Tribune Co. last week unveiled a Chicago-based blog aggregation site as it attempts to lure more readers to its online offerings.
The beta version of ChicagoNow features blogs from more than 30 local personalities and subject matter experts.
By year-end it hopes to increase that number to more than 80.
In a video introducing the project, the Tribune said ChicagoNow can be described as a site where “The Huffington Post meets Facebook for Chicago.”
The Tribune has been working on developing the site since late last year. The new site will offer a slate of advertising options, and it will also be home to the Chicago Tribune’s relaunched RedEye Web site.
News & Tech will have more information about Tribune’s plans in the July issue.
Monday, June 1, 2009
NAA: Ad sales drop almost 30% in Q1
Print ad sales for the first quarter of 2009 fell almost 30 percent, the worst drop in modern history.
According to the Newspaper Association of America, newspapers posted $5.9 billion in print ad revenues, down 29.7 percent from the year-ago quarter. Online sales, meantime, fell 13.4 percent, to $696 million. Taken together, newspapers sold a total of $6.6 billion in overall advertising, a decrease of 28 percent.
In 2008, newspapers sold more than $9.2 billion in print and online advertising during the first three months of the year.
As expected, classified ad revenues continued their swift decline, falling during the first three months of 2009 by 42 percent, to $1.4 billion.
By segment, automotive classifieds fell 43 percent, to $322 million; and real estate fell 45 percent to $336 million. Recruitment classifieds declined a whopping 67 percent, to $205 million.
According to the Newspaper Association of America, newspapers posted $5.9 billion in print ad revenues, down 29.7 percent from the year-ago quarter. Online sales, meantime, fell 13.4 percent, to $696 million. Taken together, newspapers sold a total of $6.6 billion in overall advertising, a decrease of 28 percent.
In 2008, newspapers sold more than $9.2 billion in print and online advertising during the first three months of the year.
As expected, classified ad revenues continued their swift decline, falling during the first three months of 2009 by 42 percent, to $1.4 billion.
By segment, automotive classifieds fell 43 percent, to $322 million; and real estate fell 45 percent to $336 million. Recruitment classifieds declined a whopping 67 percent, to $205 million.
Free Lance-Star picks QIPC for register, color control
The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, Va., said it would equip its new press with automatic register and cutoff control systems from Q.I. Press Controls.
QIPC will install its mRC registration system on the newspaper’s Goss International Corp. FPS press, which is slated to go into production next year.
The triplewide FPS press is configured with four towers and two folders. Eight cameras on the towers will monitor color register while 18 additional mRC cameras will sit on the folders to control cutoff.
The Free Lance-Star is the third newspaper to buy the mRC system, following The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Transcontinental Inc., which is using it in its soon-to-be-opened Fremont, Calif., facility.
QIPC will install its mRC registration system on the newspaper’s Goss International Corp. FPS press, which is slated to go into production next year.
The triplewide FPS press is configured with four towers and two folders. Eight cameras on the towers will monitor color register while 18 additional mRC cameras will sit on the folders to control cutoff.
The Free Lance-Star is the third newspaper to buy the mRC system, following The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Transcontinental Inc., which is using it in its soon-to-be-opened Fremont, Calif., facility.
Lee reporting ink savings with Kodak app
Lee Enterprises is reporting ink savings of 20 percent to 25 percent since implementing Kodak’s Ink Optimizing Service software at 12 of its daily newspapers, Kodak said.
Kodak’s Ink Optimizing Service, which Lee first tested at the Billings (Mont.) Gazette, provides customers with an ICC DeviceLink profile that plugs into Kodak’s Prinergy workflow app.
Based on the that profile, separated image files go through a gray component replacement process that reduces ink usage by replacing CMY inks with less-expensive black ink, while limiting the Total Area Coverage to a predefined level.
“Ink savings have met our expectations and we also see enhancements to the quality of photos,” said Brian Kardell, vice president of production and chief information officer at Lee.
In addition to the Gazette, Lee rolled out the service to the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune; the Rapid City (S.D.) Journal; the Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune; the Sioux City (Iowa) Journal; the Times in Munster, Ind.; the Times News in Twin Falls, Idaho; the St. Louis Post-Dispatch; the Missoulian in Missoula, Mont.; the Quad City Times in Davenport, Iowa; the Pantagraph in Bloomington, Ill.; and the North County Times in Escondido, Calif.
Kodak’s Ink Optimizing Service, which Lee first tested at the Billings (Mont.) Gazette, provides customers with an ICC DeviceLink profile that plugs into Kodak’s Prinergy workflow app.
Based on the that profile, separated image files go through a gray component replacement process that reduces ink usage by replacing CMY inks with less-expensive black ink, while limiting the Total Area Coverage to a predefined level.
“Ink savings have met our expectations and we also see enhancements to the quality of photos,” said Brian Kardell, vice president of production and chief information officer at Lee.
In addition to the Gazette, Lee rolled out the service to the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune; the Rapid City (S.D.) Journal; the Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune; the Sioux City (Iowa) Journal; the Times in Munster, Ind.; the Times News in Twin Falls, Idaho; the St. Louis Post-Dispatch; the Missoulian in Missoula, Mont.; the Quad City Times in Davenport, Iowa; the Pantagraph in Bloomington, Ill.; and the North County Times in Escondido, Calif.
New Zealand news agency picks DTI
The New Zealand Press Association purchased Digital Technology International’s ContentPublisher software, DTI said, marking the vendor’s first customer sale in New Zealand.
ContentPublisher will allow NZPA to automate news editing and delivery processes to its news and image Web sites and commercial customers, and will provide NZPA with a single multimedia app to exploit the Internet for developing new products and expanding its multimedia news operations.
"Our 24/7 integrated newsroom requires comprehensive, easy-to-use tools to deliver multimedia content and wire feeds — including breaking news, weather, sports, financial information and entertainment — to a demanding audience, fast," said Simon Randall, NZPA’s manager of commercial services. “It will also enable us to create new products and services.”
NZPA publishes information every 24 hours from its news staff, overseas wire services and other sources including the New Zealand Stock Exchange.
ContentPublisher will allow NZPA to automate news editing and delivery processes to its news and image Web sites and commercial customers, and will provide NZPA with a single multimedia app to exploit the Internet for developing new products and expanding its multimedia news operations.
"Our 24/7 integrated newsroom requires comprehensive, easy-to-use tools to deliver multimedia content and wire feeds — including breaking news, weather, sports, financial information and entertainment — to a demanding audience, fast," said Simon Randall, NZPA’s manager of commercial services. “It will also enable us to create new products and services.”
NZPA publishes information every 24 hours from its news staff, overseas wire services and other sources including the New Zealand Stock Exchange.
Finnish daily buys KBA Cortina
Finnish publisher Keski-Pohjanmaan Kirjapaino purchased a waterless Cortina press from Koenig & Bauer AG.
The 4-by-1 machine, to go into production next year, will be configured as four towers and two folders and sport a 22-inch cutoff. It’s capable of printing 150,000 32-page, full-color tabloids per hour. The machine will also be equipped with KBA’s PlateTronic automatic plate changers, RollerTronic automatic roller locks and NipTronic bearers.
Copies can be stitched, glued, perforated or scored after the quarterfold, KBA said.
KBA said the press is the 17th Cortina it’s sold since introducing the waterless machine in 2002.
The 4-by-1 machine, to go into production next year, will be configured as four towers and two folders and sport a 22-inch cutoff. It’s capable of printing 150,000 32-page, full-color tabloids per hour. The machine will also be equipped with KBA’s PlateTronic automatic plate changers, RollerTronic automatic roller locks and NipTronic bearers.
Copies can be stitched, glued, perforated or scored after the quarterfold, KBA said.
KBA said the press is the 17th Cortina it’s sold since introducing the waterless machine in 2002.
Hyperlocal news site to expand
City search Web site HelloMetro.com said it is expanding its HyperLocal news operation to more than 1,100 Web sites in the United States and Canada.
Louisville, Ky.-based HelloMetro said three online newspapers launched last week, in Louisville; Nashville, Tenn.; and Seattle. Each paper contains articles from local HelloMetro reporters. The information will be compiled into PDF newspapers and available to readers, HelloMetro said.
Ultimately, the company said it expects to produce 1,100 PDF newspapers each day.
Louisville, Ky.-based HelloMetro said three online newspapers launched last week, in Louisville; Nashville, Tenn.; and Seattle. Each paper contains articles from local HelloMetro reporters. The information will be compiled into PDF newspapers and available to readers, HelloMetro said.
Ultimately, the company said it expects to produce 1,100 PDF newspapers each day.
Goss’ Sutis to retire
Goss International Corp. President Richard Sutis will retire July 31, the company said. Sutis, who has worked for Goss and its predecessor companies for 44 years, will retain his positions as vice chairman of the board of directors of Shanghai Goss Graphic Systems and will also retain his seat on the board of Goss Graphics Systems Japan Corp.
WAN: World newspaper circ up
Despite the global financial crisis, newspaper circulation grew 1.3 percent worldwide in 2008, according to statistics compiled by the World Association of Newspapers.
WAN said global newspaper circulation is close to 540 million. When free dailies are added, circulation in 2008 rose at an even faster pace, by 1.62 percent.
Regionally, newspaper circulation grew almost 7 percent in Africa; 2 percent in South America and almost 3 percent in Asia. Circ fell almost 4 percent in North America, 2.5 percent in Australia and 1.8 percent in Europe.
“The simple fact is that, as a global industry, our printed audience continues to grow,” said Gavin O’Reilly, WAN president and CEO of Independent News and Media.
Predicting the death of newspapers “seems to have reached the level of a new sport,” he said.
“That this doom and gloom about our industry has largely gone unanswered is, to me, the most bizarre case of willful self-mutilation ever in the annals of industry,” he said. “And it continues apace, with commentators failing to look beyond their simple rhetoric and merely joining the chorus that the future is online, online, online, almost to the exclusion of everything else. This is a mistake. This oversimplifies a rather complex issue.”
WAN said global newspaper circulation is close to 540 million. When free dailies are added, circulation in 2008 rose at an even faster pace, by 1.62 percent.
Regionally, newspaper circulation grew almost 7 percent in Africa; 2 percent in South America and almost 3 percent in Asia. Circ fell almost 4 percent in North America, 2.5 percent in Australia and 1.8 percent in Europe.
“The simple fact is that, as a global industry, our printed audience continues to grow,” said Gavin O’Reilly, WAN president and CEO of Independent News and Media.
Predicting the death of newspapers “seems to have reached the level of a new sport,” he said.
“That this doom and gloom about our industry has largely gone unanswered is, to me, the most bizarre case of willful self-mutilation ever in the annals of industry,” he said. “And it continues apace, with commentators failing to look beyond their simple rhetoric and merely joining the chorus that the future is online, online, online, almost to the exclusion of everything else. This is a mistake. This oversimplifies a rather complex issue.”
Shaw concludes Roxen rollout
Shaw Newspapers concluded its deployment of Roxen Internet Software’s editorial software.
The Midwestern newspaper publisher has moved more than 40 newspapers and 20 Web sites to Web-based Roxen Editorial Portal since June 2008, Roxen said.
“We knew that moving to a Web-based platform would be faster and smoother, but we couldn’t imagine we’d be finished with all our publications by now,” said Tom Shaw, chief executive officer, Shaw Newspapers. “
Shaw is Roxen’s first U.S. newspaper customer.
The Midwestern newspaper publisher has moved more than 40 newspapers and 20 Web sites to Web-based Roxen Editorial Portal since June 2008, Roxen said.
“We knew that moving to a Web-based platform would be faster and smoother, but we couldn’t imagine we’d be finished with all our publications by now,” said Tom Shaw, chief executive officer, Shaw Newspapers. “
Shaw is Roxen’s first U.S. newspaper customer.
New search tool for e-editions
U.K. software developer PageSuite said it’s beefed up its software with the ability to allow users to search for stories and advertisements within e-editions.
According to the vendor, readers can use the tool to search text for keywords and phrases in much the same way they search for stories on companion Web sites.
In addition to its U.K. clients, which include Express Newspapers, PageSuite has a number of U.S. clients, including The Examiner newspapers in Washington and San Francisco, Shaw Suburban Media and Stars & Stripes.
In the U.K., PageSuite powers the e-editions of all Johnston Press, Newsquest and Archant newspapers and some Trinity Mirror titles.
According to the vendor, readers can use the tool to search text for keywords and phrases in much the same way they search for stories on companion Web sites.
In addition to its U.K. clients, which include Express Newspapers, PageSuite has a number of U.S. clients, including The Examiner newspapers in Washington and San Francisco, Shaw Suburban Media and Stars & Stripes.
In the U.K., PageSuite powers the e-editions of all Johnston Press, Newsquest and Archant newspapers and some Trinity Mirror titles.
Inergize rolls out SMS support
Newspaper software vendor Inergize Digital added SMS text support to its Web Content Management System software.
Papers, including those published by Inergize client E.W. Scripps, can use SMS to send breaking news, weather alerts and other information to mobile devices. The software also supports mobile marketing and advertising through the Common Short Code messaging protocol.
Papers, including those published by Inergize client E.W. Scripps, can use SMS to send breaking news, weather alerts and other information to mobile devices. The software also supports mobile marketing and advertising through the Common Short Code messaging protocol.
AP intros upgrade of MNN iPhone app
One year after the software’s introduction, The Associated Press rolled out an upgraded version of its Mobile News Network Apple iPhone app, offering users several new features aimed at letting them customize content.
Version 2.0 includes a front-page feature that enables users to choose what news categories they want to see and lets them select region-specific news. The app also provides beefed-up weather forecasts.
AP also increased content slotted for health and science, and added industry-related press releases.
Version 2.0 includes a front-page feature that enables users to choose what news categories they want to see and lets them select region-specific news. The app also provides beefed-up weather forecasts.
AP also increased content slotted for health and science, and added industry-related press releases.
FKI Logistex bought by Cincy firm
FKI Logistex, which has supplied material handling systems to a number of U.S. newspapers including The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., agreed to be purchased by Cincinnati-based Intelligrated, the firms said last week.
No financial terms were disclosed.
Under terms of the definitive agreement, Intelligrated will acquire the FKI Logistex operations in North and South America from Melrose plc, a U.K.-based investment group.
The company said it will continue to support Alvey palletizers and other products now in operation.
No financial terms were disclosed.
Under terms of the definitive agreement, Intelligrated will acquire the FKI Logistex operations in North and South America from Melrose plc, a U.K.-based investment group.
The company said it will continue to support Alvey palletizers and other products now in operation.
Cox sells 2 Texas papers
Cox Newspapers sold two Texas papers, The Lufkin Daily News and The Daily Sentinel in Nacogdoches, to privately held Southern Newspapers.
No financial details were disclosed.
Southern publishes a number of Texas dailies, including the Galveston County Daily News and the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.
Cox last year put the majority of its newspapers on the sale block, saying it would retain ownership of only three papers, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Palm Beach (Fla.) Post and Dayton (Ohio) Daily News.
No financial details were disclosed.
Southern publishes a number of Texas dailies, including the Galveston County Daily News and the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.
Cox last year put the majority of its newspapers on the sale block, saying it would retain ownership of only three papers, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Palm Beach (Fla.) Post and Dayton (Ohio) Daily News.
Gannett consolidating edit in La.
Gannett Co. Inc. is consolidating headline writing, copy-editing and pagination of five Louisiana newspapers at The News-Star in Monroe, La., beginning July 13.
According to Leslie Hurst, vice president of Gannett’s South group, the Monroe hub will initially serve the News-Star, the Advertiser in Lafayette and the Daily World in Opelousas. The Times in Shreveport and the Town Talk in Alexandria will be moved to the centralized operation in September.
All of the papers, as well as other publications and special sections produced at each site, will be served by the new Content Production Center, Hurst said in a memo issued last week.
According to Leslie Hurst, vice president of Gannett’s South group, the Monroe hub will initially serve the News-Star, the Advertiser in Lafayette and the Daily World in Opelousas. The Times in Shreveport and the Town Talk in Alexandria will be moved to the centralized operation in September.
All of the papers, as well as other publications and special sections produced at each site, will be served by the new Content Production Center, Hurst said in a memo issued last week.
Boston.com increases hyperlocal reach
Boston.com expanded its hyperlocal community program Your Town to six more Massachusetts communities, Hingham, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Norwell and Scituate.
Each Your Town site provides town news and information and gives readers access to local resources and Web sites. Each site also includes event listings, as well as community, school, recreation, civic and local business information.
Each Your Town site provides town news and information and gives readers access to local resources and Web sites. Each site also includes event listings, as well as community, school, recreation, civic and local business information.
In Brief
Roy Yokouchi, who served as president of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ U.S. press operations, retired, the company said.
PPI Media US Inc. named Gary Schwartzkopf its senior sales consultant. Prior to joining ppi, Schwartzkopf was strategic account manager for Southern Lithoplate and also spent more than eight years at Agfa where he was district sales manager.
Pitman Co. named Anthony P. Crupi Sr. chief executive officer.
Canto released Cumulus 8, the latest upgrade of its digital asset management app.
www.canto.com
Taiwanese e-paper display module manufacturer Prime View International acquired E Ink Corp. for $215 million. PVI, which in 2005 acquired the e-paper business of Philips Electronics, had previously partnered with E Ink to provide displays underpinning e-readers including the Sony Reader, the Amazon Kindle 2 and the forthcoming Kindle DX.
www.eink.com
The production facility formerly used to produce The Patriot-Ledger in Quincy, Mass., is being torn down to make way for a big-box retail store, the paper reported. The Patriot-Ledger closed the plant in 2007 and transferred production to The Boston Globe.
Three Finnish regional daily newspapers, Karjalainen, Keskisuomalainen and Savon Sanomat, completed redesigns and newsroom workflow reorganizations, tapping Anygraaf’s All Media Publishing apps to aid in the processes, the vendor said.
www.anygraaf.com
Swedish newspaper printer Mittmedia AB expects an ROI of fewer than three years on the LithoSpray 88 spray dampening and filtration equipment it installed from Baldwin Technology Co., according to the vendor. Baldwin installed the equipment on an 11-unit, four-high tower at the printer’s facility in Ornskoldsvik in December.
www.baldwintech.com
Amazon’s Kindle DX electronic reader will begin shipping to customers June 10, the vendor said, at a pre-order price of $489. The Kindle DX, Amazon’s net-gen reading device, has a 9.7-inch e-paper display, built-in PDF reader with auto-rotate capabilities and enough storage for up to 3,500 books.
www.amazon.com/kindle
PPI Media US Inc. named Gary Schwartzkopf its senior sales consultant. Prior to joining ppi, Schwartzkopf was strategic account manager for Southern Lithoplate and also spent more than eight years at Agfa where he was district sales manager.
Pitman Co. named Anthony P. Crupi Sr. chief executive officer.
Canto released Cumulus 8, the latest upgrade of its digital asset management app.
www.canto.com
Taiwanese e-paper display module manufacturer Prime View International acquired E Ink Corp. for $215 million. PVI, which in 2005 acquired the e-paper business of Philips Electronics, had previously partnered with E Ink to provide displays underpinning e-readers including the Sony Reader, the Amazon Kindle 2 and the forthcoming Kindle DX.
www.eink.com
The production facility formerly used to produce The Patriot-Ledger in Quincy, Mass., is being torn down to make way for a big-box retail store, the paper reported. The Patriot-Ledger closed the plant in 2007 and transferred production to The Boston Globe.
Three Finnish regional daily newspapers, Karjalainen, Keskisuomalainen and Savon Sanomat, completed redesigns and newsroom workflow reorganizations, tapping Anygraaf’s All Media Publishing apps to aid in the processes, the vendor said.
www.anygraaf.com
Swedish newspaper printer Mittmedia AB expects an ROI of fewer than three years on the LithoSpray 88 spray dampening and filtration equipment it installed from Baldwin Technology Co., according to the vendor. Baldwin installed the equipment on an 11-unit, four-high tower at the printer’s facility in Ornskoldsvik in December.
www.baldwintech.com
Amazon’s Kindle DX electronic reader will begin shipping to customers June 10, the vendor said, at a pre-order price of $489. The Kindle DX, Amazon’s net-gen reading device, has a 9.7-inch e-paper display, built-in PDF reader with auto-rotate capabilities and enough storage for up to 3,500 books.
www.amazon.com/kindle
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