KKR Wins S&S for $1.62 Billion (publishersweekly.com)

There is a worrying trend from organisations who increasingly want to move their customer communications online, particularly bills and statements. Typically, this decision is made for cost reasons, but misleading claims about the environment are being used all too often instead. This is commonly referred to as Greenwashing. A study, conducted by the not-for-profit organisation Two Sides and independent research company Toluna, aims to understand changing consumer perceptions towards print and paper. The study found that consumers overwhelmingly want the right to choose how they receive their communications (digitally or printed) from organisations. 76% of UK consumers (74% EU) want this choice. Defaulting people online without a choice to save cost, will impact those most vulnerable and at risk in our communities. In the UK, 6.3% of all adults have never used the internet (Office of National Statistics, 2020). Often, it is the most vulnerable members of society that depend on traditional, postal, transactional mail. The move to an online only society risks leaving older people, the disabled, rural dwellers and those on low incomes disconnected.

The New York Times Company announced third-quarter 2017 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $.20 compared with $.00 in the same period of 2016. Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (defined below) was $.13 in the third quarter of 2017 compared with $.06 in the third quarter of 2016. Operating profit was $33.0 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared with $9.0 million in the same period of 2016, largely due to higher digital subscription revenues and lower severance costs, which more than offset lower print advertising revenues. Adjusted operating profit (defined below) was $56.5 million in the third quarter of 2017 compared with $39.2 million in the third quarter of 2016, principally driven by strong digital subscription revenues, which were partially offset by lower print advertising revenues. Mark Thompson, president and chief executive officer, The New York Times Company, said, “We had a strong quarter once again, with solid growth in digital subscriptions, digital advertising and subscription revenue and overall profitability. Click Read More below for additional information.

A small Hawaiian weekly is using AI to populate its newscasts. TGI Today, a product of The Garden Island newspaper, was launched late in August, featuring presenters created by AI. It was created using the AI platform of Caledo News. Serving the island of Kauai the AI-driven newscast appears twice per week, on Mondays and Thursdays.