The American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) and Trade, Association and Business Publications International (TABPI) are joining together to promote and further develop the Magazine Critique Service (MCS), a program intended as a first step for b2b magazines interested in gauging their current performance. The MCS allows editors to get feedback from some of the most respected editors working in b2b journalism today, and benefit from their colleague-to-colleague analysis of what's working and what can be improved.

Designed to help magazines assess their design and editorial — at prices lower than typically found in the B2B publication market — the ASBPE/TABPI Magazine Critique Service helps you take your content to the next level. The MCS provides objective, outside analyses that can show the decision makers in an organization how to take content to the next level. Magazines participating in the MCS will have three reviewers give detailed feedback on specific editorial and design aspects of the publication. TABPI and ASBPE will provide a report to the editor, who can thoroughly review the results with the editorial and design staff.

The service is a good investment for magazines desiring a revamp or a refresh after years in the industry. Magazines get to ride on the experts' learning and minimize costly trial and error situations. More dynamic editorial and design equates to more credibility with readers and advertisers, who will recognize the publication as the voice for the industry it covers.

All submissions for the MCS must be received on or about October 1, 2007. The average processing time will be 8-10 weeks from the time materials are received. Complete details on the program, along with a submission form and two sample critiques, are available on the TABPI website, at http://www.tabpi.org/, as well as at the ASBPE website, http://www.asbpe.org/.

Labels: ASBPE partnership