DEADLINES AND HEADLINES

I'm sure I am not the only one to notice that many magazines produced in Thailand don't appear on the shelves until well into each month.
A quick survey yesterday (December 2) indicated only about 20 per cent of the local titles were selling editions dated December, and it's a rare sight indeed to see a magazine appear in the month before its cover date.
There are a number of reasons for this. Top of the list is the time needed to print. Many magazines are printed using the sheet-feed process (because they are printed in low numbers) and that takes time - up to 12 days in some cases. The distribution process can add anywhere between another three-five days to the schedule. So for the average magazine to appear before the end of each month it would need a print deadline of around 15th of each month. I've also heard several times about magazines that will wait until the desired level of advertising income has been achieved before going to print.
Considering most people are paid at the end of each month surely it makes more sense to have your new editions on sale when readers have more money in their wallets?