LAS VEGAS -- Cox Enterprises, publisher of the AutoTrader family of publications, will convert AutoTrader to Web only, effective this week. The decision won't affect AutoTrader Latino or AutoTrader Classics, which will continue to be printed, according to an AutoTrader spokesman.
Cox also ended its ownership of Interco Print, which prints the Trader publications, leaving Dominion Enterprises the sole owner of the printing company. Dominion said it will continue to print its roster of trader publications.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
May 4, 2009: Boston Globe avoids shutdown, for now
The Boston Globe said it reached agreements with six of seven unions representing its workers and will not file a 60-day shutdown notice.
The New York Times Co. had threatened to close the paper unless unions agreed to $20 million in cuts.
In a statement released earlier today, The Globe said it had successfully renegotiated contracts with the drivers, mailers, press operators, electricians, machinists and technical services group.
But the paper said it still hadn’t been able to reach an agreement with the Newspaper Guild, which represents some 700 editorial, advertising and business employees.
“We are very pleased to have reached agreements with six of the seven unions that were involved in recent negotiations,” The Globe said in a statement. “As a result of these agreements, which are subject to ratification by union members, we expect to achieve both the workplace flexibility and the financial savings that we sought from these unions.”
The Globe said it will now pursue other options with the Guild “to achieve as quickly as possible the workplace flexibility and remaining cost-savings we need to put The Globe on sound financial footing.”
The New York Times Co. had threatened to close the paper unless unions agreed to $20 million in cuts.
In a statement released earlier today, The Globe said it had successfully renegotiated contracts with the drivers, mailers, press operators, electricians, machinists and technical services group.
But the paper said it still hadn’t been able to reach an agreement with the Newspaper Guild, which represents some 700 editorial, advertising and business employees.
“We are very pleased to have reached agreements with six of the seven unions that were involved in recent negotiations,” The Globe said in a statement. “As a result of these agreements, which are subject to ratification by union members, we expect to achieve both the workplace flexibility and the financial savings that we sought from these unions.”
The Globe said it will now pursue other options with the Guild “to achieve as quickly as possible the workplace flexibility and remaining cost-savings we need to put The Globe on sound financial footing.”
NAA cuts staff, folds Presstime
The Newspaper Association of America last week cut staff and said it would no longer print copies of its magazine, Presstime.
NAA President and Chief Executive Officer John Sturm said in a memo that the group will now focus on three major areas of business: public policy, advocating newspaper advertising growth and outreach. Sturm said the NAA’s staff is now about a third of what it was a year ago; according to an article posted by Poynter, NAA now employs about 43 people.
Meantime, NAA said planning for mediaXchange 2010 remains under way and that the group expects to announce where the event will be held by month’s end. The show is slated to be held in Orlando, Fla.
NAA President and Chief Executive Officer John Sturm said in a memo that the group will now focus on three major areas of business: public policy, advocating newspaper advertising growth and outreach. Sturm said the NAA’s staff is now about a third of what it was a year ago; according to an article posted by Poynter, NAA now employs about 43 people.
Meantime, NAA said planning for mediaXchange 2010 remains under way and that the group expects to announce where the event will be held by month’s end. The show is slated to be held in Orlando, Fla.
Print 09 backers offering vendors ‘stimulus’
Graphic Arts Show Co., the firm behind Print 09, said it will offer vendors credits to offset the costs associated with installing machinery and other equipment at its upcoming show.
GASC said exhibitors can choose between two subsidy plans: one, geared to those companies with heavy machinery that occupies a large percentage of their booth space, allows for unlimited machinery material handling at the show site. The second option features limited material handling, but covers both machinery and non-machinery.
Altogether, GASC expects to offer up to $3 million in credit through the plan, with average exhibitor savings ranging from $550 to $165,000, depending on the size of exhibitors’ booth space.
“In these troubled times, we can’t settle for business as usual,” said Ralph Nappi, GASC president. “That is why GASC has stepped forward with the subsidy plan to support the companies that provide equipment, products and services to the graphic communications industry.”
The show, scheduled for Sept. 11-16, will be held at McCormick Place in Chicago.
News & Tech is offering a free exhibits-only pass to attend Print ’09. For more information, see the banner below.
GASC said exhibitors can choose between two subsidy plans: one, geared to those companies with heavy machinery that occupies a large percentage of their booth space, allows for unlimited machinery material handling at the show site. The second option features limited material handling, but covers both machinery and non-machinery.
Altogether, GASC expects to offer up to $3 million in credit through the plan, with average exhibitor savings ranging from $550 to $165,000, depending on the size of exhibitors’ booth space.
“In these troubled times, we can’t settle for business as usual,” said Ralph Nappi, GASC president. “That is why GASC has stepped forward with the subsidy plan to support the companies that provide equipment, products and services to the graphic communications industry.”
The show, scheduled for Sept. 11-16, will be held at McCormick Place in Chicago.
News & Tech is offering a free exhibits-only pass to attend Print ’09. For more information, see the banner below.
RJI picks vendors for Digital Newsbooks
The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute is making its Digital Newsbooks available through two new partner sites, the organization plans to announce at its Digital Publishing Alliance meeting.
RJI said the Newsbooks will be accessible through eReader Outfitters in Pleasanton, Calif., and MBS Direct in Columbia, Mo. The DPA begins its annual meeting tomorrow.
RJI launched its Newsbooks initiative last year. RJI produces the content free of charge for DPA members. The books are customized for downloading and easy reading on e-readers and other mobile display devices.
The New York Times has been selling Digital Newsbooks produced by RJI on its own Web site since fall 2008.
RJI said DPA members, hosting services and RJI will share revenues stemming from the sale of the Newsbooks.
For more information about the project visit www.rjionline.org.
RJI said the Newsbooks will be accessible through eReader Outfitters in Pleasanton, Calif., and MBS Direct in Columbia, Mo. The DPA begins its annual meeting tomorrow.
RJI launched its Newsbooks initiative last year. RJI produces the content free of charge for DPA members. The books are customized for downloading and easy reading on e-readers and other mobile display devices.
The New York Times has been selling Digital Newsbooks produced by RJI on its own Web site since fall 2008.
RJI said DPA members, hosting services and RJI will share revenues stemming from the sale of the Newsbooks.
For more information about the project visit www.rjionline.org.
2 more publishers file for bankruptcy protection
American Community Newspapers Inc.’s bankruptcy could cost Gannett Co. Inc. hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Gannett’s printing group, owed $273,000 was listed as ACN’s largest unsecured creditor, according to the filing.
ACN filed for bankruptcy protection April 28, citing a weak advertising market, according to Gene Carr, ACN’s chairman and chief executive officer.
The Dallas-based publisher prints more than 80 newspapers — primarily weeklies — in four markets: Dallas, northern Virginia, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Columbus, Ohio.
The firm said it had obtained $5 million in debtor-in-possession financing. The publisher listed assets in the range of $50 million to $100 million and debts of about $107 million.
Meantime, the family-owned Columbian Publishing Co. in Vancouver, Wash., filed for bankruptcy protection in order to address credit issues with the Bank of America. The company borrowed money from the bank to finance a new building in downtown Vancouver.
According to filings, CPC owes $17 million to BofA as well as other unsecured creditors.
CAN and CPC are sixth and seventh newspaper publishers to file for bankruptcy protection, following Tribune Co., Philadelphia Newspapers LLC, the (Minneapolis) Star-Tribune, Journal Register Co. and the Sun-Times Media Group.
Gannett’s printing group, owed $273,000 was listed as ACN’s largest unsecured creditor, according to the filing.
ACN filed for bankruptcy protection April 28, citing a weak advertising market, according to Gene Carr, ACN’s chairman and chief executive officer.
The Dallas-based publisher prints more than 80 newspapers — primarily weeklies — in four markets: Dallas, northern Virginia, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Columbus, Ohio.
The firm said it had obtained $5 million in debtor-in-possession financing. The publisher listed assets in the range of $50 million to $100 million and debts of about $107 million.
Meantime, the family-owned Columbian Publishing Co. in Vancouver, Wash., filed for bankruptcy protection in order to address credit issues with the Bank of America. The company borrowed money from the bank to finance a new building in downtown Vancouver.
According to filings, CPC owes $17 million to BofA as well as other unsecured creditors.
CAN and CPC are sixth and seventh newspaper publishers to file for bankruptcy protection, following Tribune Co., Philadelphia Newspapers LLC, the (Minneapolis) Star-Tribune, Journal Register Co. and the Sun-Times Media Group.
Schur rolling out new inserter
Schur Packaging Systems Inc. is rolling out a new inserter that’s based on inserting and gripping technology it obtained as a result of its purchase of IdabWamac.
The new system, the 1455, has a rated capacity of 45,000 packages per hour, said Dan Kemper, president.
The inserter capitalizes on IdabWamac’s integral gripper design, in which product is transported — from buffer to stacker — by a single gripper. Other inserting systems rely on multiple gripper systems to convey the same product.
“The biggest advantage is that the paper can maintain and manage the integrity of the product,” Kemper said.
The 1455, available now, uses Schur’s 1055 hoppers to create a system with a lower profile and smaller footprint, Kemper said. As a result, hoppers are positioned on the floor rather than on top of the machine, as IdabWamac had designed them.
The new system, the 1455, has a rated capacity of 45,000 packages per hour, said Dan Kemper, president.
The inserter capitalizes on IdabWamac’s integral gripper design, in which product is transported — from buffer to stacker — by a single gripper. Other inserting systems rely on multiple gripper systems to convey the same product.
“The biggest advantage is that the paper can maintain and manage the integrity of the product,” Kemper said.
The 1455, available now, uses Schur’s 1055 hoppers to create a system with a lower profile and smaller footprint, Kemper said. As a result, hoppers are positioned on the floor rather than on top of the machine, as IdabWamac had designed them.
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