Internet time and print schedules

As we progress further and further into the age of the Internet, the concept of lead time is disappearing in the minds of hobbyists.

Lead time is what is required to get something into the print version of Numismatic News and have it appear in the issue with a cover date that is current.

I am currently working on the June 3 issue of Numismatic News. It goes to the printer tomorrow at 1 p.m.

An email I received yesterday from an auction firm about a sale is ruled out for the paper because it takes place in late May.

I had an email this morning from a reader who wants to write a Viewpoint about Father’s Day. He has not written it yet. He just wants to give me a heads up.

The only issue left that would be appropriate is the June 10 issue, but that Viewpoint space is already committed. I promised it to someone else who has already submitted the text.

I can run the Father’s Day piece as a letter to the editor rather than a Viewpoint. I hope that will do.

Another quirky thing about the age of the Internet is how electronic communication is perceived.

Numismatic News Express was introduced this year on a monthly schedule to replace one issue of the print newspaper.

It’s content is determined by what we think readers would like to read, but it is also determined by other factors.

In the print issue of Numismatic News we have a business page in order to highlight the happenings in the commercial sector of numismatics.

We started out with a business page in Numismatic News Express. However, the perception of it is entirely different than the printed page. Print apparently still has more prestige.

Requests have been made to use press releases submitted to us only in a print issue of Numismatic News. Enough of these have been received that it was determined that it would be better not to have a business page in Numismatic News Express at all.

Go figure.

Such are the mysteries of modern electronic communication in 2014.

Will it change? I expect so. When it will change is the question.

Buzz blogger Dave Harper is winner of the 2013 Numismatic Literary Guild Award for Best Blog and is editor of the weekly newspaper "Numismatic News."