Tight deadlines

A bit like the cash tills in the High Street shops this is a particularly busy time for newspapers.

While some other busnesses might be slowing down for Christmas at the Gazette it's full steam ahead for what promises to be a hectic week or so.

Both the Gazette and its sister free newspaper the Leader print 52 weeks of the year and while the paginations of the papers might be smaller than normal we have far less time to get them out.

We have to finish the Gazette 24 hours earlier next week on Monday lunchtime and then have the following weeks edition completed by the Friday morning.

And while our pre-press manager can usually be sweet talked when it comes to deadlines on this occasion he is showing little festive cheer by making it clear our pages much reach him on time. Even the tempting offer of a bottle of his favourite red wine has so fallen on deaf ears when it comes to deadlines.