Penton's Urgent Communications to focus solely on digital content

NEW YORK, Aug. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Penton today announced that Urgent Communications (UC), a media outlet that covers communications technology for the government, public safety, utility, transportation and enterprise sectors, will focus solely on digital content, effective immediately.  The August 2013 issue is the last print magazine that will be produced, however, new UC content will be available via its website at www.urgentcomm.com and its twice-weekly UC Today electronic newsletter.

Simultaneously, UC will be rebranded as IWCE's Urgent Communications to more closely align with Penton's International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE), the industry's leading trade show and educational conference.

The franchise will continue to produce in-depth articles, timely news stories, insightful commentaries, videos, podcasts and webinars that the industry trusts and values, said Gregg Herring, a Penton vice president, who is the market leader of the company's Public Infrastructure Group, of which UC and IWCE are part.

"Editorially, it will be business as usual," Herring said. "The decision to focus solely on digital content reflects changes in how UC's readers want to receive information."

"The market that UC serves is very tech-savvy, and increasingly our readers want to access content whenever they wish, wherever they are, via their computers, tablet devices and smartphones," Herring added. "Consequently, we decided that it made much more sense to focus our resources on digital -- a platform that is growing."

According to Stephanie McCall, IWCE/UC brand director, "The focus on digital content also reflects new directions in how advertisers want to spend their marketing dollars.  Digital advertising is actionable and measureable, something print advertising is not."

For example, marketers can embed links in their digital ads that lead readers to take desirable actions. Also, real-time statistics can be generated regarding these actions, providing marketers with highly qualified sales leads and timely information that help them better evaluate their investment - something that cannot be replicated with print advertising.

"Consequently, UC's advertisers over the past couple of years have ramped up their interest in digital advertising," McCall said.

IWCE Content Director Stacey Orlick has worked closely with Glenn Bischoff and Donny Jackson - UC's editor-in-chief and editor, respectively, to develop IWCE's extensive and well-regarded educational program.  The closer alignment between IWCE and UC will strengthen that collaboration, with the eventual result being new training and certification programs.

"Our goal is to expand the reach of IWCE by providing continuing education year round that will make our readers more proficient," Orlick said.

About Penton
For millions of business owners and decision-makers, Penton makes the difference every day. We engage our professional users by providing actionable ideas and insights, data and workflow tools, community and networking, both in person and virtually, all with deep relevance to their specific industries. We then activate this engagement by connecting users with tens of thousands of targeted providers of products and services to help drive business growth. Learn more about our company at www.penton.com.

Penton is a privately held company owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP.

CONTACTS
Gregg Herring
Vice President
Penton's Public Infrastructure Group
Phone:  (770) 618-0333
Email: [email protected]

Kate Spellman
SVP, Marketing
Penton
Phone: (212) 204-4351
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Penton