At this point, he added, “We’re sticking to our plan.” The plant is scheduled to open in June.
Transcontinental is trying to weather its own challenges. The company, which also prints The Globe and Mail, La Presse and certain editions of The New York Times, lost more than $6 million during the first quarter, compared with a $34.1 million profit in the same period a year earlier.
“We are going to see what the marketplace looks like and we will adapt accordingly,” Markle said about the near future. “We’re not putting things on hold; what we are doing is staying very close to the industry and are monitoring how things are developing. When the industry comes back, we’ll be ready.”
In the meantime, Transcontinental is starting to produce product at its Transmag plant in suburban Montreal that’s anchored by triplewide Colorman presses from manroland. One of the presses is also equipped with a UV drying system. That press, Markle said, will be operational later this year.
Markle also said that Transcontinental hopes to identify — soon — the press vendor it will use to print The Globe and Mail under terms of its contract extension with the national paper. Transcontinental said it would buy new presses and adopt other technology to establish “a new and innovative Canadian platform” anchored by presses capable of printing both newspapers and advertising inserts (see News & Tech, October 2008).
AbitibiBowater files for bankruptcy
Slammed by the faltering economy and a drop in demand for its newsprint and other paper products, AbitibiBowater last week filed for bankruptcy protection in both the United States and Canada .
AbitibiBowater said bankruptcy was the only option after U.S. creditors rejected a recapitalization plan designed to reduce debt by more than $2 billion.
“The company has concluded that there are no viable alternatives to its previously announced proposed refinancing of its Bowater and Abitibi-Consolidated subsidiaries, and as a result has determined that the best course of action is to pursue its overall restructuring under court supervision in the United States and Canada,” the firm said in a statement.
According to Bloomberg, AbitibiBowater had assets of $9.9 billion and debt of $8.7 billion as of Sept. 30.
The firm said it has struck an agreement to receive $200 million in debtor-in-possession financing from Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. and Avenue Management LLC to support continuing operations and that no other immediate changes to its business are foreseen.
AbitibiBowater was formed in late 2007 when Abitibi Consolidated merged with Bowater Inc. in a transaction valued at $4.8 billion.
AbitibiBowater said bankruptcy was the only option after U.S. creditors rejected a recapitalization plan designed to reduce debt by more than $2 billion.
“The company has concluded that there are no viable alternatives to its previously announced proposed refinancing of its Bowater and Abitibi-Consolidated subsidiaries, and as a result has determined that the best course of action is to pursue its overall restructuring under court supervision in the United States and Canada,” the firm said in a statement.
According to Bloomberg, AbitibiBowater had assets of $9.9 billion and debt of $8.7 billion as of Sept. 30.
The firm said it has struck an agreement to receive $200 million in debtor-in-possession financing from Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. and Avenue Management LLC to support continuing operations and that no other immediate changes to its business are foreseen.
AbitibiBowater was formed in late 2007 when Abitibi Consolidated merged with Bowater Inc. in a transaction valued at $4.8 billion.
NYDN picks Pesmel for roll handling
Following the bankruptcy and closure of the vendor originally tapped to supply an automated roll handling system to the ( New York ) Daily News, the paper picked a new company to finish the project.
Pesmel, a Finnish vendor, will install a six-high storage system, including two stacker cranes, as well as material management software and other associated applications, according to IMC America, Pesmel’s North America sales agent.
The system, to be installed at the Daily News’ Jersey City , N.J. , plant, will feed newsprint to the paper’s new Koenig & Bauer AG Commander CT pressline. It will be delivered this fall, IMC said.
The Daily News and KBA were forced to find a new roll handling supplier following the bankruptcy and closure of vR Systems late last year.
Pesmel, a Finnish vendor, will install a six-high storage system, including two stacker cranes, as well as material management software and other associated applications, according to IMC America, Pesmel’s North America sales agent.
The system, to be installed at the Daily News’ Jersey City , N.J. , plant, will feed newsprint to the paper’s new Koenig & Bauer AG Commander CT pressline. It will be delivered this fall, IMC said.
The Daily News and KBA were forced to find a new roll handling supplier following the bankruptcy and closure of vR Systems late last year.
Dow Jones to close Dallas plant
Dow Jones confirmed to News & Tech that it plans to close the Dallas plant now printing The Wall Street Journal and Barron’s and transfer production to another printer.
Dow Jones said it hadn’t yet made a decision regarding where The Journal and Barron’s would be printed. But The Dallas Morning News is a likely option, observers tell News & Tech.
The Dallas plant would be the fifth printing facility Dow Jones has closed in the past year. Earlier, it shuttered plants in Chicago , Denver , Orlando , Fla. , and Des Moines , Iowa.
Dow Jones said it hadn’t yet made a decision regarding where The Journal and Barron’s would be printed. But The Dallas Morning News is a likely option, observers tell News & Tech.
The Dallas plant would be the fifth printing facility Dow Jones has closed in the past year. Earlier, it shuttered plants in Chicago , Denver , Orlando , Fla. , and Des Moines , Iowa.
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