2026 Content Calendar*

Our editorial philosophy is focused on helping industry professionals do their jobs more effectively, efficiently and profitably by providing a balance of business-and technical-related content.

*Editorial Calendar is tentative and subject to change.
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January/February 2026

Technology

  • President’s Column
  • Government Relations Column
  • AI LOCATION: How artificial intelligence is enhancing Next Generation 9-1-1
  • REINFORCEMENT: Robots are reinforcements not replacements; AI will improve quality, call-handling efficiency, reduce burnout
  • DATA RECORDING: Video surveillance and other data are collected in airports – how it relates to 9-1-1
  • FLOCK: License plate reading systems and how they can be integrated with ECCs
  • TECH FATIGUE: How to keep up with technology
  • FIRE STATION ALERTING: Connection between ECC and fire station; computer voice automates part of the dispatch
  • COOP TESTING: Procedures to make sure the ECC can maintain continuous operations
  • DRONE RESPONSE: Should deputies or public safety telecommunicators control them?
  • INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION: How 1,000 new cell sites with public safety’s Band 14 spectrum to further expand connectivity on FirstNet®
  • SATTELITE 9-1-1: Starlink is being used where broadband is not available
  • CDE 1 OPPORTUNITIES: The benefits of 4.9 MHz to public safety

Ad Space Deadline: 10/28/2025

March/April 2026

The Telecommunicator

  • President’s Column
  • Government Relations Column
  • DISPATCH REDEFINED: How the role of the public safety telecommunicator has changed in the emergency communications center
  • RECLASSIFICATION BY STATE: Summary of reclassification status, lessons learned by those who have reclassified telecommunicators, and how people can start in their state
  • CULTURE KEEPERS: People who improve the culture of the emergency communications centers that they join
  • REAL TIME: How real-time crime centers can integrate with dispatch, facilitating cooperation between analysts and telecommunicators
  • LEADERSHIP RELATIONS: Building better relations with line-level staff and bridging the divide when stepping from dispatcher position to leadership position
  • INTERNAL RECOGNITION: How to recognize staff accomplishments at low or no cost
  • CDE 1 ADA DISPATCH: How dispatch can comply with Americans with Disability Act rules. What affect does the ADA have on dispatch?
  • CDE 2 BRIDGING THE GAP: Educating radio techs about the urgency and tactical exigencies of dispatch decisions

Ad Space Deadline: 12/24/2025

May/June 2026

Staffing, Retention & Wellness

  • President’s Column
  • Government Relations Column
  • PIZZA PARTY: Establishing wellness in a dispatch center requires more than a pizza party.
  • NIGHT SHIFT: The shift that no one sees: supporting public safety telecommunicators on the night shift.
  • PARENTS: Supporting first-time parents in the ECC.
  • YOUNG PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS: How to train 18-year-olds to tell people over the phone what to do in an emergency.
  • ENCOUARING EAP: Why staff should use EAP wellness services and why it’s useful.
  • STIGMA: Fighting the stigma of mental health challenges in public safety communications.
  • MENTAL HEALT-CATCHING UP: Public safety communications is making progress as a voice is given to mental health wellness.
  • LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION: Building 9-1-1 center employees into leaders.
  • LEVELING UP your career: Why every public safety professional needs APCO.
  • SOCIAL MEDIA RECRUITMENT: Your next hire may see your agency first in a feed, not on a bulletin board. How to use social media for recruitment.
  • DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS: Understanding how domestic violence affects public safety communications personnel.
  • CHAOS TO STABILITY: A shift from rules-driven to values-driven management has transformed the culture of one ECC from one of chaos to stability.
  • EMDR/MENTAL HEALTH: Training mental health clinicians on the culture and process of public safety communications.
  • CDE 1 PEER SUPPORT

Ad Space Deadline: 3/4/2026

July/August 2026

Professional Development & Annual Conference

  • President’s Column
  • Government Relations Column
  • LEADERS: How did APCO leaders get to their positions and what have they done for public safety communications?
  • VOICES: How people got involved and how you can grow within the public safety communications industry
  • COMMERCIAL ENGAGEMENT: Outline successes that chapters have had bringing in commercial members
  • ARTICLE CAREER: How to write and publish public safety communications articles and how it helps your career
  • SAN ANTONIO TRAVEL: Experience the sights, sounds, history and flavors of the APCO 2026 host city
  • CHAPTER: Progress and potential in the Texas/San Antonio APCO Chapter
  • ATPA (APCO ACCREDITATION): Why it’s important to get training program certified; make sure people get appropriate training
  • QA FOR GROWTH: Using quality assurance as a coaching technique
  • CDE 1 STANDARDS AND BEYOND
  • CDE 2 CONFERENCE BENEFITS: What APCO conference attendance can do for first-time attendees

Ad Space Deadline: 4/29/2026

September/October 2026

Safety & Security

  • President’s Column
  • Government Relations Column
  • UP STAFFING: Response in the wake of cyberattacks, including by partner agencies and communities
  • REAL TIME CRIME: How real-time crime centers, AKA fusion centers, relate to safety and security in the wider world
  • AI SECURITY: Monitoring a jurisdiction’s many videos with AI’s help
  • DARK STATIONS: AI helps monitor stations that have little or no staffing
  • REAL ATTACKS: Case studies of how ECCs respond to cyberattacks
  • THIRD-PARTY 9-1-1: Are ECCs being excluded from emergency alerts because of the intervention of third-party companies? Best practices
  • CDE 1 and 2: Topical cybersecurity issues

Ad Space Deadline: 6/9/2026

November/December 2026

High Priority/Low Frequency Events

  • President’s Column
  • Government Relations Column
  • TEXAS FLOOD: How TERT notifications assisted the Guadalupe River flood response
  • POLITICAL PREP: Preparing the ECC for major political events
  • HELENE FOLLOW UP: How public safety telecommunicators are doing today and what they have learned on a personal and technological level
  • POWER LOSS: How do you respond?
  • NJ STORMS: How New Jersey responded to major back to back storms
  • ACTIVE SHOOTERS: How ECCs respond
  • SHOOTER RESPONSE TRAINING: Active Attack Event Communications is a DHS-funded course
  • GUARD DEPLOYMENTS: How they affect the ECC
  • DRILLS: Preparing the community for major public safety drills that often trigger 9-1-1 calls
  • CDE 1 ALTERNATE CALL ROUTING: What to do when calls don’t route properly
  • CDE 2 SPORTING EVENT PLANNING: How ECCs should prepare for The Olympics and FIFA World Cup in America. Best practices for ECCs to cope with big sporting events

Ad Space Deadline: 8/31/2026

In Every Issue

  • President’s Message

  • Regulatory Updates

  • Continuing Dispatch Education (CDE) Articles (2)

  • Membership Updates