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.
Monday, July 6, 2009
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.
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