Nov/Dec Sky and Space

castor · #1 13-11-2005, 07:33 PM

Does anyone here know when the November/December issue of Sky and Space will be released? It's nearly the middle of November, and no news. I understand this is not the first time the magazine issue has been late. However, Great Britain, Canada etc. all have their magazines and they are generally available on time. In my honest opinion, this is just not good enough from the management of this publication.

h0ughy (David) · #2 13-11-2005, 07:47 PM

don't panic this is normal!

Robby · #3 13-11-2005, 07:50 PM

Please please please lets not open this can of worms again!..... I'm sure it will be out soon!
These guys do a tremendous job, without the luxury of padding content from abroad (not that that is a bad thing

).
Thumbs up for the little guys!
Cheers

iceman (Mike) · #4 13-11-2005, 08:53 PM

I've heard that it's going to the printers soon (or now?), so it should be out soon. Looking forward to another issue as the last one was a good one.

And Robby's right, don't open a can of worms that leads nowhere but bad places.

rumples riot · #5 13-11-2005, 11:32 PM

Yeah don't worry, these guys are all volunteers and so they don't have the budget of the bigger mags. They are always working towards improving their delivery system and no doubt working quite hard to get the mags out.

jdb · #6 15-11-2005, 07:15 PM

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

#7 16-11-2005, 01:54 PM

Lyle,

I for one think that your efforts are worthy of my money, I just recently renewed my second years subscription, have not missed one magazine and look forward every month to it's arrival. I subscribe to several other magazines (not Astronomy related) and yours is the best published, yours is the most "on-time" mag I have. You have the right balance of adverts Vs stories and you publish stories and pics from the little man and not just the big names, please let all your staff know from me that you are on to a winner here and please keep up the high level of work. I even enjoy the occasional spelling mistake because it shows that we have a magazine that has it's roots in people interested in this hobby, not some machine churning out perfect copy that is intelligable. Great work guys, and if it's a bit late, who cares, as long it continues to arrive.

P.S. When people complain that it's late it can only be becasue they are looking forward to it's arrival.

jdb · #8 16-11-2005, 06:11 PM

Thanks for those kind words nightshift.

I will forward your comments on to the team - we do enjoying hearing responses like yours.

Cheers and clear skies,
Jason D Batey (jdb)
Activities and Events Editor.
The 'New' SKY & SPACE Magazine.

Brendan · #9 12-12-2005, 09:17 PM

jdb, any news on this issue release date, I note that your web site shows the latest edition as being avaliable. As a subscriber I wait in anticipation for its delivery.

cventer · #10 12-12-2005, 10:17 PM

I got my copy in the mail today.

Its an excellent issue with a great review of the Williams Optics Zenithstar

Regards
Chris

h0ughy (David) · #11 12-12-2005, 10:50 PM

NIce to know Chris, I should get mine in the post hopefully before it hits the shelves!

iceman (Mike) · #12 13-12-2005, 05:46 AM

ah cool, hopefully it will arrive in the next few days.

Last issue, it arrived on the shelves before the subscribers got it. Hopefully that's reversed this time.

Brendan · #13 13-12-2005, 08:19 AM

Sounds like i should look for it in the mail this week then

#14 13-12-2005, 01:15 PM

I picked mine up a week ago at Optic SA, they had just received about 15 of them, so got in for my chop so to speak. I would have thought that subscribers would have received them before I did.

rumples riot · #15 13-12-2005, 02:32 PM

Just got mine, was in the mail today 13 Dec. Looks good, lots of interesting news and a nice tribute to Erwin.

silvinator · #16 13-12-2005, 05:06 PM

I received mine today in the mail. It's looking better and better each issue. Getting stuck into now...

jdb · #17 13-12-2005, 07:01 PM

Congratulations to Eddie T for the glorious centerfold image.

GrampianStars (Rob) · #18 13-12-2005, 07:40 PM

Picked a copy up at "BINTEL" Melbourne yesterday (12th Dec) theyv'e got plenty

all the new gear on display

looks like the wallet is going to get hammered again

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #19 13-12-2005, 08:15 PM

I'll have to ease those staples out of the centre spread.
Any chance of making it a regular thing, having a poster in each issue?

Rodstar (Rod) · #20 13-12-2005, 08:34 PM

Also received mine today (13th December). Unfortunately with such a late release date for a November/ December issue, a lot of the material has already been seen through the OTHER Australian astro publication. I wonder when the Jan / Feb will be issued, given that January is less than three weeks away?

Putting the "Bah Humbug" aside, I was very glad to see the glistening bundle in my mailbox today. As someone else has observed, the annoyance level re late publication is a reflection of how highly anticipated each edition is. May there be many more (just a little more timely!).