On March 20 we will be launching the next evolution of our successful Desk series of energy news publications. Energy Metro Desk will combine the best elements of The Desk, The Risk Desk and New Power Executive into a big and beefy print magazine and pdf file combo. Why'd we do it? Read on...

Question: Energy Metro Desk — What is it? Why are we doing it? What makes this print magazine/e-newsletter combo so cool? And, most importantly, why should you hit this bid?

Answer: Four Things: strength of content mix; extreme accessibility and portability; price and market expertise.

On Content: Popular energy trade print magazines have several common characteristics these days: they are expensive and most of the content you find inside are submitted pieces from folks outside the publication’s newsroom. You’ll find dryly written puff pieces pushing an agenda, slightly rewritten news, poorly written commentaries or dense market analysis from smart guys talking their books. Why do you subscribe? Simple, you have few alternatives. Until now. Energy Metro Desk will build on the editorial legacy of Scudder Publishing Group’s many successful trade papers, including The Desk, The Risk Desk, and New Power Executive to deliver a new breed of energy trade magazine: tightly written features, insightful news and analysis of policy and market trends, the latest thinking in energy trading and risk management, risk systems, asset optimization, credit, lots of insider buzz, and so much more. All of this in the same readable style you’ve come to expect from Scudder Publishing Group. If you enjoyed The Desk and The Risk Desk, you will recognize the tone and feel of the Energy Metro Desk, and appreciate the expanded coverage at a wholly reasonable price.

On Accessibility: Print magazines have a lot of upsides and a couple downsides. On the positive side, you can bring it anywhere. You can read it at your leisure. Also, it’s a lot easier on your eyes after you’ve been staring at a screen for 10 hours a day. Our surveys tell us that print is ‘in’ again among the corporate upper echelon for these reasons. But, when you’re done with it, it’s mostly trashed. It’s not easy to archive a tattered magazine. Also, print magazines issues or archives aren’t exactly easily searchable. Also, you can’t download one onto your computer to read elsewhere. For these reasons, we decided to offer Energy Metro Desk as a print and electronic (PDF) publication. The PDF file is easily archiveable, easily portable, quickly delivered, and offers you the option of reading the print-out or online. The Energy Metro Desk is first a print magazine; and you can receive the PDF version as well. Total access and portability, ease of operation, archiveable and easy on your eyes.

On Price and Expertise: We think that trade publications, particularly in the energy sector, have gotten way out of hand price-wise. One particular monthly magazine covering energy risk issues goes for $899 a year – for 12 issues! Popular daily and weekly electronic newsletters are now well over $1,000 to $1,500 per year. Unbelievable. And many of these publications are largely written by young reporters with a limited understanding of the sector, or by folks from outside company. Where is the value in that? Energy Metro Desk is staffed by reporters who average 20 years in this business. The new guy is a 10-year veteran. Our access to top sources in the industry is unparalleled. And, we are driven by a hybrid revenue model — low cost subscriptions and moderately priced advertising sales. Each feeds the other, and, as such, our prices will remain low. $399 a year for a print subscription/PDF file combo? No kidding. We think it’s the best combo available. Our ad rates are 20% to 40% lower than the other guys. In some cases, 50% lower. And we don’t spell the word program with two m’s and an e.

Building on the long-standing reputation and industry expertise of Scudder’s leading newsletters, Energy Metro Desk will soon become an indispensible tool for mid-to senior level executives in the energy and investment sectors with responsibility for energy trading and risk management, policy and regulation, strategy, planning and finance, asset optimization, IT systems, and corporate communications. Energy traders of all flavors, E&P companies, utilities, banks and funds, regulators and consultants -- we think everybody will hit this bid. Subscribe to Energy Metro Desk today!

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