How did Time magazine have such a fast turnaround?
I worked as a printer of weekly magazines in a previous life, a LONG time ago. If distribution works the way it did 25 years ago, I can tell you that these magazines are printed not as one piece, rather the runs are 4 page (covers), 8, 16, and 32 page “signatures”, some of them with breaking news, others with features which printed earlier the previous week. All of the sigs are gathered together at the bindery, which is located in the same plant as the printing press. Once the magazines are assembled, stapled (actually “stitched”), and trimmed, and addressed for delivery they are sent out for expedited delivery. Also, magazines are printed in regional plants. If you live in Chicago, for instance, odds are the magazine was printed in Wisconsin. This allows for late breaking news and local ads to be inserted and lower shipping costs. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that the cover graphics and at least some of the copy for the Time issue on Reagan were prepared well in advance. This is mo
