BMI Releases Industry Barometer Survey Results for October

Net Sales for the full year increased $35 million, or 2.5%, year over year. The net sales increase was driven by a $19 million increase in our Trade Publishing segment and a $16 million increase in our Education segment during the current period. Operating loss for the full year 2017 was $114 million, $197 million lower than the $311 million operating loss recorded in 2016. Net loss of $103 million for the full year 2017 was $182 million lower than the net loss of $285 million in 2016, due primarily to the same factors impacting operating loss offset by a $15 million unfavorable change in our income tax benefit in 2017, from an income tax benefit of $65 million for the same period in 2016 to an income tax benefit of $50 million in 2017. Click Read More below for additional information.

Fake news is nothing new. Merriam-Webster traces the use of the term as far back as the 1890s, and the concept of fabricated stories existed even long before then. With the invention of the printing press, it became significantly easier to spread news and information. But was that news and information true? There were no editors. There were no reporters. There were no fact checkers. It was up to readers to decide what they believed, whether a story told them that the earth was round or that their neighbor was a witch. And as human beings, we are wired to automatically and effortlessly believe what people tell us. Neuroscience shows us that it takes an extra mental step to question a statement. For our brains, it’s cognitively easier to simply accept what we are told and move on. Today, we can create and widely disseminate information more easily than any other time in history. Whether it’s your 12-year-old son’s selfies, the beauty blog your mechanic started, or a new magazine launch from a century-old publisher, it is all considered content. And it all has the potential to reach a massive audience. But not all content is created equal. Consumers and marketers are beginning to fully realize that, along with the dangers associated with unverified facts, intentionally misleading information and unqualified recommendations. Click Read More below for more of the story.

L.L. Bean is stepping away from its traditional back-to-school catalog. Ad Age reports the Maine-based retailer is rolling out a new website with a digital push and three TV spots centered around its new "Be an Outsider" campaign. It's all part of an effort from the traditional catalog business to become more digital centric. "The campaign is one piece of a bigger strategy to shift us from a heritage brand, in catalogs, to a product company," said Brad Matson, senior vice president of creative for L.L.Bean. Later this year, L.L.Bean is planning on launching more robust digital marketing efforts, including in-store experiences and at least a dozen TV spots by the end of 2017. Click Read More below for more of the story.