I saw the thread about asking people what they thought about the new look of the running times so i went out and got it. As i am reading it i decided to ask this question which has been annoying me for some time. Why don't magazine issue dates actually match the cover? The May issue of running times is now out yet it is MARCH 29TH. How does this make any sense? Shouldn't this be the April issue!? Thoughts...
Cars for the next year come out in August or September. All about being ahead of the curve.
The date on the cover is when the news stand removes it from the shelf.
Cecil explains here:
It also has to do with advertising. You know, they're telling to actually sell Christmas stuff in November, get people buying early...so the issue that says "December" comes out around November 1 and has all the Christmas advertising in it.
I always thought it was ridiculous to get a magazine, 1 and sometimes even 2 months ahead of the date on the cover.
Actually, I think "Track & Field News" is an exception to all this. Their May issue will come out around May 1.