Source: ca.news.yahoo.com
By Cathy Bussewitz, The Associated Press
HONOLULU, Hawaii – The owner of Hawaii’s largest newspaper bought two daily publications on Hawaii’s Big Island and several newspapers in Washington state.
Oahu Publications, which owns the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, said Wednesday it is buying West Hawaii Today and the Hawaii Tribune-Herald from Las Vegas-based Stephens Media.
Source: j-source.ca
Black Press Media has shut down the Abbotsford/Mission Times, a little more than a month after purchasing the B.C. paper from Glacier Media. The company also took down the newspaper’s website and closed its Twitter account.
When asked why the company was shutting down a newspaper it considered a worthy purchase in October, Rick O’Connor, president and CEO of Black Media, told J-Source the newspaper was losing “too much revenue” and not making enough money on advertisements.
“The losses were far greater than we had expected,” he said. “We’re not miracle workers … there is only so much we can do.”
O’Connor said most of the Times staff took the severance package offered by Glacier Media, leaving only four of the original 13 staff. “You can’t do the same work when a significant majority is gone.” Black Press will discuss future options for the remaining staff within the company.
As part of the sale from Glacier Media, Black Press also purchased the Chilliwack Times, which O’Connor said continues to operate for now alongside its competitor, Chilliwack Progress. He would not, however, comment on its financial viability.
“It was our belief that it didn’t make sense for readers to receive two community newspapers in the Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack markets on the same publishing days with tremendous duplication of content,” said Randy Blair, president of the Black Press Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island divisions, in a statement. “In light of this, Black Press has harmonized publication days in the Chilliwack market so that the Chilliwack Times and the Chilliwack Progress will publish on different days.”
Black Press also owns the Abbotsford News, which will continue to publish.
Source: vicnews.com
Black Press is pleased to announce today (June 13) that it has acquired Boulevard Magazine and related products from Boulevard Lifestyles Inc.
“Boulevard Magazine has been Victoria’s leading lifestyle publication for more than 23 years,” said Rick O’Connor, Black Press President and CEO. “We are delighted to be adding this important title to our product mix of community publications and magazines serving Victoria and Vancouver Island.”
Boulevard Magazine will join a group of other magazines, periodicals and special publications currently published by Black Press. All employees of Boulevard are being retained and no changes are anticipated with respect to the publication.
Boulevard Magazine was acquired in July 2008 by Boulevard Lifestyles Inc., a company wholly owned by John Simmons. During the past five years, the magazine has increased its publishing calendar to monthly from its original six times per year. At the same time, the company has established a foothold in custom publications including projects for United Way of Greater Victoria, Victoria Foundation and Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
“The staff at Boulevard has done an excellent job in each of its publications,” said Simmons. “I both appreciate their efforts and know that they will thrive in the Black Press organization.”
The transaction is effective immediately.
Source: mediaunion.ca
Bargaining between Local 2000 and Black Press Lower Mainland was suspended Tuesday after company negotiators, for the second time, presented the union with a proposal for a five-year contract with no general wage increases.
The company has proposed a one-time lump sum payment of 1% effective April 1, 2013, but only to employees at the top of their pay scale, prorated on an employee’s fulltime equivalency. In addition the company has proposed a one-time lump sum payment of 1.5% effective April 1, 2014, but only to employees at the top of their pay scale, prorated on an employee’s fulltime equivalency.
Under this company proposal there would be no general increases to the wage grid in the five-year period between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2015.
The company is saying it needs this freeze in the wage grid in order to compete with wages paid at Glacier Media.
The company did agree to getting rid of the bottom rung of the bindery wage grid, which would have the effect of changing the starting rate from $10.58 per hour to $12.08 per hour. This would only affect new bindery employees and those currently paid $10.58 per hour.
The company also agreed to change the Shipper/Receiver rate to the same grid as General Clerk. This change would see the top rate for that job increasing from $17.98 per hour (after 2 years) to $19.74 per hour (after 4 years).
Under the company proposal there would also be a few minor concessions. The joint composing room board for Tri-City/Maple Ridge/Burnaby/New West would be split into three boards. As well the company is asking for a weakening of our “hot goods” clause in the contract.
Your bargaining committee believes the company’s general wage proposal to be unacceptable. It has decided to spend the next two weeks consulting with the membership.
Please email Vice President Gary Engler at gengler@mediaunion.ca with your comments or questions or talk to one of the bargaining committee members.
Members of your bargaining committee are:
Debbie Irvine — Abbotsford bindery
Jessica Unger — Campbell Heights bindery
Channy Dhillon — Abbotsford pressroom
Eileen Jarrett — Peace Arch News composing
Rich Weldon — Langley composing
Bonnie Pierotti — Abbotsford classified
Phil Melnychuk — Maple Ridge editorial
Source: reuters.com
Tue Nov 6, 2012 3:25pm EST
Overview
— We are lowering our long-term corporate credit rating on Victoria, B.C.-based Black Press Ltd. to ‘B-‘ from ‘B’ based on our view of the company’s ongoing organic revenue and profit declines, as well as refinancing risk.
— At the same time, we are revising our recovery rating on the company’s senior secured bank debt to ‘1’ from ‘2’, while affirming our ‘B+’ issue-level rating on the debt, reflecting our view of improved recovery prospects given Black Press’ continued repayment of the debt.
— The negative outlook reflects our expectation that we could lower the ratings in the near term if the company fails to address its refinancing risk.
Source: mediaunion.ca
Members of the Black Press Lower Mainland bargaining unit voted 128 -84 (60%) to turn down a proposed rollover of their collective agreement.
The company was proposing a four-year contract with wage increases of 0%, 0%, 1% and 2%.
Over 80 per cent of the membership voted.
The next step will be to form a bargaining committee and engage in formal bargaining with the company.