Public Management (PM) Magazine relies on article submissions from ICMA members and others in the local government space sharing their expertise. We're searching for interesting and insightful stories on a variety of topics to advance professional local government thought leadership.

Access our full editorial guidelines here. Article pitches and submissions can be sent to Kerry Hansen, senior managing editor, at khansen@icma.org. 

Check out the PM Editorial Calendar for 2025:

JANUARY: YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAREER

Leadership, career development, career transitions
Deadline for article submissions: November 1, 2024
 

FEBRUARY: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & STABILITY

Tactics and challenges, placemaking, polarity management
Deadline for article submissions: December 1, 2024
 

MARCH: FINANCE & BUDGETING

Innovations in finance management and budget preparation, strategic planning
Deadline for article submissions: January 1, 2025
 

APRIL: COUNTY MANAGEMENT

Issues and challenges impacting the management of counties
Deadline for article submissions: February 1, 2025
 

MAY: MENTAL HEALTH

Prioritizing/destigmatizing mental health for local government leaders and their communities,
digital supplement on racial equity and social justice
Deadline for article submissions: March 1, 2025
 

JUNE: INSIDE ICMA

Exploring membership benefits, training and education offerings, leadership opportunities
Deadline for article submissions: April 1, 2025
 

JULY: CLIMATE CHANGE & SUSTAINABILITY

Adapting to climate change, recycling strategies, environmental justice, brownfields
Deadline for article submissions: May 1, 2025
 

AUGUST: COUNCIL–MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT

Advocacy, ethical leadership
Deadline for article submissions: June 1, 2025
 

SEPTEMBER: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Thriving economies, shared mobility, housing, decreasing inequities
Deadline for article submissions: July 1, 2025
 

OCTOBER: INSPIRING LEADERS & INNOVATIVE COMMUNITIES

Stories of ICMA award recipients and award-winning communities
Deadline for article submissions: August 1, 2025
 

NOVEMBER: LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE

Trends and challenges, hiring and retention, performance management
Deadline for article submissions: September 1, 2025
 

DECEMBER: PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Leadership during a crisis, police/fire/EMS services, disaster preparedness, public health
Deadline for article submissions: October 1, 2025
 

Regular Monthly Departments:
- Ethics Matter!
- Letter from the CEO/Executive Director
- IDEALS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Leadership, Social Justice)
- Women in Leadership
- Assistants and Deputies
- Tech Updates
 

Frequent Topics:
- Global engagement
- AI and cybersecurity
- Gnarly/wicked issues
- Small towns and rural communities
- Innovation