Why is my New Yorker showing up misbound?

November 27, 2015 2:40 PM

Twice now, my copy of the New Yorker has had two pages of the center signature way out of place (though no pages are missing). I would like to know why/how this happened (I think it's safe to say I'd remember if it had happened before, and I've been a regular subscriber for many years) and if anyone else has had the same problem (I assume it's not just me, but it's probably not a widespread thing because googling turns up nothing.)

Details, in case they help: in the current (Nov. 30) issue, pages 63-64 have been printed in between 30 and 31, as part of the same 4-page unit as 29 and 30 (in other words, the center sig is 29-30-63-64); when I tear out 63-64 and stick that page after 62, I'll be able to read the whole thing in order. The same thing happened in the Nov. 9 issue except that the center sig was 35-36-53-54 (it was a shorter issue).

posted by languagehat to Technology (4 answers total)

I haven't physically seen a New Yorker in awhile but if it's similar to a magazine I worked on, you may be getting an unusual exact verson of it and they've misloaded/misprogrammed the hoppers.

Contact and explain what happened; the circulation/manufacturing department with any ID looking numbers/zip code on your label and they should be able fix it--if they haven't already/not an issue for later issues.
posted by skynxnex at 3:06 PM on November 27, 2015 [4 favorites]

FWIW I just checked our print copy and it is OK. Perhaps a fluke of assembly?
posted by Otter_Handler at 5:49 PM on November 27, 2015

Just popping in to let you know that this happened with one of my New Yorker issues earlier this fall, although I don't recall which issue it was in particular. I don't know why it happened, and it hasn't happened since. I'm also a regular subscriber of many years and this is the first time I can remember this taking place.
posted by cheapskatebay at 7:01 AM on November 28, 2015 [1 favorite]

In printing, a bunch of pages are printed on a sheet, then cut and sorted into the magazine. If 2 pages stick together, it will throw off a few pages for lot of magazines, until it's notices and corrected. One reason to let them know is that quality control at the printer is missing it.
posted by theora55 at 7:08 AM on November 28, 2015 [1 favorite]