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SKY & SPACE - Current Status
Nov/Dec 05 and Jan/Feb 06:
This forthcoming issue of the magazine is in varying
stages of completion and is mostly at the printer.
The problem is that it's not possible to hit the
printing press start button until 100% of the
material is with the printer. I still have had a few
people, including some advertisers, who for various
perfectly valid reasons, have been delayed in
providing the necessary material. Unfortunately,
this does cause a problem with the current release date.
However, from now on - we will be working much
further ahead with much longer lead times. For
example, over the Christmas/New Year break we will
be preparing the Release Dates and Deadlines for the
next 12 months of publications. This will certainly
assist everyone - writers and advertisers - in being
able to better plan the provision of material.
Also, we will be deriving the full benefit of our
newly-installed computer equipment, the FTP Server
Facility and various new systems and procedures we
have recently introduced. This means we will be able
to process all the material in a much more efficient
manner. All these factors will result in us being
able to finally catch up.
So, while I have been getting in the last of the
advertising material for this issue, my daughter,
Mel - the Copy Editor - has been moving ahead very
well with the copy editing part of the Jan/Feb 06 issue.
Also, in the background, over the last few months,
we have been gathering in lots of material. This
will now give us the opportunity to 'draw on'
articles as and when needed. Previously, this was
not possible - for a variety of reasons - not the
least of which was that our computer (lack of) power
precluded the production process from being carried
out in the proper manner.
So, over the next couple of issues - all these
problems will be a thing of the past.
We are acutely aware that whilst we have been
reorganising, restructuring and re-equipping the
business that this has been most frustrating for
people (not the least for ourselves).
However, we have been able to achieve all of this in
a manner that ensures the 'New' SKY & SPACE Magazine
is sustainable on a long-term basis. We believe it
is of no benefit to anyone that as a publisher, we
set up an organisational framework and a cost
structure that creates a publication that is not
viable on an ongoing basis. The magazine publishing
industry is certainly renowned for being strewn with
'supernova titles' - magazines that burst onto the
scene and fade after one or two years.
On the basis that SKY & SPACE is now entering it's
18th year of publishing, and having overcome many
set-backs, the magazine has shown a high level of
resilience, persistence and staying power. The
magazine has proven beyond doubt that it is not one
of those passing 'supernova titles'.
The restructuring, combined with a number of
initiatives we will be launching in 2006 (ie export
sales in various overseas markets, new services,
refitting and restocking our retail shop etc) will
ensure a high-quality, timely magazine that is 100%
Australian-owned and 100% Australian-produced and
importantly, is sustainable on an ongoing basis.
We virtually had to start all this from scratch. It's
been like starting up an ocean liner - very slow to
start but once we have a 'good head of steam' there
will be no stopping us.
We'll certainly keep you appraised as soon as we have
an exact release date on this forthcoming issue.
Thanks for all your support - it is most appreciated.
We look forward to continuing to bring you the magazine.
Best wishes
Lyle Rumble
Managing Editor
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