Magazines: Use of In-House Pre-Press Drops Significantly
XML use declines, online insertion orders grow.
 
By Matt Kinsman
07/21/2010
        
http://www.foliomag.com/2010/use-house-pre-press-drops-significantly-2010

In 2009, 60 percent of publishers used in-house resources-only when it came to pre-press. In 2010, that number has dropped to 51 percent, according to FOLIO:'s 2010 Manufacturing and Production Trends Survey.
 
However, publishers moving completely to outsourced pre-press operations remain flat at 17 percent, while the number of publishers using a mix of outsourcing and in-house service grew from 15 percent in 2009 to 20 percent this year. 
 
Thirty-seven percent of publishers did not invest in new publishing technology over the past year, up from 33 percent in 2009. Just 10 percent of respondents said they increased investment in the manufacturing and production department (including people) while 50 percent said there was no change and 26 percent said they cut spending. The majority of respondents say they spent less than $5,000 on new technology last year (just 2 percent said they spent more than $200,000).
 
And while some observers say an XML workflow is the next big thing in production, just 20 percent of respondents say they currently use XML (down from 22 percent last year). Use of online ad portals was flat (at 25 percent) but the number of publishers using online insertion order systems grew from 15 percent to 18 percent.
 
For a more detailed breakdown of magazine manufacturing and production and trends (including investment areas for 2010), look for FOLIO:s September issue.