A Note From Paul
Good morning, and welcome to November!
For those of us who turned our clocks back overnight, I hope you enjoyed that extra hour of sleep!
October was an incredible month for The PIO Calendar! For the first time, we surpassed 10,000 website views in a single month, setting another record. Thank you to everyone who continues to visit, contribute, and share the platform with colleagues.
We’ve also been busy making The PIO Calendar more useful. Our Bookshelf now features 20 books covering communications, leadership, crisis management, and more. Have a book to recommend? Submit it! Read one already listed? Share your review and help others discover their next great read.
We also launched PIO Perspective, built around a simple idea: If one PIO has a question, chances are others are asking something similar. We currently have three open surveys where you can share your experiences and learn from colleagues. Have a question you’d like the profession to weigh in on? Submit it for a future survey!
We’ve also improved the homepage, made it easier to discover opportunities, introduced a public statistics dashboard, and opened The PIO Calendar Shop, including preorders for the 2027 Strategic Communicator’s Calendar.
As we head into November, my goal remains the same: Make The PIO Calendar a resource that helps our profession learn, connect, and grow.
Thank you for being part of it. Now, let’s find your next opportunity!
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Paul D. Raymond, Jr. Founder, The PIO Calendar |
The November 2026 PIO Training Monthly Roundup highlights 88 upcoming training, conference, webinar and professional development opportunities for public information officers and communicators.
This edition reviews activity across The PIO Calendar during October 2026 and features upcoming PIO training, the most-viewed future opportunities, professional communication surveys, Bookshelf recommendations and resources for the public information community.
Browse the Events Calendar, Organizations Directory and PIO Resources Directory to discover additional opportunities.
This monthly roundup was generated with the assistance of AI and reviewed before publication.
October 2026: By the Numbers
- 55 events added during October 2026
- 31 free or no-cost opportunities added
- 22 virtual and 33 in-person opportunities added
- 11 featured opportunities highlighted for the months ahead
- 25 conferences within the next 180 days
- 49 trainings within the next 120 days
- 5 webinars within the next 90 days
- 11,587 site views during October 2026
- 47,360 total site views
October 2026 brings a focused mix of professional development and communication events to The PIO Calendar. This month’s roundup features 11 events, with 25 conferences listed within the next 180 days, 49 trainings within the next 120 days, and 5 webinars within the next 90 days. Featured opportunities include FEMA E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer, E/L0952 NIMS ICS All-Hazards Public Information Officer, 2026 East Africa PR Week, and the 2026 Missouri Association of Government Communicators Conference. The calendar recorded 11,587 site views during the previous complete calendar month and 47,360 total site views.
Trending PIO Training & Communication Topics
- Advanced public information officer training, including FEMA E/L0388 and E/L0952 NIMS ICS All-Hazards Public Information Officer
- Government and public relations gatherings, including 2026 East Africa PR Week and the 2026 Missouri Association of Government Communicators Conference
- Specialized communication programming, including the Hazardous Materials Instructors and Commanders Conference 2026, Future Of Communications Conference, and Visual Communications & Infographics 2026 Virtual Summit
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Featured PIO Training Opportunities
A curated look at featured and upcoming opportunities that may be worth planning around.
- FEMA E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer [Training · Featured] 🆓 (Nov 16, 2026 – Nov 20, 2026 • Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Region II Headquarters | Franklin, MA)
- E/L0952 NIMS ICS All-Hazards Public Information Officer [Training · Featured] 🆓 (Nov 30, 2026 – Dec 4, 2026 • Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Center | West Palm Beach, FL)
- FEMA E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer [Training · Featured] 🆓 (Dec 14, 2026 – Dec 18, 2026)
- FEMA E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer [Training · Featured] 🆓 (Jan 25, 2027 – Jan 29, 2027 • National Disaster & Emergency Management University | Emmitsburg, MD)
- FEMA E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer [Training · Featured] 🆓 (Feb 22, 2027 – Feb 26, 2027 • Horry County (SC) Emergency Management Department | Conway, SC)
- FEMA E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer [Training · Featured] 🆓 (Apr 5, 2027 – Apr 9, 2027)
- FEMA E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer [Training · Featured] 🆓 (Apr 19, 2027 – Apr 23, 2027 • National Disaster & Emergency Management University | Emmitsburg, MD)
- FEMA E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer [Training · Featured] 🆓 (May 17, 2027 – May 21, 2027)
This space is available for sponsorship
Put your training, conference, or organization in front of public information officers and communicators actively looking for professional development opportunities. Featured placements on The PIO Calendar provide targeted visibility where it matters most. |
Most Viewed Upcoming PIO Training Opportunities
These future opportunities have received the most verified views since their listings were published.
- ICA Annual Conference 2027
Jun 3, 2027 – Jun 7, 2027 · Crowne Plaza Glasgow Hotel and Scottish Event Campus | United Kingdom
94 total verified views
In Person - International Mental Health Conference 2026
Nov 20, 2026 · 8:00 am – Nov 21, 2026 · 6:00 pm EST · Aloft Boston Seaport District | Boston, MA
92 total verified views
In Person - 2026 Crisis Communications Symposium
Dec 2, 2026 – Dec 3, 2026 · Sheraton Nashville Brentwood | Brentwood, TN
68 total verified views
In Person - 2027 Florida PIO Symposium
Jan 5, 2027 – Jan 9, 2027 · Orange County (FL) Convention Center – South Concourse | Orlando, FL
49 total verified views
In Person - Ragan and PR Daily’s 2027 Social Media & Marketing Conference
Mar 3, 2027 – Mar 5, 2027 · Walt Disney World Swan Resort, Orlando, FL | Lake Buena Vista, FL
48 total verified views
In Person
From The PIO Calendar Bookshelf
Books and practical resources for public information professionals.
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Calm Amidst Chaos: A Frontline Memoir of the Palisades Fire and the Voice That Guided a CityBy Erik Scott Reader Review available Behind the Flames Lies the Human Story of Courage and Resilience Foreword by Sean Penn When a wind-driven inferno swept across Southern California, it… |
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The Crisis CodeBy Jason Pack Reader Review available When a crisis hits, the public does not see your organizational chart. They see the person standing at the podium. In today’s environment, where… |
PIO Perspective: Questions From the Profession
Professional insights, current questions and opportunities to share your experience with fellow public communicators.
What Email Distribution Platforms Are PIOs Using?
Public information officers and communications professionals rely on email distribution services to share news releases, media advisories, newsletters, public announcements, and other important information. But which platforms are being used, and how well are…
For: Public information officers and public-sector communicators
Time: About 4 minutes
Closes: November 5, 2026
Social Media Remediation
What Tools Are Agencies Using to Make Social Media Accessible? Creating accessible social media content is an important responsibility for public information officers and communications professionals, particularly when sharing emergency information, public safety messaging,…
For: Public information officers and public-sector communicators
Time: About 6 minutes
Closes: November 19, 2026
Social Media Post Length
How Long Should Agency Social Media Posts Be? Social media plays an important role in how government agencies and public information officers communicate with their communities. But when it comes to post length, how…
For: Public information officers and public-sector communicators
Time: About 3 minutes
Closes: November 8, 2026
Submit a Question for PIO Perspective | Explore PIO Perspective
The PIO Calendar Shop
Selected products and practical resources created for public information professionals and communicators.
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Crisis Comms Mode StickerFeaturing a green ON switch, this sticker is for the communicators who know what it means to activate a crisis communications plan, coordinate messaging and keep the public… $2.99 |
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PIO Life StickerMedia inquiries, news conferences, tight deadlines and the occasional unexpected crisis. If you know, you know. Featuring a PIO microphone design, this sticker is a fun way to… $2.99 |
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The PIO Calendar Sticker SheetSix stickers. One sheet. All things PIO. Show off your PIO pride with six unique designs celebrating the world of public information and crisis communications. From holding statements… $6.99 |
Looking Ahead: Upcoming PIO Training & Conferences for November 2026
Use this section to look beyond the immediate calendar and identify opportunities that may require travel, approval, registration, or budget planning.
- 2026 East Africa PR Week [Call for Proposals · Conference] (Nov 2, 2026 – Nov 6, 2026 • Kenya)
- 2026 Missouri Association of Government Communicators Conference [Conference · User Submitted] (Nov 5, 2026 • Courtyard by Marriott Columbia (MO))
- Hazardous Materials Instructors and Commanders (HMIC) Conference 2026 [Conference · User Submitted] (Nov 9, 2026 – Nov 11, 2026 • Marriott Savannah Riverfront (GA) | Savannah, GA)
- Future Of Communications Conference [Conference] (Nov 11, 2026 – Nov 13, 2026 • Hyatt Regency Austin (TX))
- Visual Communications & Infographics 2026 Virtual Summit [Conference] (Nov 12, 2026 • Virtual)
Discount available: group discounts available - World Public Relations Forum 2026 [Conference] (Nov 15, 2026 – Nov 21, 2026 • Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Nigeria)
- CPRA Conference 2026 [Conference] (Nov 17, 2026 – Nov 18, 2026 • Marvel Stadium Melbourne | Docklands, Victoria | Australia)
Help Grow The PIO Calendar
Know another public information officer or communicator who would benefit from these opportunities? Share this Monthly Roundup with them.
Hosting a training, conference, webinar or other professional development opportunity? Submit it to The PIO Calendar for consideration.
Advance your emergency management expertise with EMEAA
Words matter. Understanding matters more. People matter most. We are a collaborative community serving as thought leaders in the advancement of crisis communications, external affairs outreach, and emergency management. Our community is focused on advancing training, best practices, awareness, recognition, networking, and camaraderie within our field. We welcome any and all members who share our interest and passion. |
