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<volume>volume two issue fourteen?may eighth two-thousand six</volume>
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<headline>The Printing Industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Part 2 of 3</headline>
<subtitle>Mohammad Qoqandi</subtitle>
<text>The printing industry in the Kingdom started with periodicals as mentioned previously. Hence, the print industrys thrust was mainly advertising and 70% to 75% of advertisements were prints. In comparison to todays percentages: 53% to 58% of ads are prints. Advertisements are mainly through newspapers and magazines- all of which are controlled by 7 advertising companies that are design, print, and delivery self-sufficient. Those companies own and publish 72 newspapers and 48 commercial magazines with nation wide interest not to mention local advertising.?</text>
<text>Nevertheless, the advertising industry is still in the early stages of development. The advertising budget of all the companies in the Kingdom combined is between $170 and $261 million dollars. This budget is quite low when compared to other Gulf countries. The social values and systems would not permit the distribution of advertisements and junk-mailings through home mail deliveries. This, in itself, has had a major affect on the industry. Readership is also affecting the advertising industry. According to the 7 companies market research departments, advertisements reach 5% to 7% of the adult population; meaning, advertisements through print only reaches about a million people in the country the Kingdoms population is 27,019,731 people.?</text>
<text>Due to the lack of mass appeal through print, advertising lost its position of importance in the printing industry to packaging. The Kingdom revenue from printing and packaging is two billion dollars annually. This revenue is a result of a uniform management of the industry and its international imports by five major companies. Two of those companies businesses expand all over the Middle East and the other three are Saudi based.?</text>
<text>Although the monopolization of the printing and the packaging industries might not give a chance for new businesses to succeed, the Kingdom is in the process of joining the world international free market trade and it is expected to follow its terms. Hence, the printing and packaging industry monopolization will end.?</text>
<text>I believe that when the monopolization ceases, the economic prosperity of the Kingdom will continue to flourish making way for new and upcoming businesses.?</text>
<text>Mohammad is a first year graphic media student. This is the second of a series of 3 articles that will address this issue.</text>
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<article>
<headline>SPM Students Recognized</headline>
<subtitle>Various Honors Distributed?</subtitle>
<text>Some of our own have been recognized for excellence in various competitions. Congratulations must be extended to Adam Peck, Elizabeth Kovach, Aaron Bodell, and professor Scott Williams.?</text>
<text>Adam and Elizabeth won honors for their entries into the Society for Technical Communications Kepner Award Competition.?</text>
<text>Congratulations to Aaron Bodell for his research on Dye aggregation initiated by inkjet. Aaron won the student poster competition at TAPPI Coating conference 2006.?</text>
<text>Scott Williams is also honored, for he mentored Aaron and two other students who traveled to the conference this year.</text>
</article>
<article>
<headline>Thesis Presentations Anyone??</headline>
<subtitle>Two chances to get your fill this week</subtitle>
<text>Eight more students will be presenting their research at thesis presentations to be held this wednesday and friday. Heres the line-up of whos presenting when.?</text>
<text>Wednesday May 10th 07-1104?</text>
<text>8:00am Eugenio Carvajal?</text>
<text>9:00am Yuen Wai Chow?</text>
<text>10:00am Philip Diamantis?</text>
<text>11:00am Elizabeth A. Kline?</text>
<text>Friday May 12th 07-A171?</text>
<text>9:00am Rochelle Kyong Kim?</text>
<text>10:00am Dimitrios M Ploumidis?</text>
<text>11:00am Nattawan Techacichien?</text>
<text>12:00pm Wimonrat Boonprasit?</text>
<text>Refreshments will be provided.</text>
</article>
<announcement>PUB Update??PUB held their annual banquet on April 28th at the Rochester Club Ballroom. The banquets 50 attendees enjoyed delicious food and some motivating speeches from the likes of President Nicki Murray, ?President-Elect John Carew, and the ?always humorous Frank Romano.??The club is currently looking forward to a camping trip on May 13th.??If you would like to order a PUB polo, please e-mail Adam with your gender & size no later than Tuesday, May 9th.</announcement>
<announcement>RIT/TAGA Update??RITs TAGA chapter has just elected a new e-board for 2006-2007. Congradulations to the newly elected leaders:??Bryan Yeager President?Joseph Schember Vice President?Kristina Leh Treasurer?Sarah Whitmore Secretary??TAGA will be holding an informational meeting for those interested in joining and submitting papers for 2006-2007 on Thursday, May 18. There will be pizza provided. Look for the posters!</announcement>
<announcement>GET Update??This past weekend, GET held its 17th?annual Pig Roast at Mendon Parks in?Pittsford, NY. A little cold weather and threats of rain did not stop the annual?PUB vs. GET softball game.??All-tme, all-star pitcher Pat Sorce threw some strikes and took some dives while Bill?Seefried manned home plate for both teams. After one amazing inning, PUB came back to inch past GET?with a final score of 9-8.??Great food and fun were had by all.?</announcement>
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<staff>Joseph Schember</staff>
<staff>Thomas Pelillo</staff>
<staff>Bryan Yeager</staff>
<staff>Jae Salavarrieta</staff>
<contact>Have something for all of SPM to know about? Contact us at: spmetcetera@gmail.com</contact>
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