Who We Are
Now published by PennWell, Public Safety Communications (PSC) remains the official magazine of APCO International and is the leading magazine in the public safety communications industry. We encourage all members to become involved by writing articles and contributing story ideas.
Published monthly, PSC strives to be the authoritative source of information on public safety communications worldwide. APCO members come from all types of public safety organizations, including:
- Emergency Call Centers
- Law Enforcement Agencies
- EMS Agencies
- Fire Departments
- Transportation Agencies & Facilities
- Emergency Management Centers
- Forestry Services
- Colleges & Universities
- Military Units
- Manufacturers
- Technical & Repair Services
- Engineers
We seek articles of direct relevance to comm center managers and directors, telecommunicators, IT personnel and engineers, specifically looking for accurate, detailed features (approximately 2,400 to 3,000 words) on communications center operations, regulatory issues and technical topics; comprehensive analysis of new procedures, technology and products; concise reporting of association and industry news; and provocative commentaries (approximately 850 words). We seek practical, hands-on articles drawn from real-world examples. Consider using a lessons learned, what we did right or how-to approach.
How to Submit Your Story Idea
All story ideas must be submitted with a cover letter that outlines your qualifications. Please include your name, full address, phone, fax and e-mail address on all correspondence.
We accept story submission in one of the following two formats: query letters and manuscripts.
One-page query letter: It should answer these questions:
- What specifically are you going to tell PSC readers?
- Why do PSC readers need to know this?
- How will you make your case (e.g., case studies, interviews, literature review, research, etc.)?
Manuscripts: Because we prefer to discuss content and related issues before you submit a completed manuscript, we prefer query letters. However, on occasion we accept manuscripts — pending rewrites and other editorial changes. Again, when submitting a manuscript ensure your cover letter includes the following:
- What specifically are you going to tell PSC readers?
- Why do PSC readers need to know this?
- How will you make your case (e.g., case studies, interviews, literature review, research, etc.)?
We don’t read manuscripts unless they are:
- Typed and double-spaced with one-inch margins;
- Submitted via email or on a CD or DVD;
- Created in Microsoft Word or a comparable word-prcessing program; and
- Submitted with accurate footnotes, numbered consecutively, provided at the end of the manuscript (do not use automatic embedded footnotes numbering).
Manuscript review process: All articles undergo a review process to assess accuracy and relevance. You may be contacted during the review process to discuss any comments or questions about your completed manuscript. Rewrites often are requested at this time to accommodate reviewers’ concerns.
Hints on Getting Published
- Read back issues of the magazine to learn our style.
- Research back issues to ensure we haven't covered your topic within the past three years.
- Read and follow the instructions on this page.
How Long Does it Take to Review My Story Idea?
We review unsolicited queries/manuscripts as time permits. Allow us 60 days to review your manuscript.
We Accept the Following Photo Formats
- Digital images in jpg, TIFF or EPS format at 72 dpi for initial review. We require 300 dpi resolution for publication.
- 35 mm
- 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 transparencies
- Glossy 8 x 10 color
- B/W prints
Notes: Don’t send negatives. If you send images as attachments via e-mail, compress your files with Stuff It, Disk Doubler, etc. Send only one attached image per e-mail. For digitals photos, if you're using less than a 3.2-megapixel camera, your images will not be of a size and resolution that can be published. If your images aren’t shot at a high resolution and if your camera is set to shoot at small pixel size, we can't enlarge the images significantly without serious image degradation. The general rule of digital photography is that you can always "size down" an image, but you can never "size it up" without sacrificing image quality.
What Happens if PSC Accepts My Story Idea?
Upon acceptance of your query/manuscript, you will receive an editorial confirmation letter that outlines specifics of the article, length and due dates. You will be assigned an in-house editor to review and edit your manuscript. Use the assigning editor as a resource for questions about direction, tone, style, etc.
APCO International requests all rights as a professional courtesy. Authors may request up to 10 copies of the issue in which their article appears.
We do not accept simultaneous submissions — or poetry.
To submit a manuscript, story idea, press release or photo...
Contact Keri Losavio, Editor, via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , by phone at 408/477-2611, or by mail at:
Keri Losavio, Editor, APCO’s Public Safety Communications
4180 La Jolla Village Dr., Ste. 260
La Jolla, CA 92037