Transcontinental Inc. selected Koenig and Bauer AG to supply it with the presses that it will use to print The (Toronto) Globe and Mail and semi-commercial work.
The printer purchased four triplewide Commander CT presses, each configured with four towers and a variety of single and double folders. The multi-unit machines will also be outfitted with six hot air dryers to permit commercial printing.
All the presses will be equipped with KBA control platforms.
Two of the presses will be installed in existing Transcontinental printing facilities in Calgary and Vancouver. The other two will be placed in a new printing plant to be built in Toronto.
Transcontinental last year said it would purchase new presses as a result of a $1.7 billion contract extension it signed with The Globe and Mail to produce the paper.
The printer said it would spend up to $200 million to establish what it termed “a new and innovative Canadian platform” anchored by presses capable of printing both newspapers and advertising inserts.
Perry Nixdorf, The Globe and Mail's vice president of operations, told News & Tech last fall that print quality and full-color production were driving forces behind the contract extension.
News & Tech will have more information about Transcontinental's plans and the new KBA presses in the September edition.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
July 27, 2009 — Scripps, Tupelo, Miss., publisher discuss outsourcing Memphis printing
The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., could transfer printing and production to a new facility operated by Journal Publishing Co. Inc. in Tupelo, Miss.
JPC, which publishes The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal and other papers, contacted The Commercial Appeal earlier this year to determine if it might be interested in having the daily produced and packaged in Tupelo, according to a memo written by Daniel Connolly, president of the Memphis Newspaper Guild.
E.W. Scripps, which owns The Commercial Appeal, has been evaluating what to do with its 30-year-old presses for years. The paper cut the web width of its four Goss International Metro presses from 50 inches to 46 inches last year and it also upgraded DC drives. The Commercial Appeal also evaluated cutoff modification services from Goss and Pressline Services Inc. to determine if it could do anything about the machines’ 23 9/16-inch cutoff in order to gain other operational and newsprint savings, according to the memo.
But the costs associated with modifying the machines — pegged at about $25 million, Connolly wrote — made the project unfeasible.
Replacing the older presses with new machines was also rejected by Scripps, which just finished spending almost $100 million for a new plant and building for the Naples (Fla.) Daily News.
Connolly said no decision has yet been made, but that JPC Publisher Clay Foster wanted to get a response by Scripps by Aug. 15.
JPC would have to substantially upgrade its production capabilities to produce The Commercial Appeal. The company currently operates a Goss Urbanite singlewide press. It would also have to juggle production in order to ensure that delivery to Memphis — some 110 miles from Tupelo — would be guaranteed.
If The Commercial Appeal does opt to shift production to JPC, the soonest the transfer could occur would be in late 2010, the memo said.
Neither Scripps nor JPC executives would comment on negotiations.
JPC, which publishes The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal and other papers, contacted The Commercial Appeal earlier this year to determine if it might be interested in having the daily produced and packaged in Tupelo, according to a memo written by Daniel Connolly, president of the Memphis Newspaper Guild.
E.W. Scripps, which owns The Commercial Appeal, has been evaluating what to do with its 30-year-old presses for years. The paper cut the web width of its four Goss International Metro presses from 50 inches to 46 inches last year and it also upgraded DC drives. The Commercial Appeal also evaluated cutoff modification services from Goss and Pressline Services Inc. to determine if it could do anything about the machines’ 23 9/16-inch cutoff in order to gain other operational and newsprint savings, according to the memo.
But the costs associated with modifying the machines — pegged at about $25 million, Connolly wrote — made the project unfeasible.
Replacing the older presses with new machines was also rejected by Scripps, which just finished spending almost $100 million for a new plant and building for the Naples (Fla.) Daily News.
Connolly said no decision has yet been made, but that JPC Publisher Clay Foster wanted to get a response by Scripps by Aug. 15.
JPC would have to substantially upgrade its production capabilities to produce The Commercial Appeal. The company currently operates a Goss Urbanite singlewide press. It would also have to juggle production in order to ensure that delivery to Memphis — some 110 miles from Tupelo — would be guaranteed.
If The Commercial Appeal does opt to shift production to JPC, the soonest the transfer could occur would be in late 2010, the memo said.
Neither Scripps nor JPC executives would comment on negotiations.
Report: Heidelberg, manroland talking merger
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, which just concluded one of its worst financial years in history, is talking merger with manroland, according to a report in a financial newsletter.
German newsletter Platow Brief disclosed the discussions, according to Bloomberg, but didn’t say where it obtained the information.
The newsletter said that Allianz, the German conglomerate that owns stakes in both press vendors, is behind the push.
Allianz owns 12 percent of Heidelberg and 65 percent of manroland.
Bloomberg said neither Heidelberg, manroland nor Allianz would comment. Manroland’s North American press representative also declined comment.
Reports that the two companies might combine operations come after Heidelberg reported a loss of $354 million last year, on revenues of $4.3 billion.
Heidelberg CEO Bernhard Schreier termed last year as “without doubt one of the worst in the more than 150-year history of Heidelberg – if not the worst,” according to PrintWeek, a U.K. trade publication.
German newsletter Platow Brief disclosed the discussions, according to Bloomberg, but didn’t say where it obtained the information.
The newsletter said that Allianz, the German conglomerate that owns stakes in both press vendors, is behind the push.
Allianz owns 12 percent of Heidelberg and 65 percent of manroland.
Bloomberg said neither Heidelberg, manroland nor Allianz would comment. Manroland’s North American press representative also declined comment.
Reports that the two companies might combine operations come after Heidelberg reported a loss of $354 million last year, on revenues of $4.3 billion.
Heidelberg CEO Bernhard Schreier termed last year as “without doubt one of the worst in the more than 150-year history of Heidelberg – if not the worst,” according to PrintWeek, a U.K. trade publication.
Ann Arbor News prints last edition
The Ann Arbor (Mich.) News printed its last edition last week, succeeded by a new Web site and twice-a-week print complementary publication called AnnArbor.com.
Advance Publications this spring said it would close the 174-year-old News in favor of a Web-centric distribution strategy.
The print product is distributed Thursdays and Sundays, with the first edition sent to readers yesterday.
The News’ production plant, anchored by a 42-unit Goss International Magnum press that went on-edition earlier this decade, remains in operation as a stand-along entity. In addition to the printed AnnArbor.com print publication, the plant prints a regional edition of The New York Times and the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen-Patriot.
Advance in March said it would shutter The News as part of a plan that also saw a reduction in print days of sister Michigan papers The Flint Journal, The Bay City Times and Saginaw News from seven to three.
Advance Publications this spring said it would close the 174-year-old News in favor of a Web-centric distribution strategy.
The print product is distributed Thursdays and Sundays, with the first edition sent to readers yesterday.
The News’ production plant, anchored by a 42-unit Goss International Magnum press that went on-edition earlier this decade, remains in operation as a stand-along entity. In addition to the printed AnnArbor.com print publication, the plant prints a regional edition of The New York Times and the Jackson (Mich.) Citizen-Patriot.
Advance in March said it would shutter The News as part of a plan that also saw a reduction in print days of sister Michigan papers The Flint Journal, The Bay City Times and Saginaw News from seven to three.
European printer producing USA Today on Versamark
Kodak said Rotomail, a variable data printing company in Europe, is printing USA Today on Versamark VL4200 printing systems.
Through an agreement with Messaggerie Internazionali, an Italian distributor of a number of foreign newspapers, Rotomail is digitally printing an international edition of USA Today, which is distributed to hotels and kiosks in major tourist towns and a number of airports, Kodak said.
Rotomail installed two Versamark VL2200 machines last year and recently upgraded to the Versamark VL4200. The company now has seven Versamark digital presses at its facility.
“While some laser printing systems provide some remote printing benefits, they can’t produce the newspaper’s color pictures and advertisements to a satisfactory standard,” said Giovanni Antonuzzo, CEO of Rotomail. “The VL4200 … can make light work of most newspapers on the market with its color and duplex printing.”
Rotomail began with runs of 500 copies a day five days per week and increased daily production to 3,000 copies for the summer, Antonuzzo said.
Rotomail receives PDF files nightly for the next day’s newspaper pages and the 3,000 copies are printed in roughly one hour, Kodak said. Finished copies of USA Today are delivered to the distributor and are available at kiosks and hotels by 6:00 the following morning.
The Versamark VL4200 System operates at speeds of 410 feet per minute at a resolution of 600-by-360 dpi, Kodak said.
Through an agreement with Messaggerie Internazionali, an Italian distributor of a number of foreign newspapers, Rotomail is digitally printing an international edition of USA Today, which is distributed to hotels and kiosks in major tourist towns and a number of airports, Kodak said.
Rotomail installed two Versamark VL2200 machines last year and recently upgraded to the Versamark VL4200. The company now has seven Versamark digital presses at its facility.
“While some laser printing systems provide some remote printing benefits, they can’t produce the newspaper’s color pictures and advertisements to a satisfactory standard,” said Giovanni Antonuzzo, CEO of Rotomail. “The VL4200 … can make light work of most newspapers on the market with its color and duplex printing.”
Rotomail began with runs of 500 copies a day five days per week and increased daily production to 3,000 copies for the summer, Antonuzzo said.
Rotomail receives PDF files nightly for the next day’s newspaper pages and the 3,000 copies are printed in roughly one hour, Kodak said. Finished copies of USA Today are delivered to the distributor and are available at kiosks and hotels by 6:00 the following morning.
The Versamark VL4200 System operates at speeds of 410 feet per minute at a resolution of 600-by-360 dpi, Kodak said.
USA set for e-edition
USA Today said it will roll out a revamped digital version of the paper, featuring additional content, Aug. 3.
The new e-Edition, based on Olive Software’s digital conversion app, will include a Saturday-Sunday supplement called Today Extra, said Dave Hunke, president and publisher of USA Today.
Subscribers will receive the digital edition each morning by 5:30. The e-Edition can be read online or downloaded for later consumption.
Digital subscriptions will be provided as a complement to existing home and business subscribers. Subscriptions to just the digital edition will also be available, at $99 per year.
“We're very pleased to be able to bring the e-Edition to our readers and we will continue to look for new platforms to grow on,” Hunke said.
The new e-Edition, based on Olive Software’s digital conversion app, will include a Saturday-Sunday supplement called Today Extra, said Dave Hunke, president and publisher of USA Today.
Subscribers will receive the digital edition each morning by 5:30. The e-Edition can be read online or downloaded for later consumption.
Digital subscriptions will be provided as a complement to existing home and business subscribers. Subscriptions to just the digital edition will also be available, at $99 per year.
“We're very pleased to be able to bring the e-Edition to our readers and we will continue to look for new platforms to grow on,” Hunke said.
OC Register, LA Times team up for ad insert
Orange County Register Communications and the Los Angeles Times Media Group will launch an advertising insert distribution solution, called OCSaver/Local Values, beginning Aug. 27-29, the publishers said.
OCSaver/Local Values will be distributed to subscribers of The Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times on Fridays and to non-subscribers through The Register’s 25 community newspapers, LATMG’s Spanish language newspaper Hoy Fin de Semana and non-subscribers via USPS mail on Thursday, Friday or Saturday of each week.
OC Saver/Local Values allows advertisers to reach selected households, providing significantly increased targeting capabilities, the publishers said.
Meantime, Register parent Freedom Communications said it partnered with Brand Affinity Technologies Inc. to allow advertisers to launch promotions featuring celebrities or athletes on Freedom Communications’ online sites. Advertisers can use BAT’s platform to identify and deploy the most appropriate talent for their brands and markets, choosing among 2,700 athletes and celebrities.
Once an endorsement deal is offered and accepted, companies can use video and other assets to build their campaigns.
OCSaver/Local Values will be distributed to subscribers of The Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times on Fridays and to non-subscribers through The Register’s 25 community newspapers, LATMG’s Spanish language newspaper Hoy Fin de Semana and non-subscribers via USPS mail on Thursday, Friday or Saturday of each week.
OC Saver/Local Values allows advertisers to reach selected households, providing significantly increased targeting capabilities, the publishers said.
Meantime, Register parent Freedom Communications said it partnered with Brand Affinity Technologies Inc. to allow advertisers to launch promotions featuring celebrities or athletes on Freedom Communications’ online sites. Advertisers can use BAT’s platform to identify and deploy the most appropriate talent for their brands and markets, choosing among 2,700 athletes and celebrities.
Once an endorsement deal is offered and accepted, companies can use video and other assets to build their campaigns.
SF Chronicle launches weather spread
The San Francisco Chronicle on July 12 launched Almanac, a two-page weather spread, which will appear in the paper every Sunday. Almanac was created in cooperation with Weather Underground and includes features unique to the Bay Area, as well as national and international weather details and graphics.
“We were looking for a different way to present and package the weather that was dynamic and one of a kind,” Michael Keith, consumer marketing director told News & Tech. “The weather here has a personality of its own and we wanted something that reflected that.”
The Chronicle shifted its printing to Transcontinental’s Fremont, Calif., facility on July 5, and the facility’s three manroland Colorman XXL heatset/coldset presses will afford the publisher increased color in the Almanac feature and throughout the paper, Keith said.
Look for more on the Chronicle’s Almanac feature in the September issue.
“We were looking for a different way to present and package the weather that was dynamic and one of a kind,” Michael Keith, consumer marketing director told News & Tech. “The weather here has a personality of its own and we wanted something that reflected that.”
The Chronicle shifted its printing to Transcontinental’s Fremont, Calif., facility on July 5, and the facility’s three manroland Colorman XXL heatset/coldset presses will afford the publisher increased color in the Almanac feature and throughout the paper, Keith said.
Look for more on the Chronicle’s Almanac feature in the September issue.
German paper live on ppi ad apps
Saarbucker Zeitung of Germany went live with its advertising workflow management software from ppi Media GmbH. The workflow automates functions from ad booking through reservation and production to pagination, ppi said. PPI Media GmbH, a subsidiary of manroland AG, is also responsible for implementing a standard interface to the publisher’s newly installed SAP Media software.
Saarbrucker Zeitung commissioned ppi Media to install its ad apps at last year’s IfraExpo. Along with modules for edition planning and output management, ppi installed its AdPag, AdMan, AdCept and ProPag apps for the newspaper.
Saarbrucker Zeitung commissioned ppi Media to install its ad apps at last year’s IfraExpo. Along with modules for edition planning and output management, ppi installed its AdPag, AdMan, AdCept and ProPag apps for the newspaper.
Fond du Lac Reporter closing offices
The Reporter in Fond du Lac, Wis., is moving production to a sister production facility in Appleton, Wis., beginning in September.
The paper said Gannett Co. Inc., which owns The Reporter, is closing the newspaper’s downtown offices and transferring printing and distribution operations to Gannett Wisconsin Media’s Action plant in Appleton, located about 35 miles from Fond du Lac.
"We'll be able to run the operations of The Reporter and Action more efficiently at one location," Executive Editor and General Manager Richard Roesgen said.
The production consolidation will cost about 45 jobs.
The paper said Gannett Co. Inc., which owns The Reporter, is closing the newspaper’s downtown offices and transferring printing and distribution operations to Gannett Wisconsin Media’s Action plant in Appleton, located about 35 miles from Fond du Lac.
"We'll be able to run the operations of The Reporter and Action more efficiently at one location," Executive Editor and General Manager Richard Roesgen said.
The production consolidation will cost about 45 jobs.
Naples daily closer to new building
The Naples (Fla.) Daily News said it will begin moving to its new production and headquarters facility in suburban Naples now that it’s received a final certificate of occupancy.
The $95 million facility is anchored by a WIFAG 371 evolution press engineered with a 20-inch cutoff, computer-to-plate equipment from Agfa and Nela and postpress equipment from Schur Packaging Systems and Muller Martini Mailroom Systems Inc.
The $95 million facility is anchored by a WIFAG 371 evolution press engineered with a 20-inch cutoff, computer-to-plate equipment from Agfa and Nela and postpress equipment from Schur Packaging Systems and Muller Martini Mailroom Systems Inc.
Print ’09 newspaper panel to discuss industry future
Join News & Tech and newspaper industry thought leaders at a special Print ’09 seminar, to be held Monday, Sept. 14.
Among panelists expected to appear are Austin Ryan, vice president of operations at Gannett; Bill May, vice president of production, The Dallas Morning News; and Paul Lynch, manager of commercial sales and logistics/quality at the Chicago Tribune. The 90-minute seminar, moderated by News & Tech editor-in-chief Chuck Moozakis, will take place at Room 502 A/B in the South Hall of McCormick Place in Chicago. Print 09 is being held Sept. 11-16.
Among panelists expected to appear are Austin Ryan, vice president of operations at Gannett; Bill May, vice president of production, The Dallas Morning News; and Paul Lynch, manager of commercial sales and logistics/quality at the Chicago Tribune. The 90-minute seminar, moderated by News & Tech editor-in-chief Chuck Moozakis, will take place at Room 502 A/B in the South Hall of McCormick Place in Chicago. Print 09 is being held Sept. 11-16.
Obituary: Gary Coutts
Gary Coutts, a veteran press and production operator and retired technical sales representative for US Ink, passed away April 4. He was 71.
Mr. Coutts began his career as a lithographer at the Times Colonist in Victoria, B.C., before taking production and operations jobs in Los Angeles and Seattle. He retired from US Ink in 2007 after a 20-year career with the ink vendor.
Mr. Coutts began his career as a lithographer at the Times Colonist in Victoria, B.C., before taking production and operations jobs in Los Angeles and Seattle. He retired from US Ink in 2007 after a 20-year career with the ink vendor.
In Brief
The New York Times Co. named Kate Taylor vice president of strategic planning, technology, a newly created position.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named Chris Chamberlain general manager and executive vice president, succeeding Diana Block, who resigned. Block will continue to serve on the board of the family-owned company that publishes the Post-Gazette. Meantime, John Robinson Block, the Post-Gazette’s publisher and editor-in-chief, was named chairman of the daily.
Gavle, Sweden-based newspaper publisher and printer Mittmedia tapped Graphic Web Systems B.V. to install a press extension to its Koenig & Bauer AG Journal newspaper press. GWS will also work with EAE to upgrade the machine’s press controls in a project to be completed next month.
www,gws.nl
www.eaeusa.com
Manroland said the first of two highly automated 32-page Colorman presses went into production at German publisher Neue Osnabrucker Zeitung. The presses are the first machines to be equipped with the vendor’s autoprint technology, which features such operations as automatic plate loading, cutoff register control and reduced start time.
www.manroland.us.com
The Racine (Wis.) Journal Times launched a new Web site underpinned by software that integrates with behavioral targeting features developed by Yahoo. The Journal Times said that behavioral targeting will help companies be assured that their ads will be displayed on relevant Web pages.
www.journaltimes.com
Boston Globe Media launched a new business division, dubbed BGM Experiential, which will offer customized services to local and national businesses marketing their products in the Boston market.
Plastic Logic said it would use AT&T’s 3G network to provide mobile broadband connectivity for its forthcoming e-reader. The Plastic Logic reader, which measures 8.5-by-11 inches, will be formally launched early next year, Plastic Logic said. Detroit Media Partnership is evaluating prototypes of the reader as part of its migration to digital distribution, and Plastic Logic has also secured deals with other newspapers. Pricing of the device will be announced next year.
www.plasticlogic.com
Adobe Systems Inc. introduced two new authoring frameworks, Open Source Media Framework and Text Layout Framework. The first platform lets developers build rich media players optimized for Adobe Flash while the second lets developers add sophisticated typography to their Web sites.
www.adobe.com
Atex said Marseille, France, daily La Provence is upgrading its content management software to the software vendor’s H11 platform. The upgrade will let the daily manage content across multiple channels.
www.atex.com
WoodWing named system integrator eMerge Consulting LLC a network partner. Under the agreement, eMerge will oversee sales and installation of WoodWing’s full suite of editorial software.
www.woodwing.com
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named Chris Chamberlain general manager and executive vice president, succeeding Diana Block, who resigned. Block will continue to serve on the board of the family-owned company that publishes the Post-Gazette. Meantime, John Robinson Block, the Post-Gazette’s publisher and editor-in-chief, was named chairman of the daily.
Gavle, Sweden-based newspaper publisher and printer Mittmedia tapped Graphic Web Systems B.V. to install a press extension to its Koenig & Bauer AG Journal newspaper press. GWS will also work with EAE to upgrade the machine’s press controls in a project to be completed next month.
www,gws.nl
www.eaeusa.com
Manroland said the first of two highly automated 32-page Colorman presses went into production at German publisher Neue Osnabrucker Zeitung. The presses are the first machines to be equipped with the vendor’s autoprint technology, which features such operations as automatic plate loading, cutoff register control and reduced start time.
www.manroland.us.com
The Racine (Wis.) Journal Times launched a new Web site underpinned by software that integrates with behavioral targeting features developed by Yahoo. The Journal Times said that behavioral targeting will help companies be assured that their ads will be displayed on relevant Web pages.
www.journaltimes.com
Boston Globe Media launched a new business division, dubbed BGM Experiential, which will offer customized services to local and national businesses marketing their products in the Boston market.
Plastic Logic said it would use AT&T’s 3G network to provide mobile broadband connectivity for its forthcoming e-reader. The Plastic Logic reader, which measures 8.5-by-11 inches, will be formally launched early next year, Plastic Logic said. Detroit Media Partnership is evaluating prototypes of the reader as part of its migration to digital distribution, and Plastic Logic has also secured deals with other newspapers. Pricing of the device will be announced next year.
www.plasticlogic.com
Adobe Systems Inc. introduced two new authoring frameworks, Open Source Media Framework and Text Layout Framework. The first platform lets developers build rich media players optimized for Adobe Flash while the second lets developers add sophisticated typography to their Web sites.
www.adobe.com
Atex said Marseille, France, daily La Provence is upgrading its content management software to the software vendor’s H11 platform. The upgrade will let the daily manage content across multiple channels.
www.atex.com
WoodWing named system integrator eMerge Consulting LLC a network partner. Under the agreement, eMerge will oversee sales and installation of WoodWing’s full suite of editorial software.
www.woodwing.com
Monday, July 20, 2009
Cox sells papers in Colo., N.C., Texas
Cox Enterprises Inc. is paring down its list of newspaper properties, selling papers in Colorado, North Carolina and Texas.
In Colorado, it sold the Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction and the Nickel, a shopper, to Kansas-based Seaton Publishing while it sold the Waco (Texas) Herald-Tribune to local firm Robinson Media Co.
Cooke Communications, meantime, purchased North Carolina papers the Greenville Daily Reflector, the Rocky Mount Telegram, the Elizabeth City Daily Advance and 10 weeklies.
Cox declined to disclose financial details, but said all of the transactions would close within the next few weeks.
In Colorado, it sold the Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction and the Nickel, a shopper, to Kansas-based Seaton Publishing while it sold the Waco (Texas) Herald-Tribune to local firm Robinson Media Co.
Cooke Communications, meantime, purchased North Carolina papers the Greenville Daily Reflector, the Rocky Mount Telegram, the Elizabeth City Daily Advance and 10 weeklies.
Cox declined to disclose financial details, but said all of the transactions would close within the next few weeks.
July 20, 2009 — E-reader firm Polymer Vision folds
Polymer Vision, the England-based developer of the flexible Readius e-reader, shut down its operations, according to multiple media reports.
The Readius, which weighed only 4 ounces, sported a 5-inch black-and-white rollable display, with a resolution of 320-by-240 pixels.
NewspaperDirect late last year adapted its PressDisplay application to work on the device, which also boasted cell phone and USB storage functionality.
“We have the software written for them and the feed established, so if they end up finding a way to release the device, NewspaperDirect’s electronic newspapers will be available on the device,” said Igor Smirnoff, ND’s director of strategic development.
The shutdown cost more than 50 employees their jobs.
The Readius, which weighed only 4 ounces, sported a 5-inch black-and-white rollable display, with a resolution of 320-by-240 pixels.
NewspaperDirect late last year adapted its PressDisplay application to work on the device, which also boasted cell phone and USB storage functionality.
“We have the software written for them and the feed established, so if they end up finding a way to release the device, NewspaperDirect’s electronic newspapers will be available on the device,” said Igor Smirnoff, ND’s director of strategic development.
The shutdown cost more than 50 employees their jobs.
Texas daily live on AdBase
The Midland (Texas) Reporter-Telegram went live on Atex’s AdBase to manage its advertising operations from order entry and rating to pagination, billing and financial reporting, Atex said.
AdBase will also handle invoicing and accounts receivable for the Hearst Corp. daily’s print and digital advertising business.
“From an efficiency standpoint, we saw how Atex AdBase could really streamline our business practices and let us do a lot more packaged-type selling and then do upselling on those packages,” said Dave Wedel, publisher of the Reporter-Telegram. “Online, we saw how people could upsell themselves.”
AdBase will also handle invoicing and accounts receivable for the Hearst Corp. daily’s print and digital advertising business.
“From an efficiency standpoint, we saw how Atex AdBase could really streamline our business practices and let us do a lot more packaged-type selling and then do upselling on those packages,” said Dave Wedel, publisher of the Reporter-Telegram. “Online, we saw how people could upsell themselves.”
MyPressReports picks up Iowa daily
Audit firm MyPressReports.com LLC said it has added The Tribune in Ames, Iowa, to the list of newspapers using its management reports.
The company said The Tribune will use its reporting apps to keep tabs on production, circulation, ad sales and time and attendance. The Tribune is MyPressReport.com’s 34th client and 14th printing facility, it said.
The company said The Tribune will use its reporting apps to keep tabs on production, circulation, ad sales and time and attendance. The Tribune is MyPressReport.com’s 34th client and 14th printing facility, it said.
Fla. daily taps Saxotech for online search
The Villages (Fla.) Daily Sun will implement Saxotech’s Directory Publishing Center to underpin online search, Saxotech said.
Supported on a hosted and managed platform, DPC software will enable the Daily Sun to configure a wide range of searchable directories, guides and index products, and allow the publisher’s digital audience to find businesses, services and activities in their community and surrounding areas, Saxotech said. The publisher can also individually add components or behaviors to an advertiser’s listing, in the process creating upsell options.
“A digital optimized search engine will be a great addition for our customers and readers,” said Jim Sprung, general manager for The Sun.
The Directory Publishing Center is part of Saxotech’s recently launched Online Ad Solutions software.
Supported on a hosted and managed platform, DPC software will enable the Daily Sun to configure a wide range of searchable directories, guides and index products, and allow the publisher’s digital audience to find businesses, services and activities in their community and surrounding areas, Saxotech said. The publisher can also individually add components or behaviors to an advertiser’s listing, in the process creating upsell options.
“A digital optimized search engine will be a great addition for our customers and readers,” said Jim Sprung, general manager for The Sun.
The Directory Publishing Center is part of Saxotech’s recently launched Online Ad Solutions software.
NAA: Papers remain leading ad medium
Newspapers remain the leading advertising medium cited by consumers in planning, shopping and making purchasing decisions, according to early data from a MORI Research survey of more than 3,000 adults.
The Newspaper Association of America announced the findings last week.
The study, part of a series entitled “American Consumer Insights,” examined the impact newspaper advertising has on consumer shopping and spending patterns. Among the early findings:
•Nearly six in 10 adults (59 percent) identify newspapers as the medium they use to help plan shopping or make purchase decisions.
•More than 80 percent of those surveyed said they “took action” as a result of newspaper advertising.
•More than 70 percent of adults regularly or occasionally read newspaper inserts.
The NAA said competitive media trailed well behind newspapers as the primary medium used by consumers to check advertising. The closest competitor — the Internet — lagged by 20 percentage points, NAA said.
The Newspaper Association of America announced the findings last week.
The study, part of a series entitled “American Consumer Insights,” examined the impact newspaper advertising has on consumer shopping and spending patterns. Among the early findings:
•Nearly six in 10 adults (59 percent) identify newspapers as the medium they use to help plan shopping or make purchase decisions.
•More than 80 percent of those surveyed said they “took action” as a result of newspaper advertising.
•More than 70 percent of adults regularly or occasionally read newspaper inserts.
The NAA said competitive media trailed well behind newspapers as the primary medium used by consumers to check advertising. The closest competitor — the Internet — lagged by 20 percentage points, NAA said.
Lee switching Wis. print sites
Lee Enterprises said it is shifting printing of Wisconsin newspapers Chippewa Herald, the Dunn County News and other production operations to the La Crosse Tribune, effective Aug. 11.
In addition to the Herald and News, the Chippewa operation prints the Tradin’ Post Buyer’s Guide, Chippewa Valley Business Report, Dunn County Advertiser, Chippewa County Advertiser and Marketplace Homes.
La Crosse is about 75 miles from Chippewa.
In addition to the Herald and News, the Chippewa operation prints the Tradin’ Post Buyer’s Guide, Chippewa Valley Business Report, Dunn County Advertiser, Chippewa County Advertiser and Marketplace Homes.
La Crosse is about 75 miles from Chippewa.
Seattle Times launches revamped homes site
The Seattle Times relaunched its NWhomes.com site, using software from Adicio Inc.
The Times is using the software developer’s community and amenity search options to allow prospective buyers to more easily narrow their search results.
The paper since 2003 has used Adicio’s app to underpin its online employment section. It migrated the real estate and automotive platforms from another vendor to Adicio earlier this year, the company said.
The Times is using the software developer’s community and amenity search options to allow prospective buyers to more easily narrow their search results.
The paper since 2003 has used Adicio’s app to underpin its online employment section. It migrated the real estate and automotive platforms from another vendor to Adicio earlier this year, the company said.
In Brief
Atex named Marty Windsor marketing manager for the Americas and Keegan Skidmore global marketing communications analyst.
The Wall Street Journal launched a new career site, FINS.com, a standalone online resource specifically targeting financial professionals and the finance market. The site covers all major financial sectors with associated jobs and news, in-depth research on companies, and daily columns offering advice and career insight, WSJ said.
The Daily News Transcript in Dedham, Mass., will reduce its frequency from five days a week to one, effective Oct. 1, according to The Boston Globe. The Daily News Transcript has a readership of about 3,200 and is owned by GateHouse Media Inc.
Tribune Co. will shift TV book sales operations from one of its divisions to competitor Advantage Newspaper Consultants under terms of a three-year contract. A bankruptcy judge is expected to approve the deal later this month.
U.K. newspaper printer Newsprinters Knowsley was presented the Newspaper Printer of the Year award at the 2009 Newspaper Awards ceremony, held earlier this spring. The printer was cited for its work producing The (London) Times Literary Supplement. It also snared recognition for production of The Times and The Sunday Times. The papers are all printed on a 25-satellite tower manroland Colorman XXL press.
Q.I. Press Controls said it signed an agreement with Baldwin Technology to market its line of press control equipment in Japan.
www.qipc.com
www.baldwintech.com
Digital Technology International released DTI Financials for its Cloud computing environment. The financial app is the newest addition to DTI’s line of products available in its hosted software offering, including DTI Circulation, DTI AudienceReach, DTI Advertising and DTI ContentPublisher.
DTI also released the latest version of AudienceReach, adding support for targeted e-mail marketing.
www.dtint.com
Local businesses account for almost 20 percent of ads placed on social networking sites, according to research firm Borrell Associates. The firm said local companies will spend $641 million — out of a total ad spend of $3.26 billion — to buy ads on the leading 118 social networking sites.
www.borrellassociates.com
The Wall Street Journal launched a new career site, FINS.com, a standalone online resource specifically targeting financial professionals and the finance market. The site covers all major financial sectors with associated jobs and news, in-depth research on companies, and daily columns offering advice and career insight, WSJ said.
The Daily News Transcript in Dedham, Mass., will reduce its frequency from five days a week to one, effective Oct. 1, according to The Boston Globe. The Daily News Transcript has a readership of about 3,200 and is owned by GateHouse Media Inc.
Tribune Co. will shift TV book sales operations from one of its divisions to competitor Advantage Newspaper Consultants under terms of a three-year contract. A bankruptcy judge is expected to approve the deal later this month.
U.K. newspaper printer Newsprinters Knowsley was presented the Newspaper Printer of the Year award at the 2009 Newspaper Awards ceremony, held earlier this spring. The printer was cited for its work producing The (London) Times Literary Supplement. It also snared recognition for production of The Times and The Sunday Times. The papers are all printed on a 25-satellite tower manroland Colorman XXL press.
Q.I. Press Controls said it signed an agreement with Baldwin Technology to market its line of press control equipment in Japan.
www.qipc.com
www.baldwintech.com
Digital Technology International released DTI Financials for its Cloud computing environment. The financial app is the newest addition to DTI’s line of products available in its hosted software offering, including DTI Circulation, DTI AudienceReach, DTI Advertising and DTI ContentPublisher.
DTI also released the latest version of AudienceReach, adding support for targeted e-mail marketing.
www.dtint.com
Local businesses account for almost 20 percent of ads placed on social networking sites, according to research firm Borrell Associates. The firm said local companies will spend $641 million — out of a total ad spend of $3.26 billion — to buy ads on the leading 118 social networking sites.
www.borrellassociates.com
Monday, July 13, 2009
July 13, 2009 — Union-Tribune updates pagination
The San Diego Union-Tribune ordered a 250-seat Atex Content Management system for its English and Spanish publications to eliminate steps in its manual pagination.
The Atex CMS will provide The Union-Tribune with an integrated, single-database system to handle the publisher’s entire workflow from content gathering to pagination to online delivery, reduce cost and improve efficiencies, Atex said.
“With Atex’s help, we are reducing the amount of time we take to paginate because we can do several things at one time instead of having to wait to perform one function after another after another,” said Robert York, senior editor at The Union-Tribune. “And that was a key benefit we saw with the Atex system, which allows for a parallel workflow that is crucial for us to save time and money.”
The contract for the Atex Content Management system includes licenses for 250 journalists, contributors, editors, designers and paginators, with implementation scheduled to begin immediately.
The Atex CMS will provide The Union-Tribune with an integrated, single-database system to handle the publisher’s entire workflow from content gathering to pagination to online delivery, reduce cost and improve efficiencies, Atex said.
“With Atex’s help, we are reducing the amount of time we take to paginate because we can do several things at one time instead of having to wait to perform one function after another after another,” said Robert York, senior editor at The Union-Tribune. “And that was a key benefit we saw with the Atex system, which allows for a parallel workflow that is crucial for us to save time and money.”
The contract for the Atex Content Management system includes licenses for 250 journalists, contributors, editors, designers and paginators, with implementation scheduled to begin immediately.
Gannett taps G&J for registration at 3 dailies
Gannett Co. Inc. ordered six VisionMaster punch benders from Glunz & Jensen for The News Journal in Wilmington, Del.; two for The (Nashville) Tennessean; and three for The Journal News in Westchester County, N.Y. G&J released the VisionMaster, priced under $50,000, earlier this year.
The VisionMaster benders in Nashville and Westchester are punching and bending plates for both 46- and 44-inch web widths.
Wilmington will install its machine at the time of its web-width reduction to 44 inches. All sites also ordered conveyors and stackers.
G&J also announced a number of sales through partner vendors, including a VisionMaster for the Mail Tribune in Medford, Ore., coordinated by Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging.
Additionally, G&J landed a number of punch bend and related equipment sales internationally, including sales in the United Arab Emirates, Madrid, Spain and Malaysia.
Finally, Tech Energy Inc. ordered new CML press registration lockups from G&J that will be used by the Midland (Texas) Reporter when the paper reduces its web width later this summer.
The VisionMaster benders in Nashville and Westchester are punching and bending plates for both 46- and 44-inch web widths.
Wilmington will install its machine at the time of its web-width reduction to 44 inches. All sites also ordered conveyors and stackers.
G&J also announced a number of sales through partner vendors, including a VisionMaster for the Mail Tribune in Medford, Ore., coordinated by Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging.
Additionally, G&J landed a number of punch bend and related equipment sales internationally, including sales in the United Arab Emirates, Madrid, Spain and Malaysia.
Finally, Tech Energy Inc. ordered new CML press registration lockups from G&J that will be used by the Midland (Texas) Reporter when the paper reduces its web width later this summer.
Cedar Rapids paper to print Iowa City daily
The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, said it will begin printing and distributing the Iowa City Press-Citizen, with printing to begin Aug. 4 and distribution Aug. 31.
The Press-Citizen, a Gannett Co. Inc. paper, had been printed by sister daily The Des Moines Register since June 2008.
The Gazette said shifting production and distribution of the Press-Citizen to Cedar Rapids will further decrease costs.
Cedar Rapids is about 24 miles from Iowa City.
The Press-Citizen, a Gannett Co. Inc. paper, had been printed by sister daily The Des Moines Register since June 2008.
The Gazette said shifting production and distribution of the Press-Citizen to Cedar Rapids will further decrease costs.
Cedar Rapids is about 24 miles from Iowa City.
Freedom paper in Texas to charge for online content
The Valley Morning Star in Harlingen, Texas, this week will be the first Freedom Communications newspaper to begin charging non-subscribers a fee to read its online edition.
The newspaper said that seven-day-a-week subscribers would get free access to the online edition, but that others would have to pay up to $3.95 per month.
“The days of giving content away, which costs money to create and for which we charge our print subscribers, I think, are just about over,” said Valley Morning Star Publisher Tyler Patton.
The newspaper will continue to make some of its features, including national news and the paper’s home page, free of charge on its Web site.
Patton said he expects other Freedom newspapers to follow suit.
Meantime, The New York Times said a survey of print subscribers is leading it to consider levying a $5 monthly fee for access to its Web site.
Bloomberg reported that The Times also asked if subscribers would be willing to pay a discounted fee of $2.50 to read content on the site.
The newspaper said that seven-day-a-week subscribers would get free access to the online edition, but that others would have to pay up to $3.95 per month.
“The days of giving content away, which costs money to create and for which we charge our print subscribers, I think, are just about over,” said Valley Morning Star Publisher Tyler Patton.
The newspaper will continue to make some of its features, including national news and the paper’s home page, free of charge on its Web site.
Patton said he expects other Freedom newspapers to follow suit.
Meantime, The New York Times said a survey of print subscribers is leading it to consider levying a $5 monthly fee for access to its Web site.
Bloomberg reported that The Times also asked if subscribers would be willing to pay a discounted fee of $2.50 to read content on the site.
N.H. paper shuts down
The Eagle Times in Claremont, N.H., abruptly shut down last week after the company that published the newspaper filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The newspaper, published six days a week, was founded more than 175 years ago and employed more than 100 people.
The publisher said the family-owned Eagle Publications could no longer continue underwriting the losses of the company, according to an article posted by The Union-Leader in Manchester, N.H.
"We did our best to continue the operations, but the economy and the changes in the newspaper industry have made it impossible to continue this business," said a memo issued by Eagle Publications.
The newspaper, published six days a week, was founded more than 175 years ago and employed more than 100 people.
The publisher said the family-owned Eagle Publications could no longer continue underwriting the losses of the company, according to an article posted by The Union-Leader in Manchester, N.H.
"We did our best to continue the operations, but the economy and the changes in the newspaper industry have made it impossible to continue this business," said a memo issued by Eagle Publications.
Printed Blog folds
The Printed Blog, a venture that aggregated blog content to create newspapers, ceased publication.
Founder Joshua Karp cited lack of funding.
Content for The Printed Blog was selected based on the votes of readers and their geographic location. Before its demise, the service produced 16 issues, distributed 80,000 print copies, with 100,000 copies downloaded (see News & Tech, February 2009).
“Despite a significant personal investment on my part, and the additional support of six or seven credit cards, we were unable to raise the minimum amount of money required to reach the next stage of our development,” Karp said. “This was a difficult decision for us, but the financial reality of the situation demanded that we suspend further publication immediately and indefinitely.”
Founder Joshua Karp cited lack of funding.
Content for The Printed Blog was selected based on the votes of readers and their geographic location. Before its demise, the service produced 16 issues, distributed 80,000 print copies, with 100,000 copies downloaded (see News & Tech, February 2009).
“Despite a significant personal investment on my part, and the additional support of six or seven credit cards, we were unable to raise the minimum amount of money required to reach the next stage of our development,” Karp said. “This was a difficult decision for us, but the financial reality of the situation demanded that we suspend further publication immediately and indefinitely.”
Ky. dailies join CommunitySportsDesk
Paxton Media Group Kentucky dailies The Messenger in Madisonville and The Messenger-Inquirer in Owensboro rolled out CommunitySportsDesk to collect, organize and present community sports and recreation content on their online and print products.
The Kentucky affiliates join Paxton’s Indiana properties in Marion, Wabash, Peru, Huntington and Frankfort as CSD customers.
The Kentucky affiliates join Paxton’s Indiana properties in Marion, Wabash, Peru, Huntington and Frankfort as CSD customers.
The Day upgrades CMS
The Day of New London, Conn., upgraded to Mediaspectrum’s latest version of ContentWatch.
Mediaspectrum released ContentWatch 2.0, the latest upgrade to its flagship content management app, last month.
The day has been using the app since last year (see News & Tech, November 2008).
Mediaspectrum released ContentWatch 2.0, the latest upgrade to its flagship content management app, last month.
The day has been using the app since last year (see News & Tech, November 2008).
Tribune to sell ads for Dallas Morning News
Tribune Co. will begin selling national print and online ads for The Dallas Morning News under terms of a contract between the Chicago-based publisher and A.H. Belo Corp.
Tribune365 National Solutions Group will be responsible for marketing The Morning News. The newly formed unit will represent the daily newspaper as well as Belo’s Quick and Al Dia publications in Dallas as well as all of the publications’ Web sites.
"This is an important step toward a more efficient and better equipped sales force for our company," said Cyndy Carr, The Morning News’ senior vice president of sales.
Tribune365 National Solutions Group will be responsible for marketing The Morning News. The newly formed unit will represent the daily newspaper as well as Belo’s Quick and Al Dia publications in Dallas as well as all of the publications’ Web sites.
"This is an important step toward a more efficient and better equipped sales force for our company," said Cyndy Carr, The Morning News’ senior vice president of sales.
Mitsubishi offering lower-cost CTP machine
Mitsubishi released the Digital NewsPro System, which the vendors said is an affordable computer-to-plate machine designed specifically for short-run newspapers, pennysavers and book printing.
The Digital NewsPro System integrates Mitsubishi’s Silver DigiPlate plate technology with a Katana platesetter, plate bender and lock-ups designed to meet the requirements of newspaper presses, Mitsubishi said.
The Digital NewsPro System integrates Mitsubishi’s Silver DigiPlate plate technology with a Katana platesetter, plate bender and lock-ups designed to meet the requirements of newspaper presses, Mitsubishi said.
In Brief
WIFAG said CEO Peter Boeglin left the company and named Werner Tschan interim manager.
The Washington Times named Karyn Gruenberg marketing director.
The Dallas Morning News named Tracy Martin Taylor publisher of Quick and general manager of arts and entertainment.
PPI Media GmbH named Nina Paul public relations manager, succeeding Robert Friedrichs.
The Kitsap Sun in Bremerton, Wash., named Charles Horton president and publisher, succeeding Mike Levi, who retired.
The Oshkosh (Wis.) Northwestern named Stewart Rieckman general manager and executive editor.
The Denver Post raised its single-copy price from 50 cents to 75 cents, effective July 13. Subscriber rates weren’t affected. Meantime, the Audit Bureau of Circulations said The Post’s circulation rose by almost 150,000 copies — to 371,727 — in the month after the Rocky Mountain News folded Feb. 28.
The New York Times launched its international weekly news supplement in La Razón in Bolivia. The section, which will be published in Spanish, joins a global network of newspapers that carry the seven-year-old weekly.
FFEI released RealVue3D 3.9, the newest version of its 3D print simulation software engineered to enable publishers to convert multipage PDF documents into interactive 3D products. Documents can be rotated and viewed from any angle, giving creators and their clients a true impression of how the final product will look when printed.
www.ffei.co.uk
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries appointed Newstech India Pvt. Ltd., as its sales and service distributor for the company’s line of newspaper offset presses within India.
www.mhi.co.jp
Anygraaf entered into sales and distribution partnerships with newspaper industry suppliers Intergraph Corp. and UltraGraph Technologies, both of south Florida.
Intergraph caters to the Caribbean market, while UltraGraph serves Mexico, South America and Central America.
www.anygraaf.com
MyPressReports was approved as a PAGE Cooperative certified vendor.
www.mypressreports.com
AbitibiBowater said it is providing carbon credits that it has accumulated through its own energy-saving initiatives to offset greenhouse gas emissions occurring during IfraExpo 2009.
www.atibitibowater.com
QuadTech Inc. said it became an authorized sales agent for Procemex-Print web monitoring products in North, Central, and South America. Based in Jyvaskyla, Finland, Procemex Oy Ltd.’s products monitor various locations on the pressline to keep tab on such events as web breaks.
www.quadtechworld.com
ECRM released RIPMate v8.1. The new RIP software upgrade is now available through ECRM and its worldwide dealer network.
www.ecrm.com
E.W. Scripps redesigned Web sites at several papers, including The Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel, Naples (Fla.) Daily News, the Evansville (Ind.) Courier & Press and the Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif.
Media General said it would no longer publish Skirt! magazine in Birmingham, Ala., but will continue to publish the special-interest periodical in 17 other markets where it now appears.
Gannett Co. Inc. said it will move production of USA Today from The Batavia (N.Y.) Daily News to the Gannett-owned Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle, effective next year.
The Washington Times named Karyn Gruenberg marketing director.
The Dallas Morning News named Tracy Martin Taylor publisher of Quick and general manager of arts and entertainment.
PPI Media GmbH named Nina Paul public relations manager, succeeding Robert Friedrichs.
The Kitsap Sun in Bremerton, Wash., named Charles Horton president and publisher, succeeding Mike Levi, who retired.
The Oshkosh (Wis.) Northwestern named Stewart Rieckman general manager and executive editor.
The Denver Post raised its single-copy price from 50 cents to 75 cents, effective July 13. Subscriber rates weren’t affected. Meantime, the Audit Bureau of Circulations said The Post’s circulation rose by almost 150,000 copies — to 371,727 — in the month after the Rocky Mountain News folded Feb. 28.
The New York Times launched its international weekly news supplement in La Razón in Bolivia. The section, which will be published in Spanish, joins a global network of newspapers that carry the seven-year-old weekly.
FFEI released RealVue3D 3.9, the newest version of its 3D print simulation software engineered to enable publishers to convert multipage PDF documents into interactive 3D products. Documents can be rotated and viewed from any angle, giving creators and their clients a true impression of how the final product will look when printed.
www.ffei.co.uk
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries appointed Newstech India Pvt. Ltd., as its sales and service distributor for the company’s line of newspaper offset presses within India.
www.mhi.co.jp
Anygraaf entered into sales and distribution partnerships with newspaper industry suppliers Intergraph Corp. and UltraGraph Technologies, both of south Florida.
Intergraph caters to the Caribbean market, while UltraGraph serves Mexico, South America and Central America.
www.anygraaf.com
MyPressReports was approved as a PAGE Cooperative certified vendor.
www.mypressreports.com
AbitibiBowater said it is providing carbon credits that it has accumulated through its own energy-saving initiatives to offset greenhouse gas emissions occurring during IfraExpo 2009.
www.atibitibowater.com
QuadTech Inc. said it became an authorized sales agent for Procemex-Print web monitoring products in North, Central, and South America. Based in Jyvaskyla, Finland, Procemex Oy Ltd.’s products monitor various locations on the pressline to keep tab on such events as web breaks.
www.quadtechworld.com
ECRM released RIPMate v8.1. The new RIP software upgrade is now available through ECRM and its worldwide dealer network.
www.ecrm.com
E.W. Scripps redesigned Web sites at several papers, including The Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel, Naples (Fla.) Daily News, the Evansville (Ind.) Courier & Press and the Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif.
Media General said it would no longer publish Skirt! magazine in Birmingham, Ala., but will continue to publish the special-interest periodical in 17 other markets where it now appears.
Gannett Co. Inc. said it will move production of USA Today from The Batavia (N.Y.) Daily News to the Gannett-owned Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle, effective next year.
Monday, July 6, 2009
July 6, 2009: Transcon begins printing S.F. Chronicle
Transcontinental Inc. last night began printing the San Francisco Chronicle at its new $200 million plant in Fremont, Calif.
The shift occurred quietly, with neither Transcontinental nor Hearst Corp., the owner of the Chronicle, publicly commenting on the move before the switch took place.
Hearst tapped Transcontinental in 2006 to print the Chronicle under terms of a 15-year contract. The newspaper said it decided to outsource production, in part, because it wasn't cost effective to replace its aging presses.
The contract was a coup for Transcontinental, which saw the Chronicle as a natural stepping-off point of its strategy to extend its production outsourcing capabilities to U.S. newspapers.
Yet in the more than two years since Transcontinental and Hearst signed the contract, the souring economy battered both the printer and the newspaper. At one point, Hearst threatened to shut down the paper in a bid to gain cost concessions, leading Transcontinental to issue a statement that it had contingency plans in place in the event the paper did fold.
Transcontinental, meantime, has had to weather its own challenges. Since the first of the year, the printer has laid off more than 1,500 workers, closed plants and posted a second quarter loss of $144 million as it battles to regain profitability.
The Chronicle is the second U.S. newspaper Transcontinental produces, and the first printed at a U.S. facility. Transcontinental is expected to aggressively pursue other U.S. printing customers in Fremont, which is anchored by three manroland Colorman XXL heatset/coldset presses and postpress equipment from Goss International, Ferag, Cannon Equipment and other vendors.
Transcontinental also produces under contract The (Toronto) Globe and Mail, La Presse and certain regional editions of The New York Times.
Look for more on Transcontinental printing the Chronicle in the September issue of News & Tech.
The shift occurred quietly, with neither Transcontinental nor Hearst Corp., the owner of the Chronicle, publicly commenting on the move before the switch took place.
Hearst tapped Transcontinental in 2006 to print the Chronicle under terms of a 15-year contract. The newspaper said it decided to outsource production, in part, because it wasn't cost effective to replace its aging presses.
The contract was a coup for Transcontinental, which saw the Chronicle as a natural stepping-off point of its strategy to extend its production outsourcing capabilities to U.S. newspapers.
Yet in the more than two years since Transcontinental and Hearst signed the contract, the souring economy battered both the printer and the newspaper. At one point, Hearst threatened to shut down the paper in a bid to gain cost concessions, leading Transcontinental to issue a statement that it had contingency plans in place in the event the paper did fold.
Transcontinental, meantime, has had to weather its own challenges. Since the first of the year, the printer has laid off more than 1,500 workers, closed plants and posted a second quarter loss of $144 million as it battles to regain profitability.
The Chronicle is the second U.S. newspaper Transcontinental produces, and the first printed at a U.S. facility. Transcontinental is expected to aggressively pursue other U.S. printing customers in Fremont, which is anchored by three manroland Colorman XXL heatset/coldset presses and postpress equipment from Goss International, Ferag, Cannon Equipment and other vendors.
Transcontinental also produces under contract The (Toronto) Globe and Mail, La Presse and certain regional editions of The New York Times.
Look for more on Transcontinental printing the Chronicle in the September issue of News & Tech.
Texas, Wis., dailies latest to consolidate printing ops
The Austin (Texas) American-Statesman will begin printing sister paper Tribune-Herald in Waco, Texas on July 13.
The move will eliminate 43 jobs, according to the Tribune-Herald.
The American-Statesman — located approximately 104 miles from the Tribune-Herald — recently beefed up its postpress operation and has sufficient press capacity to print the 35,000-subscriber Tribune-Herald.
The Tribune-Herald said it hopes to retain some of its existing commercial printing accounts even after it stops printing the daily paper.
Cox Newspapers owns both dailies.
Meantime, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Kenosha (Wis.) News announced a 5-year deal in which Journal Sentinel Inc. will print and package the News at its West Milwaukee production plant.
The shift is expected to commence with the August 26 edition.
News Publisher Ken Dowdell said the production arrangements will have no impact on the content of the newspaper and minimal effect on its delivery schedule.
The News reported that 13 full-time and 40 part-time News employees will be affected.
“Businesses face the challenge of restructuring from time to time,” Dowdell said. “Operating and capital costs, under scrutiny because of the recession and developments in the information industry, point to a change in how we produce our printed newspaper.”
The move will eliminate 43 jobs, according to the Tribune-Herald.
The American-Statesman — located approximately 104 miles from the Tribune-Herald — recently beefed up its postpress operation and has sufficient press capacity to print the 35,000-subscriber Tribune-Herald.
The Tribune-Herald said it hopes to retain some of its existing commercial printing accounts even after it stops printing the daily paper.
Cox Newspapers owns both dailies.
Meantime, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Kenosha (Wis.) News announced a 5-year deal in which Journal Sentinel Inc. will print and package the News at its West Milwaukee production plant.
The shift is expected to commence with the August 26 edition.
News Publisher Ken Dowdell said the production arrangements will have no impact on the content of the newspaper and minimal effect on its delivery schedule.
The News reported that 13 full-time and 40 part-time News employees will be affected.
“Businesses face the challenge of restructuring from time to time,” Dowdell said. “Operating and capital costs, under scrutiny because of the recession and developments in the information industry, point to a change in how we produce our printed newspaper.”
Boston Globe previews GlobeReader
The Boston Globe last week launched the preview edition of GlobeReader, a new digital version of its newspaper that can be read offline or online.
Through GlobeReader, content is downloaded daily to a subscriber’s desktop, in a format designed to resemble the look and feel of the print version of The Globe.
“The preview edition of the GlobeReader gives our home-delivery subscribers access to new and exciting ways to read The Boston Globe both at home and on the go,” said Chris Mayer, senior vice president of circulation and operations for The Boston Globe.
The preview edition is available exclusively to Globe subscribers with
plans for further expansion in the near future, The Globe said.
Through GlobeReader, content is downloaded daily to a subscriber’s desktop, in a format designed to resemble the look and feel of the print version of The Globe.
“The preview edition of the GlobeReader gives our home-delivery subscribers access to new and exciting ways to read The Boston Globe both at home and on the go,” said Chris Mayer, senior vice president of circulation and operations for The Boston Globe.
The preview edition is available exclusively to Globe subscribers with
plans for further expansion in the near future, The Globe said.
Gannett cutting 1,400 more
Gannett’s next round of layoffs will affect some 1,400 staffers across 80 newspapers and is expected to be complete by July 9, according to a memo sent to employees from Community Publishing Division President Bob Dickey on July 1.
The cuts in the division, which does not include USA Today, account for more than 3 percent of Gannett’s workforce.
“We must take these steps because the advertising environment remains challenged,” Dickey told employees in the memo.
The Cincinnati Enquirer is among the papers bracing for the most significant cuts, with some 100 layoffs expected, according to a memo sent to employees from Publisher Margaret Buchanan last week.
This is Gannett’s third significant round of layoffs. The publisher’s previous round of cuts eliminated 3,000 positions.
The cuts in the division, which does not include USA Today, account for more than 3 percent of Gannett’s workforce.
“We must take these steps because the advertising environment remains challenged,” Dickey told employees in the memo.
The Cincinnati Enquirer is among the papers bracing for the most significant cuts, with some 100 layoffs expected, according to a memo sent to employees from Publisher Margaret Buchanan last week.
This is Gannett’s third significant round of layoffs. The publisher’s previous round of cuts eliminated 3,000 positions.
Ex-Rocky staffers, others launch daily newsmagazine
A group including writers and editors from the now-defunct (Denver) Rocky Mountain News today launched the Rocky Mountain Independent, a daily newsmagazine covering local news, sports, politics, business and culture in Denver and the Rocky Mountain region.
Content will be provided by reporters and editors, paid contributors and independently owned partner blogs that will participate through content and revenue-sharing agreements, the group said. Operations will be supported by memberships and advertising revenue. Members will have access to premium content and features.
“Our focus is on developing original content and creating a place to discuss the news that affects us all,” said Cindy House, a site editor and founder. “We want to tear down the walls around the newsroom to join the community in that discussion.”
Among RMI’s partners are IwantMyRocky.com, a Web site launched after the initial announcement that the Rocky had been put up for sale earlier this year; DenverAlaMode.com; InsideTheRockies.com, DrewLitton.com and MileHighPolitics.com.
RMI’s founding journalists own a majority interest in the magazine.
Content will be provided by reporters and editors, paid contributors and independently owned partner blogs that will participate through content and revenue-sharing agreements, the group said. Operations will be supported by memberships and advertising revenue. Members will have access to premium content and features.
“Our focus is on developing original content and creating a place to discuss the news that affects us all,” said Cindy House, a site editor and founder. “We want to tear down the walls around the newsroom to join the community in that discussion.”
Among RMI’s partners are IwantMyRocky.com, a Web site launched after the initial announcement that the Rocky had been put up for sale earlier this year; DenverAlaMode.com; InsideTheRockies.com, DrewLitton.com and MileHighPolitics.com.
RMI’s founding journalists own a majority interest in the magazine.
Evergreen launches online editions
Evergreen Printing is offering publishers the option to add an online version of their publication to their Web site.
GreenView Editions, employs an interface that incorporates page-flip technology and the best features of other online editions, Evergreen said. Readers can view a directory of advertisers and instantly jump to their page. Editorial can also be accessed from a similar directory allowing readers to view articles in one window, even if they are continued on another page.
Additional features include access to previous issues, search, print and share functions. To view an on-line edition, visit: http://www.egpp.com/GreenViewOnlineEditions.html.
GreenView Editions, employs an interface that incorporates page-flip technology and the best features of other online editions, Evergreen said. Readers can view a directory of advertisers and instantly jump to their page. Editorial can also be accessed from a similar directory allowing readers to view articles in one window, even if they are continued on another page.
Additional features include access to previous issues, search, print and share functions. To view an on-line edition, visit: http://www.egpp.com/GreenViewOnlineEditions.html.
WIFAG notches Germ, Swiss sales
Neue Westfalische newspaper in Bielefeld-Sennestadt, Germany, will install two WIFAG evolution 473, presses on the premises of J.D. Kuster Nachf und Presse Druck GmbH & Co. Two sections of the press, slated to go live in March 2011, will be dedicated to newspaper production, including the 16-edition Neue Westfalische, the weekly Haller Kreisblatt and weekly newspapers and newspaper products, WIFAG said.
The presses consist of four WIFAG evolution 473/4 printing towers — 9-cylinder satellite units featuring a 4-by-2 configuration — with fully automatic plate changers, two KF 140 2:5:5 folders and four WIFAG autopaster A 50 reelstands. The central control console and production planning system will be supplied by ABB.
Meantime, WIFAG said that longtime customer Società Editrice Corriere del Ticino SA in Muzzano, Switzerland, purchased an evolution 371. The publisher prints the daily Corriere del Ticino and Giornale del Popolo, as well as a number of commercial jobs.
The new doublewide press replaces a WIFAG OF 9.2/370 and will be configured as four 4-high towers with four M-type autopasters and one 2:5:5 jaw folder. The pres can produce more than 95,000 copies of a tabloid up to 128 pages, in 4-color, WIFAG said.
The presses consist of four WIFAG evolution 473/4 printing towers — 9-cylinder satellite units featuring a 4-by-2 configuration — with fully automatic plate changers, two KF 140 2:5:5 folders and four WIFAG autopaster A 50 reelstands. The central control console and production planning system will be supplied by ABB.
Meantime, WIFAG said that longtime customer Società Editrice Corriere del Ticino SA in Muzzano, Switzerland, purchased an evolution 371. The publisher prints the daily Corriere del Ticino and Giornale del Popolo, as well as a number of commercial jobs.
The new doublewide press replaces a WIFAG OF 9.2/370 and will be configured as four 4-high towers with four M-type autopasters and one 2:5:5 jaw folder. The pres can produce more than 95,000 copies of a tabloid up to 128 pages, in 4-color, WIFAG said.
N.C. daily ramps us rebuilt stacker
GammTech, supplier of rebuilt postpress equipment and parts, announced the installation of a rebuilt Gammerler KL 507 stacker at the Gaston Gazette in Gastonia, N.C.
Currently employed as the plant’s primary stacker, the rebuilt KL 507 is operational up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing the Gaston Gazette to take its two other stackers offline for refurbishing, GammTech said.
“We purchased the rebuilt KL 507 as part of a plan to extend the life of our existing stackers by five years,” said Mike Ivancic, operations director for the Gaston Gazette. “We have been able to maintain efficiency even while our other two stackers are offline.”
Ivancic said the publisher plans to use the rebuilt machine as its primary stacker when the other machines are returned to production.
Currently employed as the plant’s primary stacker, the rebuilt KL 507 is operational up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing the Gaston Gazette to take its two other stackers offline for refurbishing, GammTech said.
“We purchased the rebuilt KL 507 as part of a plan to extend the life of our existing stackers by five years,” said Mike Ivancic, operations director for the Gaston Gazette. “We have been able to maintain efficiency even while our other two stackers are offline.”
Ivancic said the publisher plans to use the rebuilt machine as its primary stacker when the other machines are returned to production.
Inland study shows mixed results
Inland Press Association’s latest Five-Year Trend Analysis study, shows reasons for both pessimism and optimism in the newspaper industry.
The study found that declining circulation, advertising and classified revenue have been eroding the profits at U.S. dailies over the past five years. The under 15,000-circulation category was the only circulation group to show growth, notching a 2.5 percent gain in gross revenues during the five-year period ending in 2008.
Overall, daily newspapers of all circulation sizes have experienced double-digit and even triple-digit declines in operating profit, the study found.
The steepest decline in profits occurred in the 25,001- to 50,000-circulation group, which, together, averaged a 190 percent decline from 2004 to 2008.
Inland’s analysis includes financial data on more than 120 papers across the country.
Inland’s Trend Analysis was co-sponsored by Interactive Newsmedia Financial Executives. For a full copy of the report, “2004-2008 Trend Analysis: From the National Cost & Revenue Study for Daily Newspapers,” contact Tim Mather at (847) 795-0380.
The study found that declining circulation, advertising and classified revenue have been eroding the profits at U.S. dailies over the past five years. The under 15,000-circulation category was the only circulation group to show growth, notching a 2.5 percent gain in gross revenues during the five-year period ending in 2008.
Overall, daily newspapers of all circulation sizes have experienced double-digit and even triple-digit declines in operating profit, the study found.
The steepest decline in profits occurred in the 25,001- to 50,000-circulation group, which, together, averaged a 190 percent decline from 2004 to 2008.
Inland’s analysis includes financial data on more than 120 papers across the country.
Inland’s Trend Analysis was co-sponsored by Interactive Newsmedia Financial Executives. For a full copy of the report, “2004-2008 Trend Analysis: From the National Cost & Revenue Study for Daily Newspapers,” contact Tim Mather at (847) 795-0380.
Iowa paper signs onto CSD
The Daily Iowegian of Centerville, Iowa, is the newest affiliate of CommunitySportsDesk. The Iowegian will use the CSD-hosted platform and business model to collect, organize and present community sports and recreation content for its online and print products.
Iowegian Publisher Becky Maxwell said CommunitySportsDesk will extend a community umbrella to youth and recreational coverage in Centerville, Moravia and Seymour in Iowa, and Unionville in Missouri. It will be branded as Appanoose Community Sports.
"Kids and adults are spending their time passionately engaged in sports and recreation, and we believe CSD can be a tool to ‘catch our community at play,’" Maxwell said.
The Iowegian, a weekday newspaper with 3,000 circulation, is the first CNHI newspaper to sign onto the CSD platform.
Iowegian Publisher Becky Maxwell said CommunitySportsDesk will extend a community umbrella to youth and recreational coverage in Centerville, Moravia and Seymour in Iowa, and Unionville in Missouri. It will be branded as Appanoose Community Sports.
"Kids and adults are spending their time passionately engaged in sports and recreation, and we believe CSD can be a tool to ‘catch our community at play,’" Maxwell said.
The Iowegian, a weekday newspaper with 3,000 circulation, is the first CNHI newspaper to sign onto the CSD platform.
In brief: July 6, 2009
Kirk MacDonald, former CEO of the Denver Newspaper Agency, returned to The Denver Post as executive vice president of sales, marketing and digital sales. He will report to Gerald Grilly, the DNA's president and CEO.
PAGE Cooperative named General Manager John Snyder as its CEO, effective July 1. Former CEO Chuck Berky remains in an advisory capacity as Founder, CEO Emeritus for the next 12 months, PAGE said. Meantime, Steve Schroeder, assistant general manager and director of technical services. was named general manager. Schroeder retains his duties as director of technical services.
KBA North America announced that Ulrich Wicke, former web offset sales manager for the Spanish and South American markets, will take over as vice president of sales and service for the web offset division in North America. Heinz Schmid, vice president of web offset sales for KBA’s newspaper and commercial web market, will remain with KBA in an advisory capacity.
Hewlett-Packard said Vyomesh Joshi, executive president of its imaging and printing group, was presented with the 2009 Prism Award. Presented annually by New York University, the Prism Award recognizes leadership in graphic arts and communications.
Technotrans launched a new regional headquarters in Hong Kong to consolidate the Asia Pacific business activities of its parent company technotrans AG and appointed Ralph Pernizsak regional managing director.
WoodWing Software released enhanced versions of its Smart Speller and Smart Hyphen plug-ins, offering additional languages, more features and full support for Adobe CS4, the vendor said.
The Central Penn Business Journal won the gold award in the Best Newspapers Small Market category at The Alliance of Area Business Publications’ annual awards banquet in June.
Tolerans introduced the Speedliner S60 compact ribbon stitcher. The machine is half the size of a traditional stitcher, Tolerans said, and can stitch sections at full production speed.
Printing Industries of America and manroland extended their partnership to include collaborative research and training activities. Printing Industries' ability to successfully use a manroland rotoman web press for the benefit of printers, students and visitors laid the groundwork for the next phase in the organizations' relationship, PIA said.
Seven Midwest press associations are collaborating to conduct the 2009 Midwest Newspaper Summit, titled “Newspaper Evolution: Survival of the Fittest in the Digital Age,” Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa.
Registration and accommodation information is available at www.newspaperevolution.com.
AdSend, a division of Vio Worldwide, announced that the browser-based ad sending and receiving service now offers integrated preflighting utilizing Dalim Twist.
PAGE Cooperative named General Manager John Snyder as its CEO, effective July 1. Former CEO Chuck Berky remains in an advisory capacity as Founder, CEO Emeritus for the next 12 months, PAGE said. Meantime, Steve Schroeder, assistant general manager and director of technical services. was named general manager. Schroeder retains his duties as director of technical services.
KBA North America announced that Ulrich Wicke, former web offset sales manager for the Spanish and South American markets, will take over as vice president of sales and service for the web offset division in North America. Heinz Schmid, vice president of web offset sales for KBA’s newspaper and commercial web market, will remain with KBA in an advisory capacity.
Hewlett-Packard said Vyomesh Joshi, executive president of its imaging and printing group, was presented with the 2009 Prism Award. Presented annually by New York University, the Prism Award recognizes leadership in graphic arts and communications.
Technotrans launched a new regional headquarters in Hong Kong to consolidate the Asia Pacific business activities of its parent company technotrans AG and appointed Ralph Pernizsak regional managing director.
WoodWing Software released enhanced versions of its Smart Speller and Smart Hyphen plug-ins, offering additional languages, more features and full support for Adobe CS4, the vendor said.
The Central Penn Business Journal won the gold award in the Best Newspapers Small Market category at The Alliance of Area Business Publications’ annual awards banquet in June.
Tolerans introduced the Speedliner S60 compact ribbon stitcher. The machine is half the size of a traditional stitcher, Tolerans said, and can stitch sections at full production speed.
Printing Industries of America and manroland extended their partnership to include collaborative research and training activities. Printing Industries' ability to successfully use a manroland rotoman web press for the benefit of printers, students and visitors laid the groundwork for the next phase in the organizations' relationship, PIA said.
Seven Midwest press associations are collaborating to conduct the 2009 Midwest Newspaper Summit, titled “Newspaper Evolution: Survival of the Fittest in the Digital Age,” Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa.
Registration and accommodation information is available at www.newspaperevolution.com.
AdSend, a division of Vio Worldwide, announced that the browser-based ad sending and receiving service now offers integrated preflighting utilizing Dalim Twist.
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