Meeting the Production Deadline

By: Sir Khalid Rehman

Meeting the Production Deadline

What is a typical production schedule for a magazine?

There is no typical schedule; only a specific one.

1. To calculate the timeline, you have to work backwards. From the appearance of the magazine right up to its planning and assigning of the contents to contributors, designers, etc.
2. Both advertising and editorial section have to work together to meet the deadlines.
3. Remember that meeting deadlines is essential to on-time publishing of the magazine.
4. A magazine that does not reach the bookstall or the reader on time loses its good name.

A weekly with a Sunday dateline has the following advertisement/editorial cut-off days:

1. In advertising, it is normal to set a deadline a day or two ahead of (earlier than) the date the final copy goes to the production department where the copy is pasted for printing, and films and plates are made before actual printing run is carried out.
2. For a weekly published with a Sunday dateline it must reach the stalls on Saturday. The deadline for booking of advertisements is one full week earlier (one Saturday ahead). The advertisement material can be received till Monday.
3. The advertisement material may be in the form of final camera ready design (by Monday evening), films and color separation along with art pull or color print for reference (by Tuesday). Electronic ad designs on CD are accepted by Monday.
4. No advertisement cancellation accepted later than Monday.
5. For holidays, the deadlines are adjusted at an earlier day.
6. For editorial section, trusted regular contributors are allowed to submit articles and other stuff a week earlier. For others, the deadline is set sufficiently ahead.
7. Assigning of the articles is done in consultation with the editorial board and, if required, with the business head.
8. Usually, phone calls are made to the contributors to assign them topics and wordage. Sometimes they are asked to come over for a meeting to discuss the topic in greater detail.
9. Planning for the next three issues is done in advance, keeping in view important days and festive occasions.

10.  Scheduling can be done on paper or an Excel sheet.

11.  Contributors are sometimes required to be coaxed and cajoled to meet the deadline through phone calls or emails.

12.  At every stage, careful double-checks checks are carried out and signed by a responsible supervisor to eliminate any errors or oversight.
Any questions or explanations? Feel free to ask here.