In general terms, you will read or hear, stay away from investments in the publishing world because of the continuing changes from physical to digital assets. However, in every industry it seems someone is figuring it out better than others. That is the good and your homework involves determining which company is figuring it out.

In an article by Benjamin Mullin and Lareen Hirsch of the New York Times News Service, Axel Springer, the owner of Politico, Business Insider and a portfolio of German newspapers with split into 2 companies. Mathias Dopfner and Friede Springer will assume control of the media properties. Axel Springer biggest outside investors KKR and CPP Investments will take control of the company’s classified advertising business.

The deal values all of Axel Springer at $15 billion and the company’s publishing assets worth $4 billion.

Mr. Dopfner has ambition to turn Axel Springer from an influential German newspaper publisher to a global media conglomerate. With the split, he can move towards more acquisitions.

The advertising properties include Stepstone, an online jobs board and Aviv, a digital real estate company.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, in investing people often treat industries with the same brush stroke, but that is not necessarily true. It makes good sound bites, but by doing your homework you can find out what companies actually are profit generators that can pay dividends. They are doing something others are not and finding them will help generate wealth for you.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.