NEW YORK, March 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Capitol Crude: The U.S. Policy Podcast, produced by Platts, a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information, today won the award for "best webcast" at the 61(st) Jesse H. Neal Awards in New York City.

Capitol Crude is the brainchild of Platts senior oil editors Brian Scheid and Herman Wang and Platts web editors Jamie McDuell and Elizabeth Bassett. Together they sought to fill an industry "gap" in easy-to-access, consistent coverage of U.S. crude oil and energy policy, given the growing importance of U.S. oil production to world markets.

"Capitol Crude's in-depth policy exploration and commentary is a valuable and audience-welcomed addition to Platts' robust oil markets coverage," said Andy Bose, Platts general manager for oil. "Its success is evident from the attention it's garnered from lawmakers, industry leaders, and now, from this esteemed business journalism organization."

"We're honored to receive this recognition from the journalism community," said Scheid, who co-hosts the weekly series with Wang. "Equally rewarding is the amount of outreach we receive from Washington think tanks and government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, which regularly suggest show topics."

The podcast series, which launched in August 2014, was nominated for a Neal Award just two months later and announced as a finalist in February. Now 32 episodes in, Capitol Crude is Platts' most-listened-to podcast and has attracted a steady industry following from the likes of Chevron, Vitol and the U.S. Department of Energy.

In reaching their decision, judges noted the high level of research involved in producing the weekly series, as well as the hosts' knack for creating engaging content out of otherwise-mundane topics. Past episodes have explored industry issues such as condensate refining, the Jones Act and the Renewable Fuels Standard, all of which have far-reaching effects.

"Listeners are drawn to the podcast's relatable style and keen insight," McDuell said. "Brian and Herman are especially adept at infusing their reporting with humor and carefully crafted pop-culture references, and have a rapport that resonates with listeners."

The Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards, established in 1955 and known as "the Pulitzer Prize of the business media," are the industry's most prestigious and sought-after editorial honors. Winners are announced at the annual Awards luncheon program, sponsored by the Association of Business Information & Media Companies.

For more information on Platts, visit www.platts.com.

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets. A division of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), Platts is based in London with more than 1000 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at www.platts.com.

About McGraw Hill Financial: McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI) is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company's iconic brands include: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL and J.D. Power. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 30 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts