ICMA has established a reputation as the authoritative publisher of materials on local government. Our publications are distributed internationally to practitioners and students. As an ICMA author, you get

  • The opportunity to reach a wide audience through a well-known and highly respected publisher
  • The help of professional editors who specialize in local government
  • Marketing expertise
  • The opportunity to make a lasting contribution to professional management in local government.

Readership

ICMA publishes for local government practitioners, including managers, assistant managers, and department heads, as well as for students of public administration.

Subject Areas

ICMA publishes articles and short e-books and research reports on topics that you’ll also find in popular ICMA practitioner books and textbooks, such as:

  • General local government management
  • Finance and budgeting
  • Human resources
  • Technology and telecommunications
  • Public safety (police services, fire services, and emergency management)
  • Local government services
  • Service contracting and service sharing
  • Planning and community development
  • Sustainability, including economic development and capital budgeting
  • Leadership, community engagement, and ethics
  • Supervisory practices
  • A host of subtopics, such as strategic planning, capital improvements, productivity, emergency medical services, and use of social media in local government.

Format

In response to member preference for focused content that is a quick read and actionable, ICMA gives preference to article-length pieces (e.g., 2,000-3,500 words). Although there are exceptions to every rule, the goal is to offer members short publications that are helpful and offer a fresh perspective or innovative solution.

  • Articles are written to help managers, assistant managers, and department heads implement programs or resolve management issues.
  • Research reports are brief reports grounded in survey or other research, explaining concepts and discussing opportunities and pitfalls associated with various approaches to an issue.
  • Blogs are 500–700-word manuscripts that succinctly describe new and noteworthy resources for local government professionals. They are educational in nature and cannot be promotional. [Send blog submissions to Samantha Wagner, swagner@icma.org.]

Articles published in Public Management magazine are offered in the print issue and also available online. Some are only available online. Most other publications are only available digitally.

How to Submit

Article Proposals

Public Management

Public Management, ICMA's monthly member magazine known as PM magazine, publishes short articles on current topics of interest to local government managers. Public Management welcomes contributions from all parts of the world. Contributors are advised to review the Editorial Guidelines for Public Management and consult past issues of Public Management before submitting articles. 

Send articles intended for publication in ICMA's member magazine Public Management directly to:

pm@icma.org
Fax: 202-962-3500 
Mail: ICMA, 777 N. Capitol Street, NE, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20002-4201 
 

All Other Publication Proposals

Your proposal should include the following:

  • A short cover letter (see specifics below)
  • A current curriculum vitae.

Please do not submit a completed manuscript. In your cover letter, please address each of these questions:

  • What is the working title of your publication?
  • What is the overall purpose of the publication?
  • Who is the intended audience, and how will the publication benefit members of this audience?
  • What is new about your treatment of this topic?

Send your proposal to:
ICMA Publications
E-mail: publications@icma.org
Mail: ICMA, c/o ICMA Publications, 777 N. Capitol Street, NE, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20002-4201