Reuters reports that Pearson, the world's largest educational publisher (and parent company of Penguin) said on Friday that 2006 started well, paced by 13 percent advertising revenue gains at the Financial Times, with Penguin increasing its growth by 1 percent already.

"We have begun the year in the same fine form that we enjoyed throughout 2005," Chief Executive Marjorie Scardino said in a statement released ahead of the company's annual shareholder meeting, scheduled for later on Friday. "We expect 2006 to be another good year for Pearson as we continue to increase margins and grow ahead of our markets," she added.

Because publishers should start their weekends off with good news...